Another Top 10 / Best Features of Classic Cars - Gone, But Not Forgotten

[@valengreymoon5623]

Contrasting and color-matched interiors. with a wide selection of said colors. The thousand shades of gray we have today, is just so depressing.

[@petestaint8312]

Agreed! So boring and uninspiring.

[@rightlanehog3151]

I concur.

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

We mostly have black...not grey. But there are a lot of examples of car with some colour in the interior to make some contrast, like that blue line on Dacia's dashboard or the fake red stitchibg on Citröens

[@petestaint8312]

@@TheAllMightyGodofCod any color scheme helps. 👍

[@Romiman1]

In Europe/Germany we even haven't the choice between black and grey anymore. Todays interior-color-choices are very inspired by Henry Ford's color-policy for the Model T... I love black for cars. But please, only for the underbody!

[@jay241971]

Adam, this is one of my favorite videos - and that is saying a lot since I like everything I watch of yours. I too miss so much of what you feature here, especially the chrome, bench seats, gauges, VENT WINDOWS (!), nice door interiors, carpets, and hidden wipers. All of these items sort of hail back to a time when cars had real, individual personalities - something that seems to be lacking in today's automobiles. I get so frustrated with how generic vehicles are today. As a side note, I am like you in that I really love the Mercury of the 1970s. Thanks for all of your videos that are jammed-packed with beautiful cars and nice info/trivia. Keep them coming!

[@davidfrania8990]

Cornering lights are probably my favorite feature on this list as they were so helpful in lighting up those dark corners when turning. I had them on many of my cars back in the 70's and 80's and I definitely miss them. They really should make a comeback!

[@DanEBoyd]

Some of the late '70s to early '80s Cadillacs appeared to use a sixth headlight in the cornering lamp position!

[@AJ67901]

You can still get them on high level RAM trucks! Chrysler/Stellantis also offers them on some Jeep models. The same goes for auto headlamp dimming and rain sensing wipers.

[@Vaino_Hotti]

Many new german cars have cornering lights, other makes too. Though nowadays it's often just moving headlights / dynamic beams.

[@Wasabi9111]

@@Vaino_HottiI think a lot of new cars have both dynamic headlights and cornering lights that only come in at low speed. I currently have 3 modern cars w cornering lights - bmw, polestar and Chrysler.

[@wmalden]

My 2018 Buick Regal TourX has cornering lights. I have always had a “cornering light fetish”. The first car my family owned that had cornering lights was a 1977 Ford Granada Ghia. When the hazards were activated, both cornering lights illuminated. I notice many of Adam’s cars have them. 👍👍

[@Primus54]

Another great list, Adam. As a generic statement, I just miss the variety of trims and options a new car buyer used to have. It was so enjoyable to go through a brochure and order a car that was truly “customized” from the get-go. I was looking at an online copy of the 1960 Buick brochure the other day and just the sheer number of exterior and interior colors and fabrics to choose from was mind blowing, to say nothing of the engine and transmission choices.

[@robertheitner1534]

My uncle had a 2 tone 56 Desoto, Pink and white. There were literally about 280 color options with the 2 tones you could order from the factory. You could not get all colors, like a 2 tone pink and orange, but the choices were numerous. There were at least 20 something different colors. Go through a parking lot today and 90% of the cars are black, white or some 50 shades of gray; so boring.

[@AJ67901]

The '71 through '78 Eldorado cornering lamps were huge. They were mounted high on the fender, and they really put out a lot of light. Back in the 70s I never thought a car was really loaded unless it had cornering lamps.

[@donswier]

Luxurious CLOTH seating! Somehow OEMs got the public believing that leather (cold & hard in winter / clammy & hot in summer) is superior to quality velour & cloth. Until people start sleeping on leather sheets, I'll get my comfort from textiles.

[@rogersmith7396]

Mercedes used to claim leather was terrible in cars and pushed their artificial MB Tex. Leather looks good when new and shitty when old.

[@rogersmith7396]

Reminds me of moms white leather Cadillac after the basset hound got through with it. Do it yourself black leather.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Adam, I desperately miss the abundant headroom and comfortably raised seat height of the sedans and wagons of yesteryear. Today's sedans ( there are no wagons) are so low slung that you have to drop into them and climb out. Once inside, you will soon discover people over 6 feet were unaccounted for in the design process. KZbin objects to the word 'varity' when I try to type it. 😁

[@andrewinaustintx]

Pet peeve #4 with the deletion of the front vent window, the channel for the main front door windows was removed and the result is on many vehicles the front window will rattle on bumpy roads when it is partially opened. The solution to the rattle would be to put a fixed triangular shaped corner glass in the front door, so a vertical window channel could be fitted.

[@jshannon5771]

I miss the big car ride, we didn't care about body roll, but yes I completely agree with your top 10 list.

[@nycstarport8542]

How about sitting down with a salesman and ordering a car; and he would ask you 'do you want this option' And your fantasy answer would be 'I want it fully loaded'

[@jetsons101]

One thing I really miss is good visibility when making a left for right turn "mostly a left turn" The A pillars are so large at the base and then the oversized mirror also blocks your view when turning. A few times while making a left there were people in the sidewalk that I didn't see till I was a little too close for comfort (never hit anyone) NOTE: This is about my truck so the mirrors are real big and the A-Pillar base is Real huge.

[@jimurrata6785]

THIS! And much higher beltlines mandated by side impact requirements. When your 'safety cage' obstructs the view to the point you can't see your surroundings something has gone wrong...

[@robertheitner1534]

I have a local yield intersection, where the road from the right is coming up a hill, and at the normal stopping place, the passenger mirror completely blocks both lanes. I have to stop sooner or farther on to see if any cars are coming.

[@allenwayne2033]

@@jimurrata6785 Totally agree! A vehicle that you can barely see out of is anything but safe!

[@mrsnezbit2219]

I daily drive a 1965 car (well I'm a truck driver but when I'm home that's the car I use), if I have to use a modern car I feel discomfort in how I can't see sh*t around me, it feels so nice and open in my car and while parking or on intersections I can just look around me

[@CrazyPetez]

Mouse fur - LOL Vent Windows - The world is my ashtray.

[@Dilberts_Dogbert]

Clear windshields for those who didn't smoke😎

[@P.Galore]

The one you haven't mentioned is fender mounted turn signal indicators. Not only did they look cool, but the odds of drivers leaving their blinkers on was near zero.

[@paulbourgeois4491]

Your comment reminded me of my uncle's Fury's that he had in the seventies... Loved the fender mounted turn signals... Great memories of my terrific aunt & uncle!

[@danielulz1640]

They could often be seen by drivers beside you too.

[@rodrigooliveira-tu2mw]

Greetings from Brazil i very much like your videos , i miss , soft suspentions, 15 inches wheels today cars have to be sport focused only , design looks all the same , column shift a love , bench seats yes l am an old school and l am proud of that. Thanks Adam for the great job you did in this kind of video , keep it up the good job.

[@danielestrada1850]

If I may add, I also long for upright hood ornaments along with longer hoods that made for such an imposing view from the driver's perspective and which in a way helped one keep the car well centered in traffic lanes.

[@discerningmind]

I agree, and a hood ornament makes the driver feel like they're driving something special, because usually they are. When Mercedes deleted the hood ornament several years back, people were really disturbed by that. And they received notice from many loyal buyers to bring back the hood ornament, and they did. Then a few years later Mercedes deleted them again but offered an alternative front-end option that included the hood ornament. It was called the Luxury Package. The Mercedes with the giant star in the front grill is the base version, and the Luxury Package changed it to a more traditional horizontal grill with slats and a hood ornament above.

[@djplonghead5403]

Playing American truck sim, the hood ornament really helps keep the vehicle centered in the lane.

[@MMB11969]

Hi Adam, thank you very much for your another great video! One more useful feature to mention - on some old (classic, if you will) cars, windshield wipers moved on pedestal when not in use, creating some clearance between wiper blade and windshield. Some makes did that for rear wiper on SUVs till recent times. Great feature, preventing an accumulation of dust and sand on blades and by that prolonging the life of rubber blade as well as extending scratch free appearance of the windshield.

[@edwardpate6128]

I loved those amazing cornering lights on those old Cadillacs! My grandfather had a 73 Fleetwood Brougham and when driving out in the country and going to turn into their gravel driveway out in the middle of nowhere they were amazing!

[@waynejohnson1304]

Adam, you hit the nail on the head with this video. I agree 100% with everything you said here. I really don't think that the car companies care what the customer wants anymore.

[@Sulfuron41]

I loved these videos. They brought a really different but neat/very true list of features that make classics so endearing. Unfortunately, I feel like many people today just don't care for cars like they used to. They're just an object that gets them from A to B. I feel like back then, people had more of an affinity for their cats because they were hard to get. Now it's so easy to get a loan or sign a lease for practically whatever one could want, and used cars (until recently) were incredibly inexpensive. It's now a common sight to see driveways with two, three and even four cars. A lot of people don't care or hardly even notice much about their vehicles. It makes me sad.

[@votingcitizen]

ooops, Great Variety. I would move hidden wipers higher on the list of wants. I like that clear hood-to-windshield look and it would improve aero Cd as well, I reckon. I am 100% with you on gauges and center console geegaws. The advent of the "infotainment" panel was a turning point. For the worse in my view. Obviously, going digital is way cost effective and the center display of back up camera view is pretty handy. However, too many people seem to want to use the back up camera exclusively and forget the cardinal rule of good driving, Keep you eyes moving and your head on a swivel.

[@rogersmith7396]

They would freeze solid in the winter. Also shut off internal air flow.

[@jayjaynella4539]

Also extend life of wiper blades being hidden from the sun and heat of summer.

[@djplonghead5403]

Back up camera is not a government requirement in US

[@bradleybprentice1497]

Hi Adam. Your videos are really enjoyable. I have such fond memories of riding my bike to the car dealershipsin my small Canadian town during the late 60's as a kid. It was always so exciting to see the new models being delivered and marvel at the innovative features they had, like side marker lights, hidden windshield wipers, and headlights. Those features were the talk of the town back then and it's amazing to think about how much things have changed since then in terms of tecnology.

[@paulbourgeois4491]

I'm 6'4" and 325 lbs, good God I miss my big, comfortable 70s cruisers! I had a '77 Chrysler Newport that drove on a cloud, and a big 77 Plymouth Fury Squad with a 440 cop engine. The "egg" shaped cars can't hold a candle to the 70s beauties we used to drive... Sigh...

[@bobc.6908]

My older sis had a 67 GTO, it had a Reverb switch for the AM/FM radio, sounded good when I was 13. I saw the Reverb on a few other 65-72 Pontiacs, but only Pontiacs.

[@markythelarky6948]

3:32 Totally right. My 1987 Lincoln Mark VII has a thick black carpet, that after 36 years of use, is still deep black, thick and plush. While my 2006 Pontiac Vibe's carpet turned crusty, hardened, and flat. Also, I want to add, hood hinges used to last forever. Today every hood and tailgate has stupid shocks that get worn and have to be replaced.

[@cdstoc]

A great list! I had to comment on a couple of them: #9 Cornering lights. My 2017 Buick LaCrosse has them but they're built into the headlight assemblies. I didn't even know it had them until I drove the car at night. In the old days they came on with the turn signal switch, but nowadays they're also triggered by turning the wheel, and only at certain vehicle speeds. #10 Hidden wipers. I'm glad you mentioned the Corvette with its moving panel. I thought that was the ultimate in wiper hiding.

[@christopherkraft1327]

Hey Adam, great list!!! I really do miss cornering lights, I've owned several cars with them & found them useful. I agree about the carpet & door panels. The carpet in my 18 Continental is cheap looking, nothing like the plush carpet in my 75 Mark lV & my door panels are mostly cheap looking plastic with a little bit of wood. Hidden wipers were nice too!!! 👍👍🎄

[@rogersmith7396]

My 74 TR 6 had Winton wool carpet. A disaster on a leaky convertable. Jute backing. The car always smelled like mildew. Promotes rust of floor pan. But looked good when new.

[@Pamudder]

@@rogersmith7396 So very British! LOL

[@dave900575]

No one mentions it, but I really liked the headlight dimmer as a floor switch, at least in Fords. 1.) My foot reflexes are faster. 2.) If I'm in the middle of a turn my hand isn't near the lever on the steering column. 3. That was my cymbals when I was jamming to a song on the radio.

[@CJColvin]

What I really about old cars is the huge variety of V8 engines you get from each brand you get.

[@sc1338]

That cover pic is absolutely amazing

[@rondpert5167]

Hidden wipers were a great visual improvement. But they still got packed with ice and snow and being hidden, there were much harder to clean.

[@craigbenz4835]

That's why I hated them.

[@discerningmind]

Very good, Adam. I liked hidden wipers and especially the articulating version. However, while they did keep falling snow off of them when parked, during operation they also packed the hidden compartment with a lot of snow and ice. The compartment would develop so much snow build-up that when the wipers were parked, there would be enough pressure on them to bend the blades. As well, over time this would result in a loosening up of the wiper transmission components.

[@billh4477]

Completely agree about the gauge clusters of cars from my youth. I particularly remember the drum speedometer in my dad's 67 Riviera, I thought that was so advanced! And then he had a 74 Grand Am with the tach and speedo on the outsides, and 4 mechanical gauges in the center of the dash, all surrounded by real wood trim. I remember thinking that they could stop working on dashboard designs after that one, because it was perfect! A pet peeve I have about current dashboards is the "just drop an iPad there" approach where the infotainment screen is mounted on the surface, not incorporated into the dash itself. I'm old school - I want that navigation screen to be part of the dashboard, not stuck on top of it like a prototype or a science project.

[@Primus54]

I’m actually surprised that the recent trend of oversized “tablets” stuck to the dashboard pass safety requirements.

[@SD9Driver]

The only newer vehicles that have a decent guage cluster would be pickup trucks, GM in particular.

[@shaylernoah1178]

100% agreed. That tacky feature has actually swayed me from buying certain cars

[@billh4477]

@@shaylernoah1178 Yes, it has eliminated cars from my list potential purchases as well.

[@LynxStarAuto]

The 67 Bonnie is my favorite GM car of yesteryear! That front end styling is mesmerizing to me. Plus the coke bottle quarters, it's just sexiness on wheels.

[@wilcoautomotive545]

I absolutely love cornering lights the first time in my memory of a car with one was a 76 Thunderbird that my great aunt gave my dad. I don't remember if my grandfather's 77 DeVille had Corning lights but it probably did.

[@mattcrooke8321]

That’s so so true regarding the transmissions. The endless pursuit of fuel economy has wrecked the smooth shifters. It’s such a shame.

[@dragon81heart]

Absolutely agree 100% with the vent windows, mechanical gauges, and better carpet (and headliners as many modern cars have such terribly cheap feeling and looking headliners) Cornering lights were a nice tough as well. Last vehicle I had that actually had those was a 1993 Mercury Sable (the cornering lights were cleverly hidden in the side marker light/turn signal housing) One thing I would absolutely include to this is climate control systems that didn’t automatically turn on the air conditioning for some functions. Sure if my windshield is foggy the A/C being on does help a little, but I definitely do not need it on when trying to melt snow and ice off of the outside. Just wasting fuel and adding wear and tear to the A/C system having it turn on when I don’t want it to. Wasn’t really a big fan of the hidden wipers to be honest, especially when they would stay up awkwardly on the windshield when in delay settings. Plus it made them more difficult to change/clean any debris off of them mainly in the fall. They do look nice when hidden away but I don’t miss the hidden feature at all lol Also, can we please stop taking buttons with tactile feel away replacing them with touch screens that have zero tactile feel. I absolutely hate that trend as well lol Really love these videos!

[@bryanaisenbrey7188]

Decent AM radios. My two ‘69s have incredible radio reception compared to my modern car with a top line audio system. Modern isn’t always better. Great videos, Adam! Please keep them coming.

[@gregjarvis3052]

1 feature I truely miss is ROOM ! Being 6'6", there are very few cars I'm comfortable in. The best cars I had with room in them was my 73 Ford LTD and my 73 Didge Polara.. I now drive a Crown Vic, which is OK, but can't match those 2 cars for comfort & room

[@indianasunsets5738]

Bench seats...yes! 👍

[@althunder4269]

They were good for getting cozy with the girlfriend.

[@dmandman9]

As a 58 year old, I remember all of these features either in cars I’ve worked on or ridden in. You’re making me feel old😂.

[@MillerMeteor74]

I was one of the people who mentioned bench seats in the last video, and I think you mentioned comfortable seats in the last video, which I completely agreed with. This was another great list.

[@barneymiller6204]

I think the penny pinchers were the reason for the demise of most of these. The vent windows were a great feature, they kept the side windows free of fog way before there were side window defrosters or before AC was commonplace.

[@johnmaki3046]

They were QUALITY! "vehicles" today have NOT A TRACE!

[@curbozerboomer1773]

My 1957 Lincoln Premier had power vent windows!..I miss those vent windows, they seemed practical.

[@OldDood]

My 2000 Park Avenue had Cornering Lights. They were not near as massive as the ones of yesteryear but they did throw out some decent light when turning.

[@freetoroam7769]

I have a '76 Coupe DeVille so I can still enjoy most of the great features you mentioned. Thickly padded door panels and carpet, scratch resistant chrome bumpers, and ooooh, that wonderful TH400 transmission. Just to name a few. My daily driver is a last generation Grand Marquis. Acres of plastic!

[@agostinodibella9939]

I always liked the turn signal monitors on top of the fenders that my 1971 Plymouth Scamp had.

[@garyruark9506]

My dad thought his 1968 LeMans was so cool with the hidden wippers. He showed them to everyone. Cadillacs had huge cornering lights. Door panels improved in the mid sixties. By the mid 70's they were padded and had a lot of details. I miss whitewalls. The last car I had with them was my 2006 DTS. The instrumemt panel in my truck is so plain and shared with many other vehicles. In fact, my Camaro has the same guage cluster. Cost sharing! Vent windows are cool too. They did away with them when cars started coming with AC. I hate the multi-speed automatics. They make the driving experience terrible. Don't get me started on engine choices. GM doesn't offer a 6 cylinder in the Silverado. The only engine they offer that doesn't use preminum fuel is the small V8. Another great video Adam!

[@dannyg6592]

I agree on the hidden wipers as they enhanced the aesthetics of a well designed automobile back in the day. And I do like mechanical gauges. With close to 100% installation of air conditioning as standard equipment and far fewer smokers, I do not miss vent windows. Never was a fan of bench seats or chrome trim. And my BMW ZF 8 speed shifts far smoother than any of the older transmissions. It is silky smooth.

[@ryans413]

I love analog gauges. It’s fun watching the needle go up and down I don’t know it is for me lol

[@jetsons101]

Almost everything on this list was killed by the "Bean Counters." Think how much they saved on each car by dropping the vent windows, for example. The Torque Flight, C-6 and Turbo 350/400 some of the best automatics ever, even the Power Glide. Thanks to Adam for another great watch.....

[@jamesengland7461]

Um, I'm pretty sure the bean counters didn't kill the 2 speed....

[@jetsons101]

@@jamesengland7461 Power Glides were great, they were light and simple and great for drag racing, not the cast iron ones that is.

[@jamesengland7461]

@@jetsons101 I know all that. But with fuel crises in the early 60s and 2 in the 70s, drivers really needed 4 speeds, not 2 or even 3, but THAT'S where the bean counters failed us.

[@rogersmith7396]

A modern 9 speed automatic will cost many times what the old 3 speeds did. The computer crap bounces the price up too.

[@jetsons101]

@@rogersmith7396 What ever happened to keep it simple. A few years ago we had a very base Chevy Aveo, no lie, it was one the best cars we had, it was like the Energizer Bunny - - - it just kept going and going and going.......

[@freddyhollingsworth5945]

I miss all the fine detailed emblems and brand symbols all over the car including the hood ornament. Even fake wood carvings on the door panels and very beautiful hardware such as the surrounding trim piece around the C-pillar inside map lamps. I also miss how easy it is to see out of the older cars. You can literally see how to back up and park the car due to the low belt line and trunk. Of course the biggest thing that I miss is the ultra plush cloth seats like found in the Cadillac Talisman and the early 80's Buicks. I also miss the diesel engine options on most every car like you could get from the late 70's to the mid 80's. Great video!!

[@WhittyPics]

I miss the chrome bumpers too. Everything today is painted plastic and if you bump them, it will leave a mark.

[@WhittyPics]

Adam, I really MISS the PILLOW ride of these old cars

[@jimmiesmith5811]

Yeah chrome gave a car that extra something even the low end vehicles had some type of chrome on it and it's the same thing with these new boomboxes no chrome

[@gregt8638]

Thank you, Adam, for another thoroughly enjoyable car video! Regarding the biggest cornering lights made, I would think the '65 Cadillacs (very large one that was then shrunk in '66) and the 74 Cadillacs ( which had a double one) I really miss cornering lights! They were very helpful safety feature when driving at night and rounded corners. I was also surprised that European car companies like Mercedes or Volvo, which always bragged on their safety, never had them.

[@325xitgrocgetter]

I would add side marker lights that would flash out of phase when the parking and headlamps were on or flashed in phase when the parking and headlamps were on. This was used mostly on GM cars through the 70s into the 90s....Ford used it on the first and second gen Taurus and Sable and Honda used it on their products from the early 80s to 90s. I think Chrysler used it on the M body and some of the K based cars. I know my Dodge Dakota has it as well. I'll have to do a video of it. I think this has been replaced with turn signal repeater lamps mounted on the leading surfaces of door mirrors or on front fenders.

[@CLT77664]

Yes I miss nice carpets! My mother drove an '85 Fifth Avenue, and the carpet was so plush... you just wanted to be barefoot in that car (and those velvet overstuffed seats were awesome, too)! Even my '72 Plymouth Gold Duster had nicer carpeting that my current 2020 Challenger Scat Pack! Your "rat fur" analogy for today's carpets is spot on!!

[@henrysniper8481]

I give you an A+ for your thesis as these 10 really speak to me ! 😄

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

Cornering lights are something that you would think would be mandatory since they make turning safer. Vent windows are something I really miss. Plush carpet and cloth seats are so much better than leather seats and floor mats

[@SierraJohn]

Never realized how great vent windows are until I got my '66 T-Bird. You get nearly as much air as you do with the big windows down but without all the noise and wind.

[@accept_everything_]

I found it more astonishing how they gave the body of that Bonneville the needed rigidity although it lacks a real B-pillar... 😳

[@davestvwatching2408]

Funny thing about vent windows is how excited manufacturers and car reviewers were to get rid of them.

[@motomuso]

On the flip side are features that are gone and should stay gone. I'm thinking about the headlight dimmer foot switch, really more of a "button" on the floor to the left of the brake and accelerator pedals. Having it on the turn signal stalk makes it much more readily at hand and allows a quick flash of the brights in the daytime.

[@rogergoodman8665]

I agree about the floor mounted dimmer switch. I liked the position they used to mount them in but in states that get snow like my state (Pennsylvania) they didn't last very long since they were always covered in a snow/ salt mixture and always corroded or shorted out. On some cars I had to cut them from the cars since the screws were always heavily rusted and drill new mounting holes in the floor pan. On some cars I even had to make new panels to even be able to mount a new dimmer. Good riddance to them!!!

[@tomdelisle8955]

What is the first car pictured in the video. Really neat looking. I really dislike computer interface screens for display and operating the climate and stereo controls. Bring back buttons!

[@michaelv3340]

Really, the door trim panels on my '86 Mustang look really much nicer than the '87 Mustang even. Nice vinyl and carpet with some neat chrome trim on it. The biggest problem with modern carpets, is they seem to really want to hold onto dirt like a magnet.

[@robertdryburgh1457]

I must have missed it. When did they start calling trim panels door cards? Door card seems to go along with the plastic sameness.

[@michaelv3340]

@@robertdryburgh1457 I always thought the term door cards as the British term. On very early cars, it was probably an accurate term. I've never heard the term from an American, until recently. Probably picked up from Top Gear.

[@robertdryburgh1457]

@@michaelv3340 Thanks. That seems likely.

[@RichardinNC1]

My BMW X3 has cornering lights and partially hidden wipers. Unfortunately the cornering lights only come on when the wheel is turned and you’re well into the corner. I do miss carpeting on the lower door panel. Even my 75 Cordoba had great carpeting. The ZF 8 speed automatic can shift very smooth, especially with a torquey V8. Engine/power train choices are limited due to time and cost of emission certification.

[@motomuso]

Flat screen gauges and controls require drivers to take their attention from the road whereas actual three dimensional controls can be accessed via muscle memory and touch. While I'm sure most of us RCC&AH fans are not big on government oversight, this gee-whiz / iPad / glass cockpit trend is a real safety issue which should be looked at by legislators.

[@bradhampton6457]

I miss the vent windows that many Chrysler products had back in the 60s-70s.

[@douglasthrelfall5318]

The C4 Corvette had cornering lamps front and rear, the rears were supplementary back up lamps. I owned a couple of C4 Corvettes and really like the additional illumination when reversing.

[@andregonsalvez9244]

Great 👍 show Adam ! These bean counters today have really screwed the consumers today .

[@luisaragon8933]

Very informative from a mechanics point of view. A longer video would really teach kids about yesteryear

[@jimmacmurdo355]

I can certainly agree with your comments about transmissions. My wife's Hyundai Santa Fe has an 8-speed that, when on anything other than absolutely flat roads, gear-hunts with abandon. On a recent trip on 2 scenic byways in Arkansas and Oklahoma, I don't think it ever stayed in the same gear for more than 30 seconds. Compared to the CVT in my now-former Subaru Forester, it's frustrating at the very least. The Subaru's CVT is the model of smoothness, varying engine speed only slightly to deliver whatever torque is needed at the particular moment. I far prefer it's characteristics to these multi-speed wonders.

[@rogerhinman5427]

I think three words describe why most of these have gone: Safety, CAFE, cost.

[@jloudy]

The deep carpet felt good on bare feet in the summer. But it always fell to me to vacuum out the interior after a trip to the beach, at which point that carpet became my sworn enemy. I was only 13, though, and my reward was getting to drive the car to the end of the street and back. One hopes the statute of limitations has run out on that crime.

[@troynov1965]

Good dependable straight 6 engines is something that I miss. I also miss not being able to get a plain jane vehicle , roll up windows , bench seat, rubber floor mats instead of carpet etc... Sometimes you just want something affordable you can drive back and forth to work and do not need all the expensive bells and whistles. All you might need is a radio and a heater. Not only does it make more more affordable but more dependable as well. Less stuff you have less stuff to break down and repair. Modern cars have too much crap on them you do not need, especially trucks! If Im hauling firewood , scrap metal , gravel, dirt or any other kind of crap I want a cheap work truck. Not something with leather massage seats , a full entertainment center, fancy expensive paint and power everything. If you are too lazy to roll a window up and down then you do not need a truck.

[@rightlanehog3151]

👏👏👏

[@charlessorrell1226]

My 93 corvette had cornering lights. Still miss that feature

[@markdc1145]

A lot of these features were cool but I don't miss bench seats! My GF had a '70s Chevy Nova and she had short legs. I always felt squashed against the windshield whenever she drove. 🥴

[@rogersmith7396]

A power split bench would solve the problem.

[@Dilberts_Dogbert]

Split bench the perfect solution all the comfort none of the knee crunch😎

[@OLDS98]

Very well stated Adam. You and others miss and have come to appreciate so many things we no longer see. I prefer digital gauges. I cannot stand analog gauges. If I wanted needles and dials I would get a watch. You hit the mark on everything you said. You said it well too. Thank you again.

[@loveisall5520]

A sign of your age with those gauges. Plus, with digitals you have to read them just like my Casio digital watch. With needle gauges you don't have to, as with an analog watch.

[@judgegixxer]

So when you see a digital representation of an analog gauge on a flat screen what happens to you? lol

[@DanEBoyd]

@@loveisall5520 One cool thing with needle gauges is that you can clock the gauges in the bezel, so that the needles all point straight up when running in normal operating conditions, so that you don't have to actually 'read' them. I liked the digital gauges thirty years ago and thought they were cool, but anymore I prefer the 'steam' gauges. (I had no idea they were going obsolete...)

[@OLDS98]

@@loveisall5520 I am not saying my age, but I do not think it is a sign of my age. I just am not a fan of them and I grew up with analog gauges. I am not a fan of the set up in cars like Teslas either.

[@OLDS98]

@@judgegixxer I have seen the reconfigurable clusters. Those are fine. Cadillac has those where you can switch from a digital to analog look. They are not the only ones either.

[@cheez1012]

I loved the usefulness of cornering lights, our 2004 Nissan Quest had them and even as a rider, I appreciated how they illuminated the side when you turned on the signals. Nowadays cars have a feature where the one fog light turn on whenever you signal to cut costs instead of installing a corner light, but I think cornering lights are something that should be integrated on every car because of how helpful it is whenever its dark. Edit: A few of these on the list don't exist because of A.) Cost cutting B.) Safety standards C.) Emission standards D.) Technology standards

[@loveisall5520]

Brand loyalty made sense in GM in the old days; my parents were die-hard Pontiac buyers because my father liked the original '55 Pontiac V8 and its derivatives all the way into the seventies. He didn't like the nail-head Buick V8 but an uncle always bought Buicks because of those engines. Same with yet another uncle with the Olds V8 of '49 and all its derivatives. The other corporations? Not so much...

[@jamesengland7461]

But all the brand differentiation is done by the same people at corporate HQ.

[@slicksnewonenow]

@@jamesengland7461 not back then. Up until about the mid Seventies, each GM brand pretty much had their own chassis, engines, transmissions, brakes, etc. Although they shared basic body structures starting in the Fifties, each make truly did have it's own unique personality up until about 1975... Although as the years passed from about 1955 until then, those identities waned a lot.

[@jamesengland7461]

@@slicksnewonenow HQ was calling the shots the whole time.

[@jamesengland7461]

GM did all the market placement and artificially played the brands against each other. It was all puppetry.

[@pmscalisi]

@@slicksnewonenowthere were plenty of interchangeable parts between GM cars in the 60’s. My uncle owned a parts yard that specialized in GM vehicles, hence , that’s what I drove. Suspension parts, engine parts and even some body parts would fit several cars. I used to get Nova parts for my Camaros and they fit fine. My Impala could use Pontiac and Oldsmobile parts they were identical. GM was the master of rebranding.

[@CheckThisOut77]

RE: Great carpeting. My 1974 Lincoln Mark IV had the deepest carpeting INCLUDING the trunk and spare tire cover!

[@kevinvoyer5053]

Other have mentioned and I must also. That is the great number of color choices available inside and out! With sometimes as many as three different shades of a color! Not to mention the outside body colors and top colors.

[@michaelnault5905]

This time of year. The old cast iron V8's put out serious heat with the fans on low.

[@dallisb1047]

I had a 77 LTD. The shifts were pretty smooth. Just a little bit of a feel. That was a good highway car. Fort Bragg NC to Indianapolis.

[@sc1338]

I love top gear, but it has brainwashed people into thinking these old land yachts were terrible cars… totally missing the point on why they were made. i used to think that way too until hoovie and you really showed their purpose!

[@RareClassicCars]

Yes. These were never meant as handlers. Their mission was comfort, pure and simple.

[@mytinplaterailway]

One of the wonderful things about older cars is the amazing names. Often modern cars have made up words for names - pretty much unpronounceable.Or just letters and numbers. Many of your cars have fantastically evocative names.

[@JT-SE-OHIO]

I miss all 10 plus several more which you might have mentioned in another video. I really miss the dimmer switch on the floor. My left foot has nothing to do. I have had to repair 4 or 5 switches on the turn signal and the Impala I'm driving needs replaced now. I never had to replace one that was on the floor, they were metal instead of plastic. A few of the big GM's (the ones with fender skirts usually) I have owned had a telescopic steering wheel which I liked also.

[@CalTxDude]

"MOUSE FUR"!! LMAO!! Adam, I love Your own euphemisms that you use, especially the distasteful or them that leave wanting!

[@flyonbyya]

Mech gauges rock Drove my sons brand new chev truck 6 cyl diesel last night…very nice, but the needs the rich look of guages

[@rogersmith7396]

The big Smiths gauges in my Triumph are classic. 5 inch diameter I think. Maybe 6 inch.

[@jmi5969]

Hidden wipers - good in winter? Perhaps the Americans somehow managed to do it, but my VW is quite the opposite. It's a PIA to de-ice. No that it happens every night, but when it does the whole cavity between the glass and the hood becomes one monolith iceberg. The good thing is that is still has all-mechanical tacho and speedo (but not the fuel and temp gauges). Even when the computer disconnects and the odometer freezes up, the dials are still live.

[@danr1920]

Agree with the door panels. It's sad when my '85 Ford Tempo had nicer door panels than my '14 Honda Accord. I agree on the other nine as well. Have a rental Mustang right now, the transmission is terrible. At times it feel like someone is learning to drive a manual.

[@rogersmith7396]

My pet peeve is the trans will over downshift by 2 or 3 gears for a slight rise in the road then hold the lower gear going down hill. An mpg killer. I force it into manual at times but if it were a manual I would always have the gear I want.

[@theroach1012]

My 2005 Lincoln Town Car has seven of those 10 features.

[@dougpowers1965]

Although there is something to be said for road feel, I really miss the super easy recirculating-ball power steering of the 70's, like on the big Fords. Owned many of them and just loved the "pinky power steering" of these cars!

[@bc5441]

LOL When #2 appeared, my first thought of an unintrusive transmission was a slender shift lever mounted on the steering column rather than something the size of the handle of a golf club sticking out of the middle of the dash of a minivan or SUV!

[@msmeyersmd8]

Great video. As I get older, I really appreciate how luxurious and smooth riding the cars from the 1960-1975 era were to drive. The corner lighting is something that I am surprised went away. It was very convenient with a long hood extending way out front. On my Dad's 1965 Fleetwood Cadillac and eventually my 1973 Monte Carlo. In high school after I got my license in October of 1974 as a Junior in High School. I rode the School Bus until then. Girls were definitely not impressed by that. I could use the 65 Caddy or the 66 289 Mustang Convertible my Dad had. Depending on how I thought the date would go. And the weather. My "experience" with girls was zero...get it? Until I finally had a date with a very cute "experienced" girl while driving the Caddy in December of 1974. Damn, I miss that car.

[@OdditiesOffcial]

Wow! Great video! So glad I discovered this channel! Let the binge watch commence! What’s the green car at the 6:35 mark? Lastly, how many cars do you have Adam? Thank you! Amazing work!

[@brhmpl]

I have a 2015 Ford Taurus SEL. It has plenty of options and features, but for some reason, no cornering lamps, no interior foot well lights and most annoying, no underhood light. I've had these lights in all my cars over the last 45 years!

[@michaelsladek9819]

Agree on bench seats. Would also like to see manual transmissions come back. But I think that ship has sailed.

[@patcurrie9888]

My 1985 Buick Riviera had 9 of those features. The lone missing one was vent windows. It did have frameless glass though.

[@Gary7even]

My theory on carpeting: Blame the Germans. Domestic manufacturers from the late 80s through the 90s looked to Mercedes and BMW as the benchmark for "luxury" and those German cars had short-pile carpeting. Sometimes (as in the case of Audi in the 90s), the carpet was more like velour fabric than actual carpet.

[@rogersmith7396]

Well heeled consumers decided kraut mobiles were the nazz.

[@EristiCat]

Re: automatic transmissions. My perception isn't so much a difference between the smoothness of old versus new but shift quality. Even when you could feel the old transmission shift they did it with authority. New transmissions try to be smooth but the shifts often feel out of control. Half way thru the computer will decide apply pressure is too high and reduce it causing a drop in acceleration thru the shift. I suspect a lot of it is caused by the computer controlling it all instead of dumb hydraulics.

[@captainjohnh9405]

Bench seats were conducive to dating and the spawning of many a child in those days. My first "interlude" was on the front seat of a 74 Grand Prix. Aaahhhh, those were the days. Oh and after a window steaming session, nothing like opening the vent windows to cool us down and clear the air.

[@perryallen7663]

Amen! These youngsters don’t know what they are missing.

[@wilcoautomotive545]

My wife's 2017 Subaru Outback 4 cylinder CVT actually does a pretty good job under light throttle it acts like a normal CVT but under heavy acceleration it has shift points which makes it feel much like a conventional automatic. I've driven some earlier cvts that when you want to get on the interstate it just brings the RPM up hi and just buzzes your way up to speed which is not very pleasant.