It’s possible that, 30 or 40 years from now, kids will go to old car shows, look inside a classic car from the year 2026 and see these odd little rectangular ports and wonder what those were for . . . not unlike the kids today wondering what an 8-track tape player is for.
How about oil cans? –
Today, oil comes in plastic jugs – a fine idea, because it makes it easier to pour it without spilling about a third of it all over the engine. But until roughly the mid-1980s, oil generally came in round cans that looked pretty when stacked (this was a common sight at service stations, which were different than today’s gas stations, where service is unavailable) but made a mess when you punched them open – yes, really – with something kind of like the tool you use to open up a can of pineapple juice so you can pour it.
Then there’s the radio antenna embedded in the windshield – 
If you can remember the ’70s, you remember fixed mast antennas and also up-and-down antennas. All cars that had radios (not all cars had radios, once upon a time) had antennas to receive radio signals. Some were fixed; the problem there was a cretin might bend it if you parked in a bad neighborhood. Or forgot to unscrew it before you drove through a car wash. The solution was the power (up-an-down) antenna. It worked – until it didn’t. If – when – the electric motor failed, the antenna would not go up – or down. Maybe it stopped somewhere in between.
GM engineers came up with a fine solution. The antenna was embedded in the windshield, where it could not be bent and where it was always “up.” It decluttered the visuals of the car, too. The problem was that reception was weak. That’s why GM – and everyone else making cars – went back to external antennas again, only not the mast type that’s easily bent (or that depends on an electric motor). These are the shark fin antennas that all new vehicles have. In thirty or 40 years, these may look as archaic as a mast antenna looks to us today.
Opera windows –
These harken back to the time when there were luxury cars – as opposed to luxury-sport cars, which is all that exists in our time. Luxury cars made no attempt to be sporty. They did not have bucket seats or console-mounted gear selectors. They had soft, sofa-like bench seats, soft suspensions and whitewall tires. They also had opera windows – round, porthole-like glass located in the C pillar (the structural support for the roof, just behind the front door (in coupes). Opera windows went away at the same time that luxury cars did, which was circa the mid-late 1990s. By the early-mid-2000s, the last stragglers – such as the Lincoln Town Car – went the way of the rumble seat and porcelainized exhaust manifolds.
How about automatic seat belts? –
For about a decade, beginning in the late ’80s and through the ’90s, cars came with seat belts that insisted you wear them. Meaning they buckled you up, like it or not. When you opened the door, the belt retracted and when you sat down, it cinched you down. It was a kind of interim, pre air-bag technology imposed by the government and the car companies, to placate the Safety Cult – which was becoming a mainstream religion around the same time.
They trained people to get used to the idea of always wearing seat belts by making it difficult not to. This was necessary conditioning at the time, because until around this time most people didn’t wear seat belts, even though the government had imposed a requirement that all new cars had to have them some 30 years earlier. So the car companies came up with this automated seat belt contraption that featured a shoulder belt that retracted in a track when the door was opened and draped itself around your torso when you close the door.
Automatic seat belts disappeared by the late 1990s/early 2000s when air bags were mandated by the government, at the urging of the Safety Cultists.
The pull-up emergency brake lever –
This is an item you can still find in a small (and dwindling) number of vehicles made since the early 2020s. Thirty years from now, they are likely to be as curious to the eyes of the future as floor-mounted dimmer switches and choke levers are to the Zoomers of today – because they will have grown up with cars that have push-button electric parking brakes.
Pull-up emergency brakes were mechanical and manual. To engage the parking brake – or to get some braking action in the event of a brake system failure – you pulled up the lever, which tightened a cable that manually worked the rear brakes. You could use the pull-up brake to lock up the rear brakes and get the car to spin around, which was big fun – now gone.
Thirty years from now, some of us who remember may still be around to explain.
. . .
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Don’t forget keyed ignitions! They’re quickly going the way of the Dodo. Fewer and fewer new cars still have them; most new cars have push button only ignitions now…
Eric, I made an amazing discovery tonight while I was researching compact cars, I decided to use Google Ai to compare a 1992 Geo Metro to 2015’s Mirage and “Prius C”
The answers were accurate and amazing (and instant and free).
I asked what is the coefficient of drag and “drag area” for each car, I then asked the hp needed to maintain steady state 65mph driving on the flat no wind. I asked the used price for all 3 and several more questions.
Give it a whirl. Ask questions about cars you know, like the one you are restoring.
—————
what is the coefficient of drag and “drag area” of a 2015 toyota “prius c”
The 2015 Toyota Prius c (known as the Aqua in some markets) was designed for urban efficiency, but it is slightly less aerodynamic than the full-sized Prius Liftback due to its shorter, vertical hatchback rear.
1. Coefficient of Drag (
)
The official coefficient of drag for the 2015 Prius c is 0.28.
Toyota achieved this number through the use of “Aero Corner” styling (sharper vertical edges on the bumpers), roof grooves to direct airflow, and underbody covers. Interestingly, this is the same
as the 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage, though the vehicles have different physical footprints.
Comparison Table: 1992 Metro vs. 2015 Mirage vs. 2015 Prius c
Vehicle (Sliperiness) (Total Drag)
1992 Geo Metro 0.33 ~6.39
2015 Mitsubishi Mirag 0.28 ~6.34
2015 Toyota Prius c 0.28 ~6.20
The Takeaway: Even though the modern cars are much “slippier” (lower
), they have grown larger over the years. This means the total drag area of a modern Prius c is actually very similar to the tiny Geo Metro from 30 years ago. The modern cars use better aerodynamics just to compensate for their increased size.
Would you like me to calculate the horsepower required for any of these cars to maintain a specific highway speed (like 70 mph) based on these drag numbers?
Cash lanes at tollboothes… thanks Spanbitch of VA!
I saw this, Steve –
I also expect photo radar speed cameras. I suppose it’s a good thing the TA won’t be able to go very fast with the four speed and 3.90 gears. But she’ll go quickly!
> GM engineers came up with a fine solution. The antenna was embedded in the windshield…
…or in the rear window. I’ve had two Oldsmobiles, one with each type:
– a ’77 Cutlass Supreme with an antenna that came up the center of the windshield and branched out
– an ’04 Alero with an antenna that came up one side of the rear window and ran along the top
The latter was a surprise, as I thought this type of antenna had long since disappeared. It might have been Olds-only, as I’d swear the other N-cars of the time had antennas sticking up from a rear fender. It even did a better job pulling in radio stations than the windshield antennas of the ’70s.
What killed opera windows more than anything else was that eventually hardly anyone wanted to buy a huge vehicle with only 2 doors. Climbing into the back seat required folding the front seat forward and maneuvering past it. It was like telling your family members to enter a room in your house through a window because you were too cheap to have a door built into that room.
I don’t miss two-door vehicles that seat more than 2 people and are not sports cars.
The pull up handle e brake got me home, 05 Grand Cherokee, when a bolt fell off a front brake caliper & that caliper would rotate into the inside of the wheel, horrible noise. No way you’ll ever modulate the modern ‘parking brake’ these days, tow truck time.
My 69 Alfa had a manual retracting antenna. Push down till it clicked, then a small tool on my key ring to release it.
Remember rear mounted dual antennas, angled back, yep we be stylin’!
Also the rear speaker controlled with a ‘fader control’? Oh yeah.
My 72 duster had a rubber bulb on the floor next to the floor high beam dimmer. It was the “pump” for the windshield washer fluid. It was nice since it could be modulated: A slow press sent fluid to the lower windshield. A sharp press sent it up high. I really miss the simplicity.
My ‘91 Honda Civic had the automatic shoulder belt, was a gigantic pita when it would get caught on something and jam up. Also remember a rental I had from that era where the belt was interlocked with the ignition but wouldn’t start even if it was fastened; it did start if you got out of the car and reached in through the window to turn the key. Technology marches on. 😖
Your comment reminded me of this clip. And the parking lot comment is hilarious too. https://youtu.be/hcSahWlDVqY?si=EFyfrKlEaK2hUKLW
1974 Mercury Cougar XR7 vintage road test (with Lindemann narrating) –
https://youtu.be/PVkMEw97YKA?si=p4bU2jYjY_reZZZb
Nice landau roof car…even with the 18.2 second quarter and “jelly” suspension!
When I was a kid I remember the PSA about a kid showing off to another kid vandalising a car antenna. But later when the kid and father got in the car, the father tried dialing in the radio only to discover the antenna had been damaged and the kid slinking in the passsnger seat. The kid did it to his own father.
I had my standard antenna stolen in 2024. Who the hell steals antennas these days? I replaced it with a short and flexible rubber antenna that I dont have to take off at the tunnel car wash. Im still pissed and want my original antenna back.
Don’t forget the cigar/cigarette lighters.
In the 60s & 70s, American sedans had them all over the place, front and back.
As a kid, it only took one 2nd-degree burn from one to permanently teach you never to touch the glowing orange coil.
Here is a cool little video I found of a vintage road test of my 1971 Dodge Charger 440. This car is almost identical to mine. Same SE model and colors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBSd2QvY7wQ
The narrator ends with, “the power and the handling ability of a performance car are the same ingredients for a safer car”.
Wow…talk about a blast from the past. It cracked me up to hear him say that it got 8 to 10 miles a gallon!
Gotta love Bill Lindemann narrating these old road tests!
“Bud” Lindemann – damn autocorrect
You forgot the little window or foot panel that would open that was the ac I have 2 keys one for doors other for ignition somethings don’t miss others I do like manual windows and seats I don’t need the shit that’s on new cars give me a basic car at good price I have a cd player I miss them in newer cars and I don’t need a 50 speed transmission and engine for a lawn mower with 50 turbos.
1974 Olds Cutlass Supreme road test – from the “malaise era”.
https://youtu.be/Dcg2gZalebc?si=a9yYCHACpbg7qk4Q
Except for the automatic seat belts I’ve got all this stuff on my fleet. It does take a moment though to remember where the gas fill, dimmer switch, hood release etc. is located. On the other hand my Rat motored Chevy won’t ever rat me out to GovCo and that’s a good thing.
Of course who can forget having to pump the gas pedal before starting their car?
How about big and wide trunks? As my friends used to say “big enough for a body or three.” Throw your stuff back there and forget about it. With SUVs all that stuff is in the passenger area, creaking, shifting and moving. Always front of mind when driving. Is it secured well enough? Will it slam forward and end up all over the rear footwells if I brake too hard? What’s that plastic tapping sound? Should I pull over and rearrange to make it stop or soldier on?
But if all that stuff is in the trunk, well, who cares? There’s a pretty good chance unsecured groceries will roll around in the back, but that’s always true. There are solutions. But all those little nagging noises are gone.
And what about two door coupes? Gone, probably forever thanks to airbags, adult-sized child safety seats and minuscule parking spaces to meet code requirements. That big door made entry and exit easier (for the front seat at least) and you didn’t have an enormous B pillar up against your shoulder. Required miles of seat belt webbing for a three point harness though.
Lincoln Town Car, circa 1972, king of the Mafia trunk!
The two door car, yep! Way better visibility no post next to your head. Anyone remember the GM pivoting bucket seat? Even easier in and out, love ya 72 Monte Carlo!
ReadyKilowatt: How about big and wide trunks? As my friends used to say “big enough for a body or three”
You just reminded me of a time at Costco, 15 years ago with my dad. There was a sectional couch near the checkouts (lol Costco). My dad and I are waiting to checkout and some odd, squirrely looking guy in his 60s looks at us looking at the under-the-cushion drawer on this couch and he nestles up close and weirdly mumbles to us that “you could fit a body in there”. I’ll never forget how odd that is to say to complete strangers about a couch, but we just chuckled and anxiously agreed with him.
‘Pull-up emergency brake’ — eric
When I was a lad on a small-wheeled bike, our cars had a foot-pedal emergency brake located next to the kick panel. Below it was a headlight dimmer switch, also activated with the left foot. And a controllable air vent in the kick panel.
Upon first encountering a pull-up emergency brake in Japanese cars, I thought it was a tremendous idea — and still do. My late Nineties, manual shift RAV4 has one. And it is so convenient for hill holding. By comparison, the umbrella-handle emergency brake on the late Nineties Frontier is awkward and hits my knee when operated.
The profound ugliness of e-brakes and douchescreens and 10-speed automatics has not darkened my household.
And I know you will find
There’ll be peace of mind
When we live in a world of our own
— The Seekers, A World of Our Own (1965)
>first encountering a pull-up emergency brake in Japanese cars
Japs copied from the Brits.
My 1960 MGA had one.
Now that you mention it, maybe I first encountered a pull-up emergency brake when a high school friend gave me a ride in a Jaguar XKE. But I was so blown away by that bad-ass straight six that frankly the handbrake was the last thing on my mind.
>bad-ass straight six
Three SUs, IIRC
Some of the British car had a fly off feature on the emergency brake handle.
The button was pushed to lock it ‘on’ if desired but if you just yanked it up it would not lock . So it was an early drift brake, great fun indeed. Had that on my ’67 Triumph GT6.
You forgot the headlight dimmer switch that used to be located on the footboard, Eric. Or two keys: One for the ignition, and one to unlock the doors? And sadly, one day soon manual transmissions will be a thing of the past. “Hey dad, what is that third pedal for”? Ha ha.
Hi Shadow!
What are you doing up this early? I figured I was the only weirdo on these boards… !
Aah well…some habits die hard include staying up late. Just wait until Summer arrives and it is light out all the time. Who wants to work or sleep then??