Ridiculous Car Gadgets : wrist wheel?

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

CHECK OUT OUR CLASSIC CAR THEME T-SHIRTS! amzn.to/3xEVr48 THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! The BOCA BROTHERS are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We receive a small portion from Amazon to help support our channel. Purchasing a T-shirt from our store does not cost you extra.

[@daveogarf]

The "Wrist-Twist" steering system was a FORD invention, dammit! The proof-of-concept car was a MERCURY! Your cred just took a DUMP.

[@JeffMiletich]

Yeah, that brain fart really jumps out at you.

[@dihydrotestosterone]

Sometimes I wonder if they are really car guys ....

[@jhutch1470]

The Hurst Lightning rod shifter was a huge hit with car guys. They had a reverse lockout, so the story of accidentally shifting into park is a hoax.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching and the comment. Hope you're a subscriber to our channel.

[@mr.fourspeed2007]

Those shifters are really cool.

[@mikeholland1031]

The lighting rod part is BS. No way to put it in park or reverse by accident. Has a lockout like any other automatic. Computer doesn't know how many shift levers are there nor would it matter. Do they just make this stuff up?

[@gregvarner9562]

In regards to that swivel seat, putting it in the full reverse position allows the mom to level a quality beatdown to the brats in the back seats. 10 out of 10 for that piece of ingenuity.

[@craigmarr7986]

Your comment really made my day. Thank you.

[@billyclub9733]

There was no automobile seat that could ever get in the way of my mom delivering a flying fist as needed. Or just in case

[@wildcman]

That wrist twist car looks like a Mercury to me

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching! Hope you subscribe to our channel if you haven't already!

[@davidkastin4240]

Looks like a Mercury because it is a Mercury.

[@jimjohns9595]

Look at the bullshit response you got from this channel. Not worth watching!.

[@bobhoward6676]

The first one #10 you said Chevrolet created this unique new wheel when clearly it is a 1965 Mercury by FOMOCO

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Bob the video was used as an example. Cut us some slack.

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@ThisOldCarChannel _"A similar system is seen here on a contemporary Mercury"_ would have fixed it. Give _us_ a break. There is also certainly nothing 'ridiculous' about window cranks that never fail. All automobiles had them for decades.

[@zacharygerhart8504]

Vinyl roofs are hard tops covered in vinyl to simulate A convertible. They didn’t make roofs out of plastic.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thank you for watching, your comment and we hope you are a subscriber. It really helps us out!

[@johnsorensen2088]

If Chevrolet invented the "wrist twist swivel system", why is it shown on a Mercury in this video?

[@WhittyPics]

You are showing that twist wrist steering on a Mercury but you said it was a Chevy Idea

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

It's used as an example Dennis. If could have found a Chevy video I would have. Same concept. Thanks for watching.

[@jaimeres]

Love the Foghat 8 track at 30 seconds.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Me too. lol My brother voiced and produced the video and I noticed that. Thanks for watching and the comment. Hope you're a subscriber to our channel.

[@taratupa73]

There was nothing wrong with the swivel seats or the Swing Away steering wheel. Not ridiculous at all. In fact, very practical I think.

[@PRH123]

I believe there are cars that now offer those features.

[@jelly7310]

My brother's 74 Monte Carlo had them and I thought they were very cool.

[@davidnieve6444]

Great fore old people like me!

[@taratupa73]

@@davidnieve6444 And me, too!

[@mpetersen6]

There is no possible way the vinyl roof was meant purely to cut costs. In fact the production build schedule did not necessarily reach down into the body shop. Finishing the roof seams helped insure body integrity.

[@mrpoohbearlvr]

Loved the swivel seats in my Monte Carlo! Great feature....came in handy for ......"playtimes" hehehe!! There are small refrigerators and ice in luxury cars(Maybachs) & others for the Chinese market. Plus tea servers and fully recline rear seats, as your being chauffeured around.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Hehe! Thanks for watching Marc. Make sure and subscribe.

[@richcar3434]

I had a Monte with swivel seats too...they were great, and contrary to what the narrator says, they did lock fowards and sideways too!

[@danielallen8817]

Better hope your kids don’t see this

[@davidkosach3095]

My 2002 Mini Cooper came with a cooler inside the glove box. Kept the beer and the hot chocolate hot !

[@joeg3741]

Swivel seats sound awesome

[@petervanhavermaat9839]

A friend of mine had swivel bucket seats in his '75 Cutlass and they were Awesome...

[@jamesslick4790]

Chrysler may have done it first in the '50s, But GM really got some use of the concept in the '70's. My Mother's Monte Carlo had them. Coolest shit!

[@automatedelectronics6062]

The swing-away steering wheel was a good idea in the Ford T-Birds as the car was really a compact car and kinda sports car, which made it difficult for anyone but a small person to slide in and out of the driver's seat. In the original T-Birds, they had telescopic steering columns, common today. GM had tilt steering wheels back in the early 1960's, and other makes soon followed. Today, on some modern cars, the entire steering column moves up and down as well as in and out to assist the driver. Oh, and the swing-away T-Bird steering column would only unlock when the shifter was placed into Park. They didn't come loose anyother way. If there was a problem, they would have been locked in permanently, and I've never seen that. The swivel seats were a great idea and were available for many years. They were especially helpful for handicapped and older people. After they were no longer available as an option on new cars, the aftermaket, those dealing with handicapped needs, stepped in. These types of seats were very expensive, sometimes costing well over $1K. Some not only swiveled but would lower the person out of the vehicle to transfer to their wheelchair. And yes, as some of the older swilveling seats, they did lock into position. Oh, and guess what? The swiveling seats that also turned backwards, would have been advantages for child seats, where parents didn't have to turn around nor look into the rearview mirror to check on their little ones. Also, what would have been better for the kids than to be facing backwards should the vehicle get into a front collision. Better than airbags any day! Then there is the aircraft-type steering yoke. Maybe not for regular people, but again advantageous for the handicapped. Also again offered by the aftermarket handicapped industry, a quarter turn each way lock-to-lock, allowing a person with limited arm movement to drive. Also another feature useful to people without use of their legs, like an aircraft, push the yoke forward to stop and pull it towards you to accelerate. Imagine a paraplegic being able to drive and never having to remove their hands from the steering yoke to fully operate a vehicle. I am surprised at your un-thoughtfulness that the ADA isn't all over this video. Maybe they will catch it or maybe someone should bring it to the ADA's attention?

[@imrytebeehyneu]

Volkswagon picked it up with their Vanagon. Have these invention not invented, it would've been a different approach. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHTYc5WjaKaIeqs

[@jimlubinski4731]

The wheels locked into place, or you couldn't put the car in gear. In addition, when the wheel was swung to the side, the car could not slip our of Park. The swing away wheel was actually a very beneficial feature.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for sharing!! Thanks for watching. Please subscribe.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Yeppers! Thanks for watching. Please subscribe.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

We really think so to. 😁

[@donb782]

Had a 1960 Plymouth Fury. Had a swivel driver’s seat, push button transmission, a rectangular steering wheel and a dash mounted rear view mirror. Looks like the push button Transmission is coming back but not so the other features!

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

Which body style?

[@donb782]

@@SpockvsMcCoy It was a big honking 4 door sedan

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

@@donb782 With the "Sport deck tire cover"?

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching Don. Please subscribe.

[@donb782]

@@SpockvsMcCoy I did not have that feature which I always thought was cool

[@jamesslick4790]

My old ass still instinctively jabs at the floor to change the headlight beam. "muscle memory" is a beach.

[@davidmagen415]

I remember the swivel seats in the Monte Carlo and loved them

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Yeah, my uncle had a '73 Malibu with the swivel seats. I thought it was pretty cool as a kid. Thanks for watching and the comment David. We hope you are a subscriber.

[@christhompson3750]

Some of the Malibus had them too.

[@fredsimmons6188]

I don't know about the GM cars, but I had a 1960 Imperial with swivel front seats. They definitely locked into place.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

Which model?

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching Fred. Make sure and subscribe!

[@peterscott1784]

Surely a vinyl roof is just a normal fixed roof covered in some material to make it look fancy, not a plastic roof like a convertible? I'm British, but that doesn't change the fact a vinyl roof isn't quite what the confused description here says it is.

[@jimlubinski4731]

You are absolutely correct. The video implied that the a vinyl roof was a plastic roof, not a roof covering.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Yeah, It was just cheap Peter. Thanks for watching. Please subscribe.

[@robmclaughjr]

It was a big sound deadener also

[@mikeholland1031]

They don't seem to know the difference between a vinyl roof and a convertible top.

[@jamesslick4790]

Your first assumption is correct. I had a car with a vinyl roof and the vinyl was in bad shape. I paid the body shop who was also repainting my car just remove it. (not a cheap job BTW!) It's simply an applied decoration. cars with vinyl roofs have normal steel roofs!

[@mitchlehammers1883]

they said chevy came up with this wrist twist steering system but the car they show with it is a mercury

[@-oiiio-3993]

01:22 - "Chevrolet created this unique new wheel that would lock the driver's wrists into holders with levers to shift gears..." The video shows a woman driving a _Mercury_ with twin undersized steering wheels without 'wrist locks.' There was nothing wrong with swivel seats, they did lock in place. Water bumpers were used for years on city buses in Los Angeles. There was nothing wrong with swing a way steering wheels unless one counts cost. Vinyl roofs (landau tops) were applied _over_ steel, not in place of it. Auto record players were intended for use while parked, not while driving. Subaru Brats were good vehicles.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Merry Christmas and thanks for watching. Make sure and subscribe!

[@PRH123]

Subaru Brats were awesome, saw a lot of them back in the day. And yes vinyl was just the covering of the roof, and there was a long period of time when more cars had them than didn’t, it was very popular.

[@derekcrymble9085]

Twist wrist was never manufactured . It was a concept display only . You know , like the extra equipment on the Bat-Mobile or the Speed Racer Mach Five , or the "It Motors" on South Park with the dildo seat .

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching. Please subscribe.

[@tomfrazier1103]

The wrist-twist on a '65 Park Lane. I used to drive one with a regular steering wheel. My Lesabre and Corona had vinyl roofs. Japan had long made El Camino/BRAT Type car/truck combos since the 1950s. The Corona RT-46 was only briefly retailed in Hawaii, a Toyota Corona pickup. No seats in the bed though. One resides in the collection of Servco-Pacific, whom offered for sale 3 Toyopet Crowns they unloaded here in Dec. 1957. Elsewhere in the U.S. those Crowns were for sale in 1958. Datsun followed that year with their Bluebird cars & pickups.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for sharing Tom! Thanks for watching. Please subscribe.

[@danielulz1640]

Wrist twist steering was developed by Ford Motor Company and is being displayed on a Mercury convertible.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Yes Daniel. Ford Lincoln Merc. Thanks for watching and the comment. We hope you are a subscriber.

[@MrRoboskippy]

You take it back. Lightning rods were awesome.

[@davidkosach3095]

My 2002 Mini Cooper came with a cooler inside the glove box. Kept the beer cold and the hot chocolate hot ! It was great

[@nysavvy9241]

Swivel seats were great.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks Ant! Thanks for watching. We hope you're a subscriber.

[@billhillyer334]

Water balloon bumpers in northern Minnesota were making crushed ice long before crushed ice was cool 😂

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

You forgot the optional removable transistor radio from the 1958 Oldsmobile. The model is sitting in the front reversed seat of the pink 1961 Buick Flamingo. The Flamingo was a show car based on the 1961 Buick Electra 225 Convertible..but Buick never offered reversible seats in production cars.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

We've got to add that on our second edition video. Thanks for watching. Please subscribe.

[@georgewashingtonvii926]

The Ford Thunderbird tilt wheel would only swing away when the car is in park. It was locked in place.

[@pal98111]

I still would like a swivel seat.

[@o.k.therapper141]

Wrist twist was Mercury not chevrolet

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Oh we know that. It's the example that we are conveying. Thanks for watching. Please subscribe.

[@Flies2FLL]

The Subaru Brat was amazing! I wanted one in 1984 but was more than happy with my '77 VW Rabbit, but those cars were cool and Subaru is talking about bringing them back.

[@davidkosach3095]

Our full size conversion van had swivel bucket seats ! The ladies loved the fold down seats along with the privacy screens over the windows ! Talk about instant nudity !! You were popular if you had this 👍 It was in 1980 🥳

[@burkestorti4586]

That's not a Chevrolet, it's a mercury. Duh!

[@DTD110865]

The last year for the Toyota Van was in 1990. I had a. '85 Toyota Van in the past, but it had no ice maker

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Luck you. Thanks for watching and for sharing. We hope you're a subscriber if your not already?

[@BusterTucker]

Loved the belly on up to the glove compartment for a cocktail in the 57 Cadillac with the suicide doors!

[@jsldj]

The jump seats in the Subaru Brat were my favorite!

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

They were certainly different! Thanks for watching. We hope you're a subscriber.

[@davidnieve6444]

My friend Paul had a Brat when we were in our teens / twenty. God, we had fun in that ride!

[@tetchuma]

Don’t forget, “Liquid Tire Chains” for GM vehicles

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Oh Wow! May need to do a second edition. Thanks for watching!

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

Canister in the trunk filled with a deicer controlled by a switch on the instrument panel. Only offered on 1969 Chevrolets and ordered by only 2,600 customers. Sultry 1969 Chevrolet Caprice commercial showcases it. Imagine all the engineering for an option that flopped!

[@phillips2683]

The “Minu Bar” in the Cadillac... “What’d you mean I’m Officer DRUNK?”.

[@dave900575]

I still miss the foot activated headlight dimmer switch. My foot reflexes are quicker than activating the lever on the steering column.

[@laszlohalaszi9727]

Love the swing away steering wheel on y

[@laszlohalaszi9727]

My 64 tbird

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

The ultimate would be having a car with a built-in ice maker, mini bar, built-in record player, swivel seats including the passenger seat that could be made rear-facing and the water balloon bumpers just in case you get a bit distracted with all that entertainment and comfort and hit another car, lol!

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

And an EJECTION SEAT when someone pisses you off. 😆😁😆

[@-oiiio-3993]

You omitted the retractable hard top and reverberator.

[@BobZed]

The extra seats in the Subaru Brat really weren't ridiculous. They were a practical solution that let Subaru get around a truck tax and sell the Brat for less money. Sure, you could pay extra to not have the seats, but why? Subaru made it convenient and easy to remove the seats, which is what most people did.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Good info bob. Yes, it was the loophole that got them in the U.S. I kind of like them as a teen. My brother and I were raised Corpus Christi, Texas and we saw plenty back in the day at the beach!

[@tips4truckers252]

Lighting rods are badass

[@Flies2FLL]

I OWNED a 1982 Datsun/Nissan Maxima, and it had the infamous "talking dashboard". I basically abandoned this car at Indianapolis airport, but my best friend Roy needed to use it after it had been sitting there for two months, and not only did it start QUICKLY, it started to talk to him: "Door is open! Door is open". It never did that for me. I have found out later that this actually used a tiny plastic PHONOGRAPH and these are now collectors items, worth well more than the car is worth. Even more that what I paid for it in 1997~!

[@buddywayne1]

Some of the stuff they're selling on cars now, I'd consider stupid, like heated steering wheels. It's just more to go wrong as far as I see.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Electronics.....You love em or hate them. Thanks for watching. We hope you're a subscriber.

[@jameslenox8229]

Agreed, but when your hands are freezing it's nice!

[@gtpcruiser02]

buddywayne1.... Love my heated steering wheel in my 2017 Impala Premier to warm up my hands in winter.

[@kc0lif]

in car phonograph be cool. suicide doors, vent windows.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks Chris! Thanks for watching. We hope you're a subscriber.

[@malaiseexpert-]

I knew this video was crap when they said swivel seats

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

It's NOT crap. It's INTERSTING crap sir! Thanks for watching. Make sure a subscribe.

[@PMillz20020]

Wow... this was fascinating! Net had no idea any of this mess even existed. LOL

[@char1737]

That husky at the end along with the Cutlass

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Hey Hector...hehehe. Thanks for watching. Make sure a subscribe.

[@vwforever4131]

We have a 90 VW Westy Vanagon. It has swivel seats. It's great when we're just hanging out. Of course we won't use it when moving. It does rock a little bit, but that can be adjusted.

[@knighttuttruptuttrup8518]

That was great, thanks.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching!!

[@blackpool321]

Touch screens in cars is a ridiculous feature.

[@randall1959]

Chevy? That first one is a Mercury. Chevy never had the swivel wrist steering wheel. I had a Monte Carlo with swivel seats. They locked when driving. There was a lever on the side. I loved those seats.

[@billlittlejohn2331]

I had an El Camino once and I put swivel seats in it. They locked when forward and only turned to the outside. I remember the Tbird had the steering column that slid out of your way. It worked much better than your video states. Heard about the record player. My buddy had a Ford Fairlane that came with a cassette player that also recorded.

[@christhompson3750]

Some of the Mercury Cougars had the swing away steering wheels too.

[@jamesslick4790]

Some early 70's Chrysler products also had Cassette RECORDERS ( and it was during the height of the 8 Track era, so even a Cassette PLAYER was kinda rare!)

[@jomama01]

Embarrassingly poorly researched material, starting with crediting Chevrolet with wrist controls for steering - and showing what appears to be a Mercury with them. Everything fobbed off as being ridiculous was something the public shelled out money for - and in the case of the “ridiculous” vinyl top - appeared on millions of vehicles in the 60’s and beyond.

[@boristheamerican2938]

Back in the 70s as a teenager my friends and I made up a power gadget for a car called "power nothing". It basically was a button when pressed wasted energy.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Too bad nothing ever became of it. haha! Thanks for watching and the comment. We hope you are a subscriber.

[@citygirlfarm]

I miss cigarette lighters.

[@tommysanders7414]

And ashtrays!!!

[@matthewkraemer3265]

Toyota never stopped making vans. They just stopped selling that type in the US…

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for your comment Matthew. Thanks for watching. We hope you're a subscriber.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

I worked at a dealership that had a used Toyota Van like that...incredible build quality but tipsy handling due to the short wheelbase.

[@79tazman]

My uncle has the record player in his Chrysler and it works pretty good you have to hit a big bump for it to skip but it does take up room and so does the records but back before cassettes and CDs was the record player and I think it was a cool option

[@craigmarr7986]

You forgot 8-track tape decks.

[@PRH123]

That would be awesome if you could put up a U Tube video of it in operation. Until today I had no idea such a thing was ever offered

[@stuart8663]

Think youre being a bit harsh. Some of these were innovative and excellent ideas, perhaps they needed refining, thats all. Swivel seats, ice maker and tilt wheel for example.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Whether you like it or not Stu, our videos create comments! lol.....We appreciate you watching our video and commenting! Please subscribe to our channel. It really helps us out.

[@rogermurph101]

You don’t seem to know what a vinyl roof is. It’s just a piece of vinyl glued to a steel roof. It’s not any more or less structural than a painted roof, only prone to rusting.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching and the comment. We hope you're a subscriber.

[@painkillerjones6232]

1:32 - guess that's one of those rare Chevy Mercury's, eh??

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I'd like to have a Subaru Brat

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Same here!

[@jameslenox8229]

We had one, it lasted forever. I believe close to 300,000 before it quit. Subes are not bad cars..

[@johnzito125]

1:22 okay thats a Mercury which was a Ford product and has nothing to do with Chevrolet or GM. A ridiculous idea nonetheless.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks John, we're aware of that. We've should have made it more clear in the video. We hope you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching and the comment. We hope you can help by subscribing if you haven't already.

[@the23rdbryan]

I can think of many MANY more things to add here. The one that sticks out the most was accelerator starter on a 1950 Packard. Turn the key on then FLOOR IT to engage the starter. Just make sure it isn't accidentally in DRIVE when you do.

[@ChristopherCerta]

Thank you, Casey Kasem.

[@gregvarner9562]

"Wrist Twist" steering system. Tesla "Wait a minute!!!"

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Haha! Good one Greg. Thanks for watching. Please subscribe.

[@benwine9695]

The lightning rods are great 👍 and can not be shifted to park. I still have a set on the shelf. This person justs wants th hear themselves talk.

[@stevedickson5853]

The best feature they could have presented back then would have been a car that didn't rust!

[@mikeholland1031]

DeLorean

[@stevedickson5853]

@@mikeholland1031 yea that's one but that came much later

[@mikeholland1031]

@@stevedickson5853 land rovers were aluminum too I believe

[@stevedickson5853]

@@mikeholland1031 yea, but the chassis rusted , but saying that even aluminium can corrode if not looked after although it's mostly cosmetic than structural

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@mikeholland1031 'Stainless steel' most assuredly rusts.

[@danielweisman496]

There were a lot of weird speedometer designs! The ‘64 to ‘66 Thunderbird looked like a thermometer, the Edsel had a disc that turned showing the speed. One car used an adjustable mirror for the speedometer for drivers of different heights!

[@christhompson3750]

My 77 town car had the liquid speedometer.

[@robbchastain3036]

The under-dash turntable should've been marketed as something to enjoy only when the car was parked. Albums of all genres were a big source of entertainment in the '50s and it would've made sense to music fans to listen when the needle wasn't skipping all over the vinyl, yikes.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching Robb. Please subscribe.

[@robbchastain3036]

@@ThisOldCarChannel It shows I am. 😀

[@-oiiio-3993]

It was. They played 45s.

[@kool-aidman5828]

I wish we still had swivel seats. It was a individual that is 6,6. That would really help me out a lot

[@jayburris6252]

The Toyota Van did not die a quick death. It was imported into the US for 5 years and was made for over 20 and very popular in the rest of the world. You’re also misinformed about the reason for the seats in the bed of the Subaru Brat.

[@roadkillontheweb2873]

You forgot the 1951-52 Oldsmobile and 1954-58 Chrysler corporation steering wheel clocks. And the 1942 Desoto Fifth Avenue option cigarette dispensing steering wheel.

[@CraigCatapano]

Back in the 1970s GM midsize cars were cool with swivel buckets, it was status thing i feel Monte Carlos, Cutlasses, Etc

[@969thewhip]

My aunt had a Brat with the factory seats in the bed. I used to love riding in the back of that thing when I was little. She ended up trading it when she started her own family.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching!

[@isaacsrandomvideos667]

Love 50s American styling.

[@gtpcruiser02]

2021 Cadillac Escalade's offer a refrigerated compartment in the console with a window sticker in the high 80's

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Yup, I saw that Robert. I think the LS 460L does as well. Thanks for watching and for sharing. We hope you're a subscriber if your not already?

[@TheLotw]

The old crank windows ARE THE BEST cause they work 99.9% of the time.

[@saltspringrocks]

I agree with most of the comments about the incorrect facts....this video is full of errors!

[@joeg3741]

A van ice maker sounds awesome

[@sasz2107]

Some comments - the American auto industry was not ailing AT ALL in 1964! The 1960s was the strongest it ever was! Subaru and all of the Japanese automakers were of no consequence at that time. No one wanted their cars. They were small, underpowered, and rode horribly. They also rusted to pieces quickly. This is all from personal experience. The VW Beetle was the only notable foreign car around at the time. It was not until the late 60s that Japanese cars began selling in any numbers, and really only in California. It was not until the fuel crisis in late 1973 that large numbers of people had a reason to start buying their cars, which was fuel efficiency. Vinyl tops were not a bad idea. They were not put on there to "cover up quality issues". The cars had a steel roof underneath. There wasn't "nothing else there" unless you bought a convertible. Rather, it was an appearance option that made a car look more like a convertible - which was considered desirable at the time. It gave the cars two tone styling if the owner chose a contrasting color. They worked well on the boxier styles of the time. They were introduced around 1962 and were popular from the mid 60s until the early 80s. The only issue with them was they needed to be maintained. You needed to put vinyl preservative on them to keep them supple and from cracking. The UV rays of the run eventually got to them and they became cracked - but this usually took 10 or 12 years if you did nothing to protect them. There were businesses then that would replace vinyl tops if people wanted that done. I wouldn't call the swing away steering wheel or the Highway hi-fi ridiculous options. Those were innovative. Maybe they did not catch on, but they weren't bad ideas. The swivel seats and turn around seats had locks that kept them stationary when you were driving. They didn't move all over the place while you were riding in the car. Safety was much less of a concern in the 60s when the turn-around seat was offered, and the idea was you could sit in the car and talk to people in the back seat when the car was parked!! But you were supposed to be smart enough to know that was how you were supposed to use it. I'm pretty sure the mini-bar in a Cadillac was not intended for use while driving. But that does seem pretty ridiculous now in that it encouraged drinking and driving.

[@stevedickson5853]

How times change, now Japan makes some of the most reliable cars on the planet for your money ,along with South Korea

[@robertphillips6296]

Number ten is not a Chevrolet. Number five one only had two records and they could not be played on any other record players. Also the mini spare tire in General Motors Cars. You could inflate them with the bottle of compressed air that came with the vehicle. You were to then take that bottle to a GM dealer to be recharged. None of the dealers had the machines to do that, but would gladly sell you a new charged bottle of air.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Wow...Great info Robert! That's what the channel is all about. Thanks for watching and the comment. We hope you are a subscriber.

[@-oiiio-3993]

Dad's 1975 Monza had one of the early 'rubber band' collapsible spares.

[@jons.6216]

Lots of room for additional videos like this one for sure! I can only imagine how the record player in the car had to have shared the same skipping issues that trying to play a CD in a modern car would also have! Haha!

[@wildcman]

They tracked heavy and some models only played special 33 microgroove records that you bought at the car dealer

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

I think it was only used at a drive in or romantic spots while not in motion although the grooves were deep. Thanks for watching. Please subscribe.

[@BillyJSmith-on6he]

That wrist twist thing seems dangerous

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Crazy if you ask me Billy. Thanks for watching. Make sure and subscribe.

[@BillyJSmith-on6he]

@@ThisOldCarChannel I am already a subscriber! I really enjoy y'all's videos

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

@@BillyJSmith-on6he Thanks Billy!

[@stevedickson5853]

The woman in the Ad driving it had put on a brave face driving that contraption

[@connieschmitt714]

The Subaru brat I bought 2 of them!

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Cool 😀

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching Michael. Make sure and subscribe.

[@MultiMusicbuff]

I wonder if the built-in record player skips over bumps.I didn't know CBS made those.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Hi Fred. I do know the grooves were very deep. Thanks for watching. Please subscribe.

[@valient71]

It’s my understanding that it was to be used when the car was stationary…picnics, etc.

[@jamesslick4790]

There were cars in the EARLY 20th century (1900-1910) that had steering wheels that tilted out of the way to facilitate entry and exit. Ford just brought back what was really and old idea.

[@Doc1855]

You can still get a bare bones F150 with crank windows.

[@lunarpking]

You couldn’t be more wrong on the swing away steering wheel. It locked in solid when the car wasn’t in park and was designed to only move in park, though most are slightly worn and you actually have to have the car in park AND push up on the shift lever. They were for exit and entry yo the vehicle and when the car was in park and swung away it also locked the transmission in park. So not only were they practical and simply done away with for cost and reasons of a collapsible steering column being very shard to work with that system, they also insured the car stayed in park. Used first in the 61 Thunderbird as an OPTION (62+ as standard) as well as the windshield mounted rear view mirror… like most modern cars use. They also were used in galaxies of the time. Not to mention the thunderbird also started the landau top (vinyl roof COVERING) craze.

[@alpine1600s]

5:58 The Toyota Van was a victim of NHTSA regulations that severely affected it. Power was down and weight increased to meet regs. Many wonderfully engineered cars from Europe and Japan fell victim to the NHSTA. The Chicken Tax is another instance of government attacking the free market.

[@Beethoven80]

The Alfa 90 had a removable attache case attached to the glove box. Take this, U.S. Auto industry!

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching! Make sure and subscribe.

[@TooLooze]

Some of the 60's cars had a mirror to see the hidden speedometer. The old AMC/Rambler cars have Vacuum controlled "Weather Eye"" windshield wipers that didn't like to work when you accelerate.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

1960 and 1961 Buick Mirromagic speedometer

[@TooLooze]

@@SpockvsMcCoy That's it! My friend's parents had a '59 and then a hideous 1960 Invicta (I think) with that crazy speedo. The 59 was beautiful in it's simplicity.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

@@TooLooze The 1959 Buick had very clean and uncluttered styling although some people did not like the canted headlights. The earlier 1957 and 1958 Buicks were very overstyled with different bodies altogether and massive amounts of chrome trim. The 1961 Buick had a totally new body and clean lines but kept the Mirromagic speedometer.

[@TooLooze]

@@SpockvsMcCoy Yeah, my friends 59 was emerald green, le Sabre sedan. Then they got the hideous 1960 Electra 4 dr hardtop. They got a new Buick every 2 years, i remember their 53.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

@@TooLooze The 1960 Electra 225 with the extended rear deck and the contrasting lower body trim..or the shorter 1960 Electra?

[@robertobrien9706]

The "Chicken Tax" wasn't implemented to help boost sales of American cars, but in retaliation for the European Common Market slapping a tax on US chicken and chicken parts exported to Common Market countries. The US retaliation was applied to complete trucks, and affected trucks imported from all countries. VW Microbus vehicles with windows were deemed to be passenger vehicles, so they avoided the import tax. The Microbus-based vans without windows and pickups were classified as trucks, and faced the tax. Thus, VW stopped importing them in '64. Toyota and Datsun had been importing their pickups since '59-'60, and wanted to continue offering them. "Partial" trucks were not subject to the tax, so Toyota and Datsun imported pickup "cab & chassis," which lacked the pickup bed, and thus were "partial" trucks. Both manufacturers contracted with stamping operations in the Los Angeles area for pickup beds which were then attached to the imported cab & chassis vehicles, making them more saleable. The Subaru BRAT did have the seats welded into the vehicle's bed in order to classify it as a car, and thus avoid the 25% "chicken tax" tariff. The "chicken tax" is still in effect today, which is why Mercedes, BMW, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and other import vehicle makers produce their pickups and SUVs here in the USA.