The way cars have changed over time is truly amazing. When the first car was invented, it had features that, in retrospect, were maybe a little strange, but they had their purpose.
As technology improves, car features continue to improve, leaving some of those antiquated elements in the past.
Here, we’ll look at some car features that used to be important and useful but are beyond their prime. We’ll see how car design has evolved and how the things we look for in cars have changed thanks to technology.
Manual Crank Windows
The first on our list is manual crank windows. Do you remember when the only way to lower a car window was to turn the handle on the door? This feature was still pretty common until the early 2000s.
Cranking a handle could really be a pain, especially if you were in a hurry or if it was raining! Eventually, power windows became standard in most cars, and manual crank windows started disappearing.
Manual Door Lock
The manual door lock was once a nice security feature in older cars. A keyhole above each door handle kept your car and its belongings locked and secure.
As years passed, central locking systems were introduced, allowing simultaneous locking or unlocking of all doors. Fast forward to modern cars, which now feature keyless entry and start systems, making manual door locks obsolete in most vehicles.
Carburetors
The carburetor was invented in the late 19th century and became the standard for fuel delivery in cars, motorcycles, and other small engines throughout the 20th century. It was a vital component in internal combustion engines, as it was responsible for mixing air and fuel in the proper ratio before entering the engine’s combustion cylinders.
Although the parts were easy to find, affordable, and easy to maintain, it was also known for its low mileage delivery and inconsistent air-fuel ratio. It lasted until 1990, when it was replaced by fuel injection.
Manual Chokes
In older vehicles like the vintage Fiat 500, there was a manual choke that helped start the engine with a carburetor in cold weather. Here is how it works: the driver controls it by pulling a knob or lever on the dashboard and gradually pushing the choke back in as the engine warms up — all to ensure it runs smoothly.
The primary function of a manual choke is during cold start situations, that is, when the engine has been sleeping for several hours and has been exposed to cold temperatures. If you’re in a location that experiences brutal winters, I can imagine this feature would be quite inconvenient.
Manual Brakes
Do not be surprised to know that from the 1950s to 1960s, most American muscle cars, like the 1964-1965 Ford Mustang, 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, and 1968 Plymouth Road Runner, ran on manual brakes.
The thing about cars with manual brakes is that the driver applies all the necessary force directly to the brake pedal to slow down or stop the vehicle. This may sometimes require physical effort, especially in situations that require quick or sudden braking. This system results in much stiffer brakes than what you’d find with power assistance.
Manual Steering
Before power steering existed, drivers had to put a lot of physical effort into turning the steering wheel and controlling the car. It made parking and driving at slower speeds incredibly difficult. Fortunately, power steering came along and made things a lot easier.
Power steering uses special technology to make steering smoother and less physically tiring for the driver. Nowadays, finding a vehicle without it is rare, as this is regarded as the more reliable option.
Spare Wheels
Spare tires may have been of greater importance back when tires weren’t compatible with paved roads, and thus, problems were more common. They came in full size and were stored in the back of the vehicle.
However, with modern cars being designed with less space for full-size spare tires under the trunk, the use of spare is diminishing. Bad news for us, but great for your local tire shop.
Bias-Ply Tires
Older vehicles used to have bias-ply tires, which were durable and stable but not very fuel-efficient. These tires also resulted in a rougher ride.
Today, modern vehicles use radial tires, which offer better grip, improved fuel efficiency, and a smoother drive. That’s why you don’t see bias-ply tires in new cars very often anymore.
Cassette Players
Older vehicles usually had cassette players, which was a big deal for in-vehicle entertainment. They allowed drivers and passengers to play their own music and were super popular in cars from the 1970s to the 1990s.
CD players, MP3 players, and Bluetooth connections took over, offering better sound and making it way easier to listen to music in cars. Cassette players became old news, getting phased out by the newest available tech.
Cigarette Lighters and Ashtrays
It might be strange to some Gen-Zs when Grandpa tells them a story of how he lit cigars with his car. Well, he isn’t lying! Cars used to come equipped with built-in cigarette lighters and ashtrays, an innovative idea by automobile designers for smokers’ preferences.
This feature was introduced to help smokers light their cigarettes and dispose of the ashes and butts without harming car upholstery or littering. However, as fewer people smoke in cars due to changes in habits and rules, newer cars are being made without this option. Instead, they’re including more relevant and modern conveniences that people need.
Hood Ornaments
Older cars used to have decorative emblems or figures on the front hood called hood ornaments, symbolizing the car model and status in some cases. These added a classy touch to the car’s look!
Many car makers started getting rid of them after concerns developed about the potential risks to pedestrians on the road. They began making their cars sleeker and more aerodynamic instead. This meant that the fancy hood ornaments were replaced with other ways of showing off a car’s brand.
Running Boards
For older vehicles, running boards were a useful addition to cars as they provided an extra step to help people get in and out of higher vehicles. They used to stick out from the sides of cars.
As cars have changed over time, running boards have become unnecessary. Cars became lower, and they started to have sleeker built-in steps or retractable side steps, so separate running boards were no longer needed on every vehicle.
Vent Windows
Vent windows, or wing windows, used to be those small, triangle-shaped windows next to the front windows of cars. They were there to help let fresh air in and improve airflow inside the car.
Once really good air conditioning was introduced to most cars, there wasn’t much need for these little windows anymore. Better cooling and heating systems inside resulted in this feature becoming a thing of the past.
Antennas
Way back in the 1930s to 1980s, it was common to see a long, skinny antenna on cars. They were usually made of metal and used to pick up AM/FM radio signals.
When you turned on the car radio, the antenna would stretch up to catch the best signal. And when you turned off the radio or the car, the antenna would go back down. The antennas were often found on the front or back of the car or sometimes on the side.
Non-Collapsible Safety Glass
Before the creation of advanced vehicles, vehicle windows used a type of safety glass called tempered glass. While this glass provided some safety, it could easily break into sharp pieces if hit, which could be dangerous.
Now, there’s a new version of safety glass called laminated safety glass. It’s made up of two layers of glass with a layer of plastic in between. This new glass is much better at staying in one piece when it’s hit, making it safer for everyone inside the car. Car manufacturers now use laminated safety glass instead of the old kind.
