What exists on an old car that most people wouldn't recognise today?

[BTB 500]

A compass on the windscreen was very helpful - if I knew which direction I was heading, and knowing whether I was going clockwise or anti-clockwise told me which bit I was on!

I bought a screen-mounted compass after joining a motorway in the wrong direction a few times. The roundabout signage just gave the names of towns/cities in each direction (which meant nothing to me in parts of the country I wasn't familiar with), and didn't mention 'North', 'South' etc. at all.

 

[chic0821]

Crossply tyres or remoulds & just remembered, a steering wheel cover which laced up. Suppose you could get it to match your driving gloves

 

[ALFAitalia]

You can still by remould tyres!.....and my first car, a 1976 R MK 2 Ford Escort had one of those laced steering wheel covers.....much better than burning your hands on the black plastic wheel underneath!

 

[Stratman]

An AtoZ ….. or Atlas of Great Britain

I always carry a road atlas in the car, especially as COMAND has occasionally thought I was in the North Sea or the Lake District.

 

[BTB 500]

I always carry a road atlas in the car, especially as COMAND has occasionally thought I was in the North Sea or the Lake District.

Yep I have one in the boot of each of our cars ... just in case.

 

[BTB 500]

Crossply tyres or remoulds

I had an 1100cc Viva on crossplys. They were lethal in the wet ... I had it swap ends a couple of times at low speeds (without hitting anything, fortunately). IIRC it had 60 bhp and did 0-60 in 20 secs.

 

[ringway]

Good thread.

A chrome inner rim on the steering wheel to operate the horn.

 

[Bellow]

So, of all the things mentioned - who is going to admit to them being present on their daily driver?
Mine has around 20 or so....

 

[st13phil]

A chrome inner rim on the steering wheel to operate the horn.

And a rear view mirror mounted on the dashboard...

 

[ringway]

And a rear view mirror mounted on the dashboard...

And those door handles.

 

[ringway]

So, of all the things mentioned - who is going to admit to them being present on their daily driver?
Mine has around 20 or so....

Fluffy dice?

 

[Bellow]

Fluffy dice?

If you're offering - thanks.
21 on the list!

 

[ringway]

If you're offering - thanks.
21 on the list!

Sorry if I am missing something here?

 

[Bellow]

Sorry if I am missing something here?

Only your furry dice if you give them to me - and take my tally of things from yesteryear on my motor to 21.

 

[ringway]

Only your furry dice if you give them to me - and take my tally of things from yesteryear on my motor to 21.

Ah! I see now. Thank you.

 

[fourwheels]

How about ‘recut’ tyres!
I remember a place in Kingston, Surrey where probably 50 years ago now you could take in your bald tyres and they would recut a perfect tread for a few quid.

 

[Williamwoo]

Good thread.

A chrome inner rim on the steering wheel to operate the horn.


View attachment 125387

Good call - I'd forgotten about them. My dad had a couple of Singer Vogues that had them. They also had what I can only describe as 'linear' speedos - that is to say a thin red strip that appeared horizontally. The faster you went, the more red strip that appeared. Certainly don't see them these days!

 

[chic0821]

Cheap petrol

 

[Trickythemerc]

Duckhams 20/50 stickers

 

[ringway]

Good call - I'd forgotten about them. My dad had a couple of Singer Vogues that had them. They also had what I can only describe as 'linear' speedos - that is to say a thin red strip that appeared horizontally. The faster you went, the more red strip that appeared. Certainly don't see them these days!

Those speedos remind me of the clapometer on Opportunity Knocks!
And I mean that most sincerely, folks!