Automobile advances in my experiences

[Timetrvlr]

My first car was a 1929 Model A Ford sedan and was unique in what was missing from today’s cars. There were no hydraulic brakes; they were strictly mechanical, no power windshield wipers; only one on the driver’s side that was hand operated. There was no ignition key or lock, the starter button was on the floor, no automatic choke, it was on the passenger side, direct mechanical linkage and you could also twist it to adjust the carburettor richer or leaner. The gas tank was mounted horizontally below the windshield and there was a gas gauge in the center of the dash. When the tank was full you could see the gas sloshing around in the gauge. There was also a lever in the side of the steering column and used to advance or retard the ignition spark. This car had a manual transmission; three speed with the gearshift on the floor, running boards, distinct fenders, one taillight, no turn signals, no heater, no a/c, but it did have a windshield that could be opened outward to provide ventilation on hot days.

My second vehicle was a big step up, it was a 1936 Chevrolet pickup. I believe it had hydraulic brakes, two vacuum-operated windshield wipers, and a handy crank-out windshield. Later, I had a ‘39 Chrysler coupe with a foot-operated windshield washer. That was the high life!

Many cars later, I had a ‘64 Pontiac station wagon that I bought from a friend for $400. I was afraid of it because it had so many new-fangled gadgets like power hydraulic brakes, automatic transmission, power windows, etc. I was afraid it was going to break down on me with all those gadgets.

Now I’m swaddled in luxury with a Toyota Sienna minivan. It’s loaded and I’m glad!

Do you remember any of those early cars?

 

[Aunt Bea]

I don't remember them but your post reminded me of my mother.

When mom was in assisted living a local antique car club came and put on a little auto show for the residents. An aide was trying to get my mother to go to see the cars and my mother said: "No thanks, I rode in most of those cars when they were new!"

 

[AZ Jim]

How old are you? I'm 82, born in '36 and my first car was a '41. It was a little Chevy Bel air coupe.

 

[Tommy]

I had a nice car a few years back. It had power brakes & steering and an automatic transmission, power windows, power door locks, power seats, push button start, auto-dimming headlights, auto-tune radio, the plushest interior of any car I've ever owned, ... oh, and a really nifty factory tissue dispenser that swung out from under the passenger-side dash. Well, maybe it was a bit more than a few years ago . . .it was my 1957 Buick Roadmaster. I got it after my grandfather passed.

 

[Trade]

I love the newer cars. My 2009 Accord has 116,000 miles on it and it runs like new and looks good too.

Everything on the newer cars lasts much longer and requires less maintenance than cars did back in the day.

And they are way more dependable.

But I will say this. Those cars back in the day had one thing the newer cars don't have.

They had style.

 

[RadishRose]

Timetrvler, interesting post altho' I did not understand a lot of it A question I wonder about- what where running boards for and why were they called that?

 

[Pappy]

My first car, a 37 Buick, had a straight 8 engine. It had a radio, am only. Vacuum wipers which quit when I accelerate. Leaf springs which gave a tough ride. Two keys, one for trunk. The other went into the dash and the starter bottom was under the accelerator pedal. A dimmer switch on the floor board. No power steering or power breaks. Stick shift on the floor and a front bench seat.

 

[Falcon]

HEY, Ya fergot the "Curb Feelers" !

 

[Tommy]

Ah yes, "curb feelers". As I recall, those were from around the same time as "fender skirts"?

 

[Pappy]

That came later on my 49 Ford. White wall tires, fender shirts, dual exhaust, rub feelers briefly, suicide knob, seat covers, ahooga horn, etc. Sure was fun growing up in the 50s.

Sorry if if I got off the subject timetrvir.

 

[Timetrvlr]

Timetrvler, interesting post altho' I did not understand a lot of it A question I wonder about- what where running boards for and why were they called that?

Running boards were a shelf that ran fender-to-fender just below the doors on those old cars. I think they were called running boards because you could run and jump on them when the car was moving? Anyway, they were handy for stepping into those high-off-the-ground cars.

AZ Jim asked how old I am; I'm only 80 but I got my license at 14 and my dad didn't want me driving his fairly new pickup so he took me to town and used the $125 I had saved to buy me a '29 Ford Model A sedan with a new, bright green paint job. A gang of us used it to chase jackrabbits on the mesa's at night among other things.