Accessories you don't see any more

[franfran]

I saw this mid 60s Holden Premier in a suburban carpark a few days ago. You don't see many cars with venetian blinds on the back window but apparently they were quite popular back then. Can anyone think of any other aftermarket accessories that were once popular but have now almost disappeared?

[AnneCook]

heated rear windows strips that you had to stick on and wire in

[franfran]

heated rear windows strips that you had to stick on and wire in

Not something that you see very often (I could be wrong, but I think my grandfather had one on his Wolseley). Any idea when heated rear windows became standard equipment? Late 70s maybe?

[AnneCook]

Hi fran,
Brian would know for sure but I think you are right early 80's at the latest. Before Skoda became a quality car they used to joke that them fitted so that you had warm hands when you pushed them!

[NickyJ]

Hi, I have one of those stick on back window heaters on my Singer Chamois and believe me it is a real godsend, I can't imagine how you could drive without a heated rear window, my car was really difficult before we fitted it, you just couldn't see out of the back!
I suppose it just goes to show how we take things for granted on modern cars.
Nicky

[koli]

suppose it just goes to show how we take things for granted on modern cars.
Nicky

right , how much can you konw about the cars , sometimes you are only the drivers !

[Mac]

heated rear windows strips that you had to stick on and wire in

Not something that you see very often (I could be wrong, but I think my grandfather had one on his Wolseley). Any idea when heated rear windows became standard equipment? Late 70s maybe?

Much later than that.

[Mac]

From the 1950's: the front window sun visor, the rear-wheel fender skirts, the rear deck air scoops for the after market below dash air conditioner, the vent windows (were standard).

[nbear8]

Those Sun visors on trucks and vans were still around in 1980 s

[legtrailer]

how about the metal strips hanging onto the road to prevent static electricity build-up?

[franfran]

how about the metal strips hanging onto the road to prevent static electricity build-up?

Did they actually work, or did they just disappear because they didn't work?

[AnneCook]

I think it was never proven, a bit like one week butter is good for you - the next it will shorten your life.

[japp_usa]

The thing that comes to my mind, which was advertised here in the States in the 1950s and 1960s (for those old enough to remember) was the gas pedal covers which were like a rubbery material and huge and made any pedal real big and had a cushiony round base which ladies liked because it they could pump the gas pedal like mad and it didn't mark up the backs of their high heels.