Cars have seen a plethora of features come and go throughout the years. While some features become standard due to their utility and popularity, others fade away due to impracticality, safety concerns, or changing tastes. Here are 10 car innovations that didn’t stand the test of time:
Bench Seats
Bench seats, once a staple in many older vehicles, especially those from the 1960s and earlier, offered a continuous seating arrangement in the front of the car. Unlike the individual bucket seats common today, bench seats spanned the entire width of the car’s interior, allowing for a more communal seating experience. They often provided space for three passengers in the front, though the middle spot wasn’t always the most comfortable. As automotive design progressed, bench seats were phased out in favor of bucket seats due to the latter’s superior comfort, safety features, and ergonomic design. Today, bench seats evoke a sense of nostalgia and are primarily found in classic and vintage cars.
Vent Windows
Vent windows, often referred to as “wing windows,” were small, triangular windows situated at the front of a car’s side windows. They were common features in many vehicles before the widespread adoption of air conditioning. These manually operated windows were designed to pivot, allowing drivers and passengers to easily direct a breeze into the vehicle for ventilation. However, as automotive air conditioning systems became more efficient and standard in cars, the need for vent windows diminished. Over time, they were phased out in favor of cleaner door lines and improved aerodynamics.
Ashtrays
Ashtrays and cigarette lighters were once standard features in many vehicles, reflecting the popularity of smoking during the 20th century. As public awareness of the health risks associated with smoking grew and smoking became less socially acceptable, these features began to fade in prominence. Moreover, many jurisdictions implemented laws prohibiting smoking in cars, especially when children are present, further decreasing the need for in-car ashtrays. While built-in ashtrays have largely disappeared from modern vehicle designs, the cigarette lighter socket has been repurposed. Today, it primarily serves as a power source for charging electronic devices, such as smartphones and GPS units, through USB adapters.
Record Players
The idea of integrating record players into cars emerged during the 1950s and 1960s, a time when vinyl records were the dominant medium for music. Luxury vehicles, aiming to offer the ultimate in-car entertainment experience, began featuring these built-in players. However, the concept proved to be less than practical. Bumpy roads and uneven terrains often caused the needle to skip, disrupting the listening experience. Over time, as other music technologies like cassette tapes and then CDs became popular, the in-car record player quickly became obsolete.
Landau Bars
Landau bars are decorative, non-functional features that were once popular additions to the exterior of automobiles, particularly luxury models. Their design was inspired by the landau carriage, a horse-drawn carriage that featured a similar folding top mechanism. The bars, often made of chrome or another shiny metal, were typically placed on the rear sides of car roofs, giving the appearance of a convertible or carriage top, even if the car wasn’t a convertible. Over the years, the aesthetic preferences of consumers shifted, and the ornate nature of landau bars began to be seen as outdated and unnecessary. Today, they are rarely found on modern vehicles, but they remain a nostalgic reminder of automotive design trends from the mid-20th century.
Column Shifter
The column-mounted shifter, commonly referred to as the “column shifter” or “three-on-the-tree,” was a standard feature in many older vehicles, especially before the widespread adoption of center consoles. Mounted directly on the steering column, it allowed drivers to change gears without reaching down to the center of the car. This design was particularly popular in North America from the 1930s to the 1980s. Over time, as car interiors became more refined and ergonomic, the column shifter was largely replaced by floor shifters, which many found to be more intuitive and accessible. Today, while trucks and some utility vehicles might still offer this feature, it has become a rarity in most passenger cars.
Luggage Racks
Luggage racks on trunks were a notable feature on many cars, particularly during the 1970s and ’80s. Positioned on the back of a vehicle, they provided an external storage solution, allowing travelers to secure bags and other items outside the car. However, as car designs evolved and interior storage solutions improved, these external racks became less necessary. Moreover, there were concerns about the security of items left on external racks, as they were exposed to theft and weather elements. Over time, the aesthetic appeal of sleeker car designs without these racks also contributed to their decline in popularity.
Car Phones
Before the widespread use of personal cell phones, car phones were a symbol of luxury and advanced technology in the 1980s and 1990s. Installed directly into vehicles, these phones allowed drivers and passengers to make calls while on the move, a concept that was revolutionary at the time. However, with the rapid evolution and accessibility of mobile phones, built-in car phones quickly became obsolete. Modern vehicles have since shifted towards integrating Bluetooth technology, allowing drivers to connect their personal cell phones for hands-free communication. As a result, the once-prestigious car phone is now a nostalgic relic of a bygone era in automotive tech.
Hood Ornaments
Hood ornaments, once a staple of automobile design, have seen a decline in popularity over the years. Originally introduced as decorative mascots, they became symbols of luxury and status, with brands using them to distinguish their vehicles. However, safety concerns arose, as these protruding embellishments could pose a risk to pedestrians in the event of a collision. As a result, many automakers have phased them out or opted for retractable designs. While they might be viewed as relics of the past, hood ornaments remain iconic, evoking nostalgia and representing a bygone era of automotive artistry.
Popup Headlights
Pop-up headlights, also known as “retractable” or “flip-up” headlights, were a distinctive and iconic feature found on many sports cars from the 1960s through the 1990s. Their unique design allowed the headlights to remain concealed within the car’s hood or fenders when not in use and then rise or “pop up” when illuminated. This design not only added to the sleek and aerodynamic look of the vehicle but also gave these cars a futuristic and sometimes even playful appearance. However, as automotive design progressed, concerns related to aerodynamics, the complexity of the mechanical systems, and stricter pedestrian safety regulations led to the decline of this feature in modern vehicles. While they are no longer common in new car designs, pop-up headlights remain a nostalgic and beloved feature for many auto enthusiasts.
Foot-Operated Dimmer Switch
Back in the day, cars had a floor dimmer switch that drivers used to control their headlights. This switch was first introduced in 1927, after the two-filament headlight bulb made the depressible headlight obsolete. The switch was conveniently located on the floor, allowing drivers to easily switch between low and high beams without taking their hands off the steering wheel. The floorboard area was spacious enough to accommodate these larger, more durable switches. However, in the 1970s, American car designers began to follow European trends, moving the dimmer switch to the steering column. The final vehicles to feature a foot-operated dimmer switch were the 1991 Ford F-Series and E-Series vans.
Vinyl Roofs
Vinyl roof tops on cars started in the 1920s to protect passengers from the elements. They were made to look like the tops of horse carriages, which used materials like leather and canvas. In the 1950s, car makers used vinyl roofs to make regular cars look more like convertibles. This style became very popular in the 1960s and 1970s, especially in America. Vinyl roofs were made in different styles and colors; some even had a bamboo look, like the 1953 Kaiser Dragon. Vinyl roofs are still used on hearses and limousines today because they cover the seams where the cars are stretched to make them longer.
Eight-Track Tape
The 8-track tape, also known as Stereo 8, was a popular audio format from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s, especially in cars. It was developed in 1964 by a team led by Bill Lear of Lear Jet Corporation, along with other major companies like Ford and General Motors. This format was unique because it played in a continuous loop without needing to be ejected and flipped over, making it convenient for car use. The 8-track tape could play for about 80 minutes before starting over, and it didn’t have a rewind option. It became widely popular in the United States and Canada, and by the late 1960s, it was the largest segment in the US consumer electronics market. Some bands still release music on 8-track tapes as a novelty for collectors, keeping a bit of this vintage technology alive.
Automatic Seat Belts
Automatic seat belts were created to make cars safer because not many people used regular seat belts. The first car with these automatic belts was the 1975 Volkswagen Golf. In 1977, the U.S. government mandated that by 1983, all new cars should have airbags or automatic seat belts. This rule made car companies start using automatic belts, but some people didn’t like them because they were hard to use and didn’t always work well with child safety seats. In 1981, the government changed its mind and didn’t make automatic belts a requirement anymore. Interestingly, cars with automatic seat belts had a much lower death rate in crashes than cars with regular seat belts.
Tail Fins
Tail fins on cars were a popular design feature in the 1950s and 1960s, symbolizing speed and modernity. The trend started with the 1948 Cadillac, inspired by the twin rudders of a P-38 airplane. These fins grew larger over time, especially in models like the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado, which had fins resembling jet airplane stabilizers. Car designers believed these fins made cars look futuristic, echoing the excitement of the Space Race era. However, by the mid-1960s, the public’s interest in tail fins faded, and car manufacturers began phasing them out. Some modern cars have subtly reintroduced tail fins in their design, keeping a hint of this classic style alive.
Push-Button Transmissions
During the 1950s and 60s, carmakers like Chrysler experimented with push-button transmissions in cars. This wasn’t the first time push-button gear selectors were tried; in 1914, the Vulcan Electric Shift was used but quickly failed. Chrysler’s push-button system, used in all its automatic-transmission cars, was mechanical, using a steel cable between the dash and the transmission. Other carmakers like Packard and Edsel also tried push-button systems, with Packard’s being electrically operated. By 1965, Chrysler dropped this feature, as it went from being innovative to odd, and it didn’t attract many buyers towards the end. The concept has made a comeback in modern cars, where push-buttons are more feasible due to fly-by-wire automatic transmissions.
Whitewall Tires
Whitewall tires are special tires with a stripe or entire sidewall of white rubber. They were most popular from the early 1900s to the mid-1980s. The idea for whitewall tires started in 1914 with a small tire company in Chicago, which made them for horse and chauffeur-driven carriages. Originally, all tires were white because of zinc oxide, a substance that made tires white and improved traction. But, because white rubber didn’t last long, manufacturers added carbon black to increase tire life, leading to the creation of black tires with white sidewalls. Ford introduced whitewall tires as an option for their cars in 1934, costing $11.25, which is equivalent to about $246 today.
Curb Feelers
Curb feelers, also known as curb finders, were devices installed on cars to help drivers know how close they were to the curb. They were usually springs or wires placed near the wheels of the vehicle. When the car got too close to the curb, these feelers would scrape against it, making a noise to alert the driver. This was really helpful to avoid damaging the car’s wheels or hubcaps. Curb feelers were especially popular on cars with whitewall tires, which could easily get marked or damaged. Besides cars, curb feelers are also used on buses to help drivers park close enough to the curb for passengers to get on and off easily.
T-Tops
T-tops are a unique feature in some cars where the roof has two removable panels, creating an open-air driving experience. This design was first patented in 1951 by Gordon Buehrig and used in a 1948 prototype by The American Sportscar Company. The 1968 Chevrolet Corvette was the first U.S.-built production car to feature a T-top roof, which helped increase its popularity. T-tops were made from materials like safety glass or acrylic and could be body-colored or black. They were popular in many sports cars and some other models from the late 1960s to the early 2000s. The T-top design was inspired by the convertible, but offered more rigidity and safety by retaining a central structural bar.
Woodies
Woodie cars, also known as woodie wagons, were a unique style of automobile with bodies partly made of wood. They started as utility vehicles in the early days of the car industry, where the passenger compartment was made of hardwood. This style was a modern take on the older horse-drawn wagons used for hunting. In the 1930s and 1940s, woodies became popular in the US and were made in various forms, including sedans and convertibles. However, by the 1950s, all-steel bodies replaced wood construction for reasons like strength and safety. By 1953, car makers stopped using real wood and started using products like sheet-vinyl to give a simulated wood grain; making the family station wagon an American icon.
