4 Bizarre Car Accessories that Used to Be Cool

http://blog.allstate.com/awesome-or-atrocious-4-bizarre-car-accessories-that-used-to-be-cool/ ^

[djone]

"Most of us don’t spend much time listening to vinyl anymore, but just like that DJ spinning records in a trendy nightclub, there was a time when you could cue up some 45s in your Chrysler. In 1956, you could get an optional record player in Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge and Plymouth vehicles......Years ago, automakers used to hide gas caps in stealthy locations. Cars like the ’56 Chevy Bel Air had the gas cap hidden behind a taillight, which would swivel out of the way, while numerous cars from the 60’s and 70’s had their fuel fillers located behind the license plate.

'56 Chevy

[RGVTx]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing!

[cva66snipe]

A mini van has too many issues we couldn't deal with. To get a high back motorized wheelchair in them you have to have the floor board cut out and dropped down. That means it won't get up our driveway due to ground clearance. That's another reason we buy full size high tops. The one we used to have was a high top conversion short wheel base.. The one we got a couple years ago will last us likely 8 another years or so with a little luck. Then we'll likely go with a used 19 seat transport bus that has a lift in it. I even had my cousin looking when we were trying to locate one and he owns a car hauling company.

[Oztrich Boy]

VW Bugs used to have the gas tank and cap under the front hood

My 60s Renault had the fillercap under a centre locking panel at the rear of the car

There was some other stuff in there too

[cva66snipe]

I remember the jack handle served a dual purpose. You could hand crank the engine. Yep the gas cap is right where I remember to the right of the engine. Did you have any problems getting the carberator to stay on? LOL The way the wheels were pitched would cause the car not to take curves too well. Ours had to have a new transaxle at 30K even before I ever drove it. After that it was an engine. The best part of the 60's Renaults in my opinion were the two front seats. I took them out and used them in several other cars and an old pick up I had in the the Navy.

It was my Moms car till I got my lecense. My cousin and I were always picking it up and placing it in odd positions when we went to visit my aunt :>}

[central_va]

That thing has A/C! The compressor is almost as big as the engine.

[knarf]

Yeah, I WAS thinkin' that, but I changed it to society to include the whole of ... well ... society.

But yeah, we got to the point where we weren't afraid to think of mom and dad having sex ... and it was all over.

NOTHING was sacred anymore.

[Oztrich Boy]

Who had the “brilliant” idea to start putting the gas fill on the RH side of the car?

I could maybe give the Japs a pass since they drive on the “wrong” side of the road, but now American cars are starting to do it too. It really defies any sort of sense.

Makes gas pumps a royal PITA when these cars are in the mix, especially if there’s any sort of a line.

First, what do you mean: "the “wrong” side of the road"? It was that way since the time of the Greeks and the Romans, until the French changed it in an attempt to set a fashion trend.

It's called the starboard side because that's where your steersman, or chauffeur should sit. Similarly you should board on the loading or larboard side, just as you do when you engage in equestrianing.

Secondly, have had three jap cars (Datsun, Mazda, Toyota). All had the fuel filler on the left side, which is appropriate when driving on the correct side of the carriage way, because

Thirdly, loading of fuel from kerbside pumps should be done on the larboard side so as not to endanger the filling station attendants.

If you change the side of the road you drive on, it gets weird and confusing

[Fresh Wind]

Some Jaguar models solved the problem by having fuel fillers on both sides of the car.

Of course, what they could never get right was the issue of building a car that would run long enough to need refilling.

[chrisser]

Personally, I don’t care which side is “wrong” or “right”, “traditional” or “newfangled”.

Common sense would dictate the filler door to be on the same side of the vehicle as the steering wheel, or in a centrally accessible location.

Personally, I distrust any manufacturer to get the rest of the car right, if they overlook something this simple.

[Docbarleypop]

I have to open the trunk on my 73’ Innocenti (Austin) Mini, the gas tank is in the trunk

[colorado tanker]

Or the drive in movie and never saw a movie!!!!!

They showed movies there? I thought it was just a parking lot where they sold hot dogs and popcorn.

[Always Independent]

My brother had a 65 Chrysler 300L convertible. He had a 45 player in it along with a reverberator which gave the sound system that hallway echo effect. ANd of course it was stolen. But you could ride while it was playing.

[Always Independent]

My brother had a 65 Chrysler 300L convertible. He had a 45 player in it along with a reverberating package which gave the sound system that hallway echo effect. ANd of course it was stolen. But you could ride while it was playing.

[Oztrich Boy]

Common sense would dictate the filler door to be on the same side of the vehicle as the steering wheel,

I see no reason why that would be necessary or desired.

Again: You keep the person filling fuel away from the traffic

[Always Independent]

Ah yes the R10. I had a 69. Great car except for the dog catcher spare tire door up front which would pop down when hitting a good bump.
The first and only car that ever I busted down a set of tires on to put new ones on.

[Always Independent]

I didn’t have the problems you had with the drivetrain. Only a clutch once but it seems to be really reliable and the R10 in my opinion handled quite well. I do have a permanent reminder about using the jack handle to crank the engine. I did it once and goy a pop back and the handle grabbed my thumb. I still have trouble with it to this day. The car was so light that it was much easier to walk it and hop in it to pop the clutch when the battery went dead.

[N. Theknow]

I miss vent windows.

The alternative to a full ashtray.

[N. Theknow]

When did “parking” go out of style? When cars got smaller or when cops went nuts?

When bucket seats were introduced?

Last year my wife and I wound up having to change from our bathing suits, after a day at the beach, in the back seat of our SUV.

We both started giggling as we had the same thought: Been a while since we were naked in the back seat of a car.

And a great big "Thank You" to the inventor of tinted windows.

[RegulatorCountry]

You seem to believe that gas stations just sitting curbside like that are the norm. They’re certainly not in North America. Here, the logical answer would be to put the filler on the driver’s side.

Isn’t it rather stupidly dangerous to have people fueling with traffic running past in the next lane at highway speeds, by the way? Looks like a recipe for a major explosion to me.

[Cowman]

You could also roll of a Plymouth automatic to start it if needed

I was working for a tow company years ago when I heard the story about a guy with a 55 Chrysler 300 that had a dead battery. when the tow truck showed up he suggested push starting the car. The driver said OK but you'll have to get up to about 25 or 30 before that works. He gets into the car and looks in the mirror to see the tow truck backing off a half mile so that he would be up to 30mph when he started to "push" the car