Your favourite obsolete automotive gadgets
Discussion
There have been many positive developments in car gadgetry over the years which have successfully passed down the ages. What proportion of news cars now have a airbags, electric windows & even air-conditioning as standard? All of these used to be the preserve of luxury cars in the not-to-distant past.
However, there have been a fair number of inventions that turned out to be dead-ends and were soon replaced by new technology. My favourite was the rear-parking aid that was available as an optional extra on the giant early 1990s W140 S-Class Mercedes. When you selected reverse, two guide rods would magically appear up and out of the rear wings to give you a better idea of positioning the extremities of the car. Only the super-rich could afford such frivolity back then.
So do you still have an 8-Track, an electric aerial or cassette holder in your car?
However, there have been a fair number of inventions that turned out to be dead-ends and were soon replaced by new technology. My favourite was the rear-parking aid that was available as an optional extra on the giant early 1990s W140 S-Class Mercedes. When you selected reverse, two guide rods would magically appear up and out of the rear wings to give you a better idea of positioning the extremities of the car. Only the super-rich could afford such frivolity back then.
So do you still have an 8-Track, an electric aerial or cassette holder in your car?
I have an electric aerial in one car. I also dip the headlamps in that car using my left foot. It has two types of horn. The temperature at which the electric fans cut in can be adjusted using a knob located under the bonnet.
Two of my cars have hand throttles, and those ones aren't all that old (late 70s and early 80s) . I recently sold a car that still had its original PYE cassette player. Its replacement has vacuum operated pop up (or not) headlights.
Two of my cars have hand throttles, and those ones aren't all that old (late 70s and early 80s) . I recently sold a car that still had its original PYE cassette player. Its replacement has vacuum operated pop up (or not) headlights.
Edited by Breadvan73 on Wednesday 14th March 12:56
PS: The internal door handles have what was sold as "remote control locking". This is a device for making sure that you lock your keys in the car.
Note: if afflicted by numptietude and locked out of a 1972 car, try using the keys from a 1970 car made by a completely different manufacturer. Guess what?
Oh, did I mention key? Yes, keyS. Four to five per car, all functional and required.
Note: if afflicted by numptietude and locked out of a 1972 car, try using the keys from a 1970 car made by a completely different manufacturer. Guess what?
Oh, did I mention key? Yes, keyS. Four to five per car, all functional and required.
Not sure about gadgets of yesteryear but I remember my mother having a 1986 Suzuki SA310 (renamed to the Swift later in life) with a digital dash just like nightrider! :-) I thought it looked great with the digital rev counter above the speedo and digital display of what gear you were in and which gear you should be in.
They appeared on Mk2 Astra GTe's and I thought every car would eventually get them as standard.
They appeared on Mk2 Astra GTe's and I thought every car would eventually get them as standard.
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