I remember when cars had...

[NormanBuntz]

wood grain panels on station wagons
locking front wheel hubs on 4x4's
gas fillers behind the swivel taillights on Cadillacs and others
American made tires and automotive parts

 

[PimTac]

Rear facing station wagon seat. They were the best.
View attachment 71312

Those fake wood body panels just gushed luxury, that is until you waxed them and realized that it was just a stick on

 

[PimTac]

Real chrome.

 

[BrianF]

I remember those old station wagons, loved that reverse back seat. Neighbors had one and it rocked. As late as 2001 I cruised in one. Cabbie picked us up on base and we cruised to town. Drinking beer, joking, swearing and laughing.

 

[pghvolvo]

Rear facing station wagon seat. They were the best.
View attachment 71312

The Tech's at my Volvo dealer use to call them the child death seats. People who didn't like their kids got them installed in their wagons.

I'll add in Tri-Power and Six Pak 3-2bbl carburetor setups and dual four barrel and Cross ram set ups. The induction noise that kids today will never know how loud it could be. They'll also never know the induction sound of car with a flipped lid.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Rear facing station wagon seat. They were the best.
View attachment 71312

I remember the rear seats in the station wagons that faced the side. Ford Country Squire maybe?

 

[aquariuscsm]

How about that huge "rear dash" that as a kid you could actually lay on while your parents were driving around, looking up at the sky? We'd always do that at night.

 

[Wolf359]

I used to love JC Whitney

Yeah I used to go through their catalog wondering what I could get for my car. Still have some of their tools like a rear brake tool set. Don't have much use for it anymore but it's still there at the bottom of a toolbox. They're still around but just a shadow of their former self. They probably could have transitioned to be like rockauto today but they missed the boat.

 

[PF52]

The nice thing about the gas filler behind the license plate is it allowed you to pull up to the pump facing either direction. You could fill the car from either side.

 

[Rat407]

Canister oil filters like on the late 50's GM V8's.
Tissue dispensers
Glass windshield washer jar mounted on front driver side inner fender well.
Dome light switch that when you closed the door it pushed the switch in to turn off dome light.
Wasn't too long ago, can't remember the model but you could put your umbrella inside a slot in the drivers door.
6 volt systems
Generator over alternator
VW had a screen for oil filter

 

[manicrodder]

Dad's 53 Imperial was the first new car with A/C and it had a record player. I still remember "Davy Crocket".

 

[Wolf359]

The nice thing about the gas filler behind the license plate is it allowed you to pull up to the pump facing either direction. You could fill the car from either side.

Mine is on the right but looking at the gas lines, more seem to be on the left as there's lines for the left pumps more than the right pumps and every time I see someone using the extra long hoses, it's for the pumps on the right and they're stretching the hoses to fit their filler on the left. So it's nice having it on the right, the lines are shorter.

 

[wpod]

• Radios with vacuum tubes. You didn't want to leave the radio on with the engine off for too long.
• Vents on the driver and passenger
• Generators instead of alternators.
• Two speed automatic transmissions
• 6 volt electrical systems

You must be 100 years old.

 

[Wolf359]

You must be 100 years old.

You don't have to be 100 years old to drive a really old car.

 

[ZZman]

I remember hood ornaments

 

[Hyundai Respecter]

Pop up headlights

 

[Dennywires]

Cigarette lighters, coin holders, physical spare tire. Poor braking, gas mileage lol the list can go forever.

 

[Wolf359]

I remember hood ornaments

I still have them on both Mercedes. Costs about $40 when you snap them off when clearing the snow off. They're starting to get rid of them on the newer models though.

https://www.mercedesbenzstarparts.com/oem-parts/mercedes-benz-hood-emblem-2218800086

 

[4WD]

Was always impressed with luxury cars having turn lights …

 

[4WD]

The nice thing about the gas filler behind the license plate is it allowed you to pull up to the pump facing either direction. You could fill the car from either side.

Not to mention … a great place to hang that tiger tail