Unusual Vintage Car Accessories You Don’t See Today
Automobiles have come a long way in innovation and design over the last 70 years. Today, cars are equipped with features we couldn't have imagined in the 1960s and '70s. Back then, automakers went to the drawing board to come up with concepts of car accessories that would appeal to the consumer. Not everything made practical sense, like a mini table that folds out in the front seat. But you have to credit General Motors and other automakers for thinking outside the box with these vintage auto accessories you would never see in cars today.
Vinyl Car Cover For Convertibles
This vinyl tonneau cover appeared as an option for General Motors convertibles for a few years in the 1960s. It was designed to protect the car's interior from dust and sunlight while the driver was behind the wheel.
The cover was held in place by snaps, connecting the cover to the various corners of the convertible. The driver's side could be sectioned off by opening a zipper. It's not hard to see why this car accessory option didn't continue.
Record Players In Cars Were A Thing
Aside from the radio, automakers in the 1950s thought drivers may want to listen to their favorite records while driving. This concept wasn't entirely thought through.
Car record players were limited to 45rpm singles, requiring them to be turned over every three minutes to continue listening. This car accessory trend was short-lived in the U.S. but continued on in Europe into the 1960s.
If You Don't Have A Garage, Get A Folding Garage
In the '50s and '60s, some motorists opted to buy a folding garage to cover and protect their vehicle alongside their house. During that time, not as many people had garages, and this was an option to keep their prized vehicles in good shape.
F.T. Keable & Sons designed a "water-proofed, lightweight, and easily carried" portable garage, according to their vintage ad. It was designed in seven different sizes and was so easy that "a child can operate it!"
A Radiator Blind Will Heat Up Your Engine Quicker
It's incredible how far we've come in car design since the '50s! Before there was fuel-injection and thermostatic fans, cars would take a long while to heat up during the colder months.
A company by the name of Aircon designed this radiator blind to help keep the heat in the car engine and warm up faster. Users would attach the piece to the grill of the car, and remove it during the summer. Aren't you glad we don't need these anymore?
Exterior Sun Visors Were Mostly Seen In The '50s And '60s
Today almost every vehicle is designed with interior sun visors that the driver and front passenger can pull down to block the sun. But as early as 1939, automakers were designing sun visors on the exterior of cars and trucks. Some drivers also described them as "awnings."
The visors were an optional add-on for several auto brands, including Ford and Vauxhall. Today, many classic car owners keep the accessory on for style.
An 8-Track Player Installed In The Backseat
Imagine having to reach into the backseat to change the radio volume or station on your vehicle. It seems nearly impossible to do while driving. You'd have to take one hand off the wheel, stretch your arm straight back and blindly try to navigate the dials. General Motors missed the mark on this car accessory option, offered from 1969-72.
Select Pontiacs were designed with an 8-track player that sat on the transmission tunnel in the backseat of the vehicle. The car's dash was designed without the radio in mind and this, for whatever reason, was GM's solution.
Picnics Were Popular
In the 1960s, going for a drive was something fun and relaxing to do on the weekends. Couples, friends, or families could pack up the car and hit the road. After enjoying the sites, it was common to find a park or a patch of grass to set-up a picnic.
Select car models had the option of adding a picnic basket that was made by the automaker. It had everything you needed for a relaxing afternoon outdoors.
The Pontiac Ventura Had A Vinyl Folding Sunroof Option
As sunroofs gained popularity in the 1970s, Pontiac got creative with the concept. The automaker designed the Ventura II with a vinyl sunroof that folded back, opening up the roof 25 x 32 inches. It was called the "Sky Roof" on the Ventura Nova model and a "Sun Coupe" on the Skylark.
The sunroof was also designed with a weatherproof, adjustable wind deflector. You don't see many of these on the roadways.
Car Vacuum Cleaners Sold With Your Car
Another vintage car accessory that you no longer see as an option at the dealer is a vacuum cleaner specifically made for your car, by the auto manufacturer. After all, you wouldn't want to get your brand new car interior dirty, right?
Car owners took a lot of pride in keeping their vehicles spotless in the '50s, and '60s. What would your date think of you if you picked her up in a dusty car?
Select '50s Pontiac Models Offered A Remington Electric Shaver
You could find this Remington electric shaver as an accessory option in Pontiac models in the mid-1950s. General Motors offered the shaver with the car, thinking it would be a useful feature for traveling salesmen.
The shaver plugged into the vehicle's cigarette lighter for power as a quick and convenient option. It also added a bit of flair to the vehicle for buyers who were into that sort of thing.
Before Wheel Grip And Heat, Driving Gloves Were Common
Up until the 1970s, it was common for motorists to wear driving gloves behind the wheel. It would be very odd today if your friend were to put on their driving gloves before starting the car, but that's the way it once was!
Safety and warmth were the primary reasons that drivers wore gloves. But in the late '60s, more cars were designed with efficient heating systems and steering wheels with proper grip, making this trend outdated and unnecessary.
Motorists Could Buy Extra Dials To Pop Into Their Dash
In the '50s and '60s, it was more common for cars to break down. Gauges didn't always read properly and some cars had electrical issues. Often times, the dials would peter out long before other parts on the car.
That's why some vehicles had the option of buying extra dials. Instead of bringing your car to a mechanic, car owners could swap out a faulty dial with a new one in their home garage.
The Sportable Transistor AM Radio
Another car accessory option that we never saw gain popularity is a radio that was removable from the car's dash. Pontiac gave buyers this option in 1958 with its Sportable transistor AM radio.
The radio fits into the dash of the car, where it plays through the car's speakers and electric system. When removed and transported, the radio plays off its own batteries. There are still a few floating around for sale on eBay today.
A Mini Table For Your Front Seat
Have you ever been in your car and thought, "I wish I had a table in here"? Brexton thought this might be a need for motorists, and decided to make a table accessory for vehicles. It locks onto your dash and folds out so you can... do whatever.
This has to be one of the silliest and most extraneous vintage car accessories on this list. But hey, at one point, people bought them!
First There Was The Car Radio Telephone
Before there were mobile phones, select cars had the option of including a radio telephone. The first once to come into existence was in London in 1959.
The trend continued throughout the '60s. The phones operated using a public switched telephone network, with each motorist having their own designated telephone number. The phones were mounted on the car's dash, while the radio telephone's transceiver would be mounted in the trunk.
You Can See Why They Removed The Umbrella Compartment
Believe it or not, Rolls Royces used to have a separate compartment for umbrellas. Assumedly this is so you don't get the interior or your own clothes wet when you stow it away.
Even though these aren't a thing anymore, this really wasn't a bad idea. Hopefully the water was able to drip out and didn't rust anything.
Car Seats Weren't Supportive, So There Was This
Another vintage car accessory for comfort was this "Sit-Rite Back Rest," designed by KL. It promised to help alleviate fatigue and discomfort during long car rides, for either the driver or a passenger.
The Back Rest clipped onto the seat for easy use or removal. It makes sense that a company would market these in the '50s and '60s, as car seats weren't designed with the type of lumbar support and cushioning that we have available today.
Inflatable Seat Cushions For Long Rides And Naps
Mosely, a company based out of Manchester, designed these inflatable car seat cushions that motorists could buy as a car accessory. These inflatable seats could add extra comfort for long rides, or similar to the plug-in shaver, it could be helpful for a traveling salesman who needed to get some rest before stops.
It wasn't a terribly bad idea, as the cushions were a custom fit to the space of the seat.
