One thing I miss about old cars and trucks is the ease of doing any kind of diy maintenance/tune up on them. Try doing that on a new car today.

A wrench, set of sockets, timing light and a screwdriver is all you needed to give yourself diy service and tune up.

 

One thing I miss about old cars and trucks is the ease of doing any kind of diy maintenance/tune up on them. Try doing that on a new car today.

A wrench, set of sockets and a screwdriver is all you needed.

I don't miss the frequent repairs that the ease of access helped for.

A 2025 car gets its first "tuneup" at 100k miles (and today's "tuneup" is new spark plugs).

 

How about the old floor mounted hi/lo beam dimmer switch that were easily operated by pressing down on the switch with your left foot. Anyone remember those?

I think they stop using them around 1977 model year or so. I have to google it for sure.

 

How about the old floor mounted hi/lo beam dimmer switch that were easily operated by pressing down on the switch with your left foot. Anyone remember those?

I think they stop using them around 1977 model year or so. I have to google it for sure.

Those had severe disadvantages in cold climates where salted water in the winter got on the switches and corroded them. They were relatively easy to fix, but still a bother.

 

Listening to the hum of the electromechanical vibrator in tube-type automotive radios while the tubes warmed up to their operating temperatures.

Transistorized radios appeared around the mid '60s, beginning (in my opinion) the age of instant gratification.


EDIT: Updated the date and added electromechanical to better describe the vibrator.

 

Listening to the hum of the vibrator in a tube-type automotive radio while the tubes warmed up to their operating temperatures.

Transistorized radios appeared around the mid '50s, beginning (in my opinion) the age of instant gratification.

What year was that? Daddy's first car with a radio was a 1963 Buick, I think.

 

Hmm. That was another world, pre-1985. Not really a comparison to today, for good and bad.

 

I don't miss any of them, I still own old cars.

Features I have and love:

1) semaphores
2) reserve foot switch for fuel
3) repairability
4) affordability

 

I miss the off-road capability and durability of my '79 Cherokee Chief. Beefy solid axles front and rear, heavy steel skid plate, 360 V8, heavy duty steel front bumper that protected not only the radiator, but also the tie rods, etc.

 

Sometimes I miss my favorite "old car" which I used as my "shop car" for advertising. 1930 Buick Sedan. Two year on-frame resto. It had side air vents, and the front windshield tilted out about 4 inches for more air. No radio or heater.

 

Switches. Actual switches . . . on the dash panel. Properly done, you can figure them out in a heatbeat. My truck has no physical controls for any of the radio/settings, etc. All touchscreen. I don't drive my wife's car all that much but when I do I have to hunt around to figure out how to operate stuff. Just about everything on hers is on the touchscreen.

1967 Malibu SS396! That was a glorious beast.

 

I miss when my car wasn't a walking computer and I needed somone with a PHD in computer sciences to change the oil

My Ford Capri mk2, 1.6, mk3, 2.0 and 2.8i (all 70's80's cars) where awesome

 

Cassette deck with auto reverse

 

wind down windows

 

I still have that on my '01 Super Duty. Love it.

 

That old car smell you dont get anymore, you get that sickening plastic smell,

aka
Austin 1100, Wolesley (sp?) both my Dad's

 

I miss the shoulder room, head room, leg room.

And the admiring looks from the other people as I passed by.

I do not miss the Law that thought it took 6, (yes 6) of them to pull me over for a lecture on driving saner.

Cricket: you mention a speeding ticket.

I got one once for 252 mph on an interstate highway.

Mid 75.

My car easily outran the HP cars, but at the exit was waiting deputies, city police even the game warden.

Memories.

ED

 

In the car show this past weekend there was a sweet Oldsmobile Starfire..they have wheel skirts or valances that are appealing.

My '69 van actually has a foot activated high beam. Wing windows that double as the air conditioning. Manual Pull choke on the carburetor. Points and condenser ignition. 4 manual drum brakes. No power steering. No radio. You show up in a town driving this today and get a friendly sheriff escort to the county line.

 

The old VW starter quit working and it wasn't worth fixing so I would jack the wheel and give it a spin.
I had one onlooker suggest it would not start and wanted to bet me a couple dollars.
I learned how to play a little dumb and was able to make a few bucks making bets like that.
Leave the key off for a coupe spins and look frustrated and even the little old ladies were willing to bet that I would fail.

 

I miss wing windows that could be opened.

That and the vent that raised up on the cowl. Between those two you didn't miss AC when you were moving.

 

Trucks and many cars also had the same type of vents on each side kick panel under the dash.

Heaters, and radios if available, were options.

 

 

Here is one that I really miss.

No damned seatbelt, or a NAG reminding me to buckle the torture device.

Yes I realize the safety aspect.

ED

 

What features of old cars do you miss?

Already mentioned wing or vent windows.

My old pickup has a fresh air floor vent on the drivers side.

The ability to shift out of park w/o pressing on the brake pedal.

Using mirrors instead of idiot lights/sensors.
I understand, mfrgs now-a-day make cars w/built in blind spots for mpg ratings.

The ability to tell the difference from a Ford Galaxy vs. a Chevy Chevelle.
Now-a-day, they all look the same.

The 2 on the right have been sold.
One on the left goes in the paper over the weekend....

FWIW...Don.

 

My '88 F-250 had the vent window.

 

A passenger side rear view mirror was optional...

 

Little rear view mirrors that didn't show anything...

I had a '75 Mustang that had a photo eye to dim the headlights. It didn't work when I got the car

What about smog control was auto choke, EGR, charcoal canister...

Chrome

 

The batteries were definitely easier to get to. Mine is under my floorboard on the driver's side.

 

Not all, some 50s pickups had them under the passenger's floorboard.

And some rear-wheel-drive cars had the battery under the bonnet.

EDIT: I meant to say rear engine drive cars.

The bonnet was the hood in front covering the Frunk.

Front trunk.

ED

 

I have a 1965 Chevelle and I love my big, comfy, bench seat in the front.

 

So, @Cricket is it okay to talk about old car (and truck) things you DON'T miss?