Legends Never Rust
Cars used to have personality—and that’s not just your gearhead uncle’s opinion. This personality went beyond how a car looked to include the little quirks and gadgets tucked inside. Remember the smell of sunbaked vinyl and the satisfying clunk when the door closed, or the way the dash lights glowed amber instead of a bright LED white? This isn’t nostalgia for the sake of it; some of these outmoded features made driving feel like an experience rather than a means of getting from point A to point B. It was hands-on, more personal. Fewer touchscreens meant more knobs you could twist without taking your eyes off the road. And yes, a few features that made absolutely no sense but were fun anyway.
1. Bench Seats
This consisted of one long, uninterrupted cushion across the front when someone needed to squeeze in “just for a short ride.” Everyone of a certain generation has a childhood memory of their dad forcing the littlest sibling up front between him and mom to make room in the back.
2. Vent Windows
Remember those little triangle windows you could pivot open? There was no button, no electric motor—just a latch. This little window let in a refreshing slice of fresh air without the wind tunnel effect blowing out your eardrums.
3. Manual Crank Windows
Most people are probably happy to see this one phased out. After all, who could be enthusiastic about having to roll down the window with a few quick turns of your arm? The only upside was that in colder climates the window was less likely to get frozen or stuck when it was manpowered.
Santeri Viinamäki on Wikimedia
4. Cigarette Lighters and Ashtrays
Times have changed, and not every corner of society has a smoking section. Back in the day, even non-smokers used these little contraptions. The lighter worked for fireworks, starting campfires, sealing rope ends. If you didn’t smoke, your built-in ashtray inevitably became a container for spare change, screws, or gum wrappers.
5. Hood Ornaments
These felt like shiny, little mascots leading the charge down the highway. Some were graceful leaping animals, others were just gleaming brand badges. It didn’t matter if you were driving some junker down the street, that hood ornament still felt like a statement piece.
6. Column Shifters
These days, the hefty steering column is rare outside of some pickup trucks, SUVs, and commercial vans. Nowadays, the shifter is within easy reach of your right hand, but back in the day, it was mounted on the steering column instead of between the seats. This freed up space for that bench seat and gave the interior a more spacious look.
7. Pop-Up Headlights
At one point, believe it or not, these seemed entirely space-age as they blinked open in the parking lot like the car was waking up. Not the most aerodynamic idea ever conceived, but they had a certain charm that made you think you were looking directly into the future.
8. Analog Speedometers
Everything is digital these days, but there was something primal about watching that needle sweep across the dial as you eased on the gas. You could glance and feel the speed, instead of reading a digital number giving you your speed with all the thrill of a microwave.
9. Cassette Decks
These allowed you to do far more than simply listen to music. They let you make your own mix tapes, record radio shows, or use those cassette adapters for portable CD players. And the satisfying click when the tape flipped sides—unmatched.
10. Full-Size Spare Tires
We all remember the first time we popped a tire and had to go digging around in the back panel for the spare. We’re not talking about those modern skinny emergency donuts that wear down to the wire in under a hundred clicks but a hefty tire you could drive on without a sense of urgency. Oh, how times have changed!
11. Floor-Mounted High-Beam Switch
Let’s be real, that little button you tapped with your foot led you to accidentally blind oncoming drivers with your high beams at least once or twice. There was no fumbling on the stalk to change the lights, only a slight change to your foot position that made you feel like you were part of the car.
12. Handbrake Levers
This was no wimpy electronic button but a real lever that made a pleasant ratcheting sound when you yanked on it. You may or may not recall having used it to pull off questionable parking lot maneuvers, leaving a trail of burnt rubber in your wake. This was a rite of passage for teenage boys if ever there was one.
13. Real Keys
There was a pleasant simplicity to having a metal key, cut to fit, with a little wear and tear from years of use. You could drop it on the ground or toss it across the room without worrying about disrupting the delicate electrical features. If you lost it, you weren’t out hundreds of dollars either.
14. Dome Lights with Simple Switches
On, off, door. There were no complicated menus or the need for advanced degrees and instruction manuals to navigate the digital settings. You simply reached up and flipped it on to read a map or to help you find something in the glove box.
15. Chrome Trim
We’re not talking about plastic painted silver but actual solid metal. Not only did it suggest a level of quality that’s lacking from many contemporary vehicles, but it caught the sun in a way modern matte finishes fail to do.
16. Glove Boxes with Latches
This came with a proper handle you could turn, rather than a flimsy button. It often came equipped with a little lock, even if no one ever used it.
17. Side-Mounted Antennas
Gone are the days when cars came equipped with a thin whip of metal you can pull up or push down. Everything is Bluetooth and digital nowadays, and even though that antenna often got bent in the car wash, there was something tactile and enjoyable about having it.
Dragon White Munthe on Unsplash
18. Dash Clocks
Remember those analog faces with little hands? Some even had wind-up mechanisms before electric clocks replaced them. They gave the dashboard a touch of jewelry rather than the appearance of a supercomputer.
19. Tailfins
Pure style—sort of. These chrome-edged taillight additions swept upwards like a rocket about to launch. They may have failed to serve any useful purpose, but they were no less wonderful to look at.
20. Trunk-Mounted Keyholes
Truthfully, you probably aren’t missing the hassle of a separate keyhole just for the trunk. No fob, no interior lever. You unlocked it, turned, and lifted. Pushing a button and watching it lift for you is actually a welcome change.
