Top 10 / Best Features of Classic Cars: What We Miss Most

[@jimellison6157]

I was born in 1963, and grew up in the late 60’s and early 70’s. I truly miss the cars of this era. That’s the reason I really like your channel.

[@mr.blackhawk142]

JFC! If you were born in 1963, you were 3-11 yrs old in the late 60s to early 70s and NOT grown up! I was born in 1953 and 'grew up' in that era.

[@chrisshort9097]

I know what you mean. I graduated in 77 and drove a 69 Mustang and then got a 70 Roadrunner 383 and a Hurst Pistol Grip shifter Jesus I wish I had those two cars.

[@chevychase3103]

@@mr.blackhawk142 leave those kids alone!

[@markstone4554]

Also born in 63.

[@mikeweizer3149]

@@chevychase3103 Was gonna say,HEY, TEACHER, LEAVE THOSE KIDS ALONE!!!!!( With all due respect to Pink Floyd).I was born in 1958 myself and I even remembered seeing( When I was growing up in the 60s even some old relics from the late 30s or early 40s pre world War 11).

[@haddon57]

Back in the day, all the kids at my high school wanted a 57 Chev ,Mustang, Road Runner, Chevelle..........but I wanted a early 70s Coupe Deville. It's taken nearly 50 years , but now I drive my dream. Thanks for reintroducing these fabulous land yachts on you tube !

[@MrZdvy]

You forgot to mention one thing; chrome bumpers. It’s rewarding to clean and polish all the chrome on a classic car, including the bumpers. Plus, they can take a beating. Compare that to the plastic bumpers on modern cars. Any small ding or scratch will cost you big money at a body shop, while any parking speed impact on an old fashioned chrome bumper will usually not even result in a scratch.

[@CJColvin]

Exactly mate

[@rogersmith7396]

Chrome pits and degrades and is hyper expensive to fix. I would go with stainless steel. It lasts.

[@will7its]

@@rogersmith7396 Stainless bumper? nope. Super expensive even if you could find someone to make one......

[@marko7843]

Hell, how about having ANY kind of front bumpers! At least my '97 Riviera has actual impact beams beneath those urethane bumper covers. I don't know how these new cars meet even a 2.5 mph standard when so many of them "jut their chins out to the world" and the latticework of plastic grill is the 1st thing that gets hit! I wonder how much a new Lexus grill will cost you if you tap the back of one of those 4-door pickups that everyone is driving now?

[@rogersmith7396]

@@will7its Check out the price on chrome plating. Probably $2000 for a big bumper and you still have to deal with dings and pits. Some chrome just flakes off.

[@ianh.9038]

Adam , this is a great list. Many cars used to have carpeted lower door panels and they have mostly disappeared. This prevents shoes making scuff marks when exiting or entering the car. Presume they were removed for cost reasons but it would be great to have them back.

[@stepheng3667]

Good point. And I believe it was the Japanese that started putting the speakers on the doors and they really protrude out. It's impossible to get in and out of modern vehicles without hitting the doors with winter boots on. after 2-3 years the door panels look rough. Having speakers on the doors is probably better than having them on the dash though.

[@martinliehs2513]

For the same reason, the door sill plates used to be aluminum or stainless. Hard to keep ahead of the scuff marks on modern cars with moulded, plastic sills.

[@richardprice5978]

carpeting stinks + mud magnet or at least my 80's K1500 from 1992/me-kid to the day i removed it and my boomer parents are glad that im restomoding it to a 50's to 1960's them and BEV, without carpet/shag and cheesey choices as for bench/poofy seating according to GM/ford the cop cars being some of the last installation's it can't pass the T-bone testing and roll-over and air-bag's are harder to design and operate ect my gen-2 charger i agree convertible+hardtop and 2-full size and 2-haft size doors for a total of 4 and yes is a gen-2 hemi platform and TR6070 ect F8 and cardinal-red/pearl white interior, triple black is just way to hot in less it's using solar power panels ect

[@SomeOne_86]

@@richardprice5978 What the fuck are you even talking about? Learn to write cohesive sentences.

[@mmarciniak]

You can always cut a swatch of carpeting and glue it down there.

[@michaelvachon1334]

Definitely agree with this list - especially #1. Used to be able to tell a car's year, make and model from a distance. Nowadays, it's almost impossible to even guess at the year, and most cars/SUVs even share the same general shape and styling queues, making it hard to even identify the manufacturer. I miss the '50's/'60's/'70's...

[@howebrad4601]

80s too. While maligned 80s cars still had styling differences and could be differentiated easily from a distance.

[@brettb8825]

As a kid, I'd go to the State Fair every year just walk the air conditioned Automobile building collecting brochures. I could tell you the make/model/year and what options were on every car on the streets. I'll never forget asking a friend telling a story what kind of car they were talking about and they replied "Well, I believe it was American made."

[@Andyface79]

I have trouble identifying new cars too, but I'm not so sure that its any more generic than the 60s or 80s. Like you could tell a car was a Chrysler, GM or Ford but without knowing it could be hard to tell them apart. For me, I think I'm just getting old haha.

[@curtmontgomery2835]

Great list, but I have two more items. 1) Bench seats - When I was a kid I loved sitting in the middle of the front seat, then as I got older as in being a teenager I could put my arm around my girl friend as we were driving. 2) Mechanical gauge clusters, Cars of the 60s and 70s and very interesting dashboards, not like the screens they use today.

[@craigbenz4835]

I was really disappointed when I found out that I couldn't get a real bench seat in my 2015 Ram. Even trucks are problematic these days.

[@rogersmith7396]

The computers in modern cars almost guarentee they will not be collectable or restorable. It will be impossible to get parts for them.

[@DanEBoyd]

@@rogersmith7396 I have hope that technology will advance to the point where we will be able to build new computers for them, decades from now - though I don't know where we'll find fuel...

[@rogersmith7396]

@@DanEBoyd Its not technology its money. Who will manufacture the gizmos at an affordable price to the handful of goobers who collect old cars? You can't get parts for nice collectable cars now. Money bags Leno has to make his own parts. It ain't cheap.

[@gooney0]

When I had a bench seat I wanted sporty bucket seats. Once I got them, I missed the bench.

[@christopherkraft1327]

Bill from Curious Cars says that new cars lack soul & I agree!!! New cars have become like appliances, classic cars have personality & style. My 18 Continental has seats that can be adjusted almost a million different ways but I'd rather have twin comfort lounge seats evey day of the week!!! Thanks Adam for compiling this list!!! 👍👍🙂

[@rogersmith7396]

Its been apparent for some time GM would build toasters if they could make more money. Wall Street has taken over the industry and only stock price counts. The rest is eye wash.

[@distracted_visions7095]

@@rogersmith7396 I agree wholeheartedly!

[@markdc1145]

Adam and Bill are my favorite YT classic car reviewers. What a contrast though! 😂

[@christopherkraft1327]

@@markdc1145 I totally agree!!! Bill & Adam are both excellent but very different!!! 👍👍🙂

[@seana806]

As someone who’s 23 years old, I’d take any of the cars Adam has over anything made after the 1990’s to the present. Modern vehicles simply have too many blind spots/poor visibility, poor comfort, terrible styling, and last but not least is terrible serviceability. Can’t get to certain parts without taking a majority of the engine apart (a little bit of a exaggeration but is true for some cars) or take the whole front end apart and sometimes you have to take one of the front wheels off just to get access to the battery.

[@DSP1968]

"Angry kitchen appliances" -- I love it! I think this is a great list, Adam. One thing I would add is that many of the older cars had a real feeling of solid quality that one does not see nearly as often in modern vehicles, probably due to things like the use of a lot of hard plastic on the interiors, and poor hardware quality.

[@mcy1122]

“Angry appliances”…too funny! While I drive such a car and like it, Adam is right about this. Also, Excellent discussion about torque. It captures the difference I feel between my modern car and my hobby car -an old Mopar 440 Chrysler. My modern car beats the Mopar on all metrics, but the Mopar communicates more effortless power when you drive it. Another old car feature I miss: The satisfying door closing sound and feel of Everyman cars -especially Ford products.

[@mr.blackhawk142]

Adam right about this???? Adam also WROTE about this! L0L

[@OldDood]

Every point you made Adam is Spot On. When you mentioned the Padded Seats I had to chuckle. That was so true. They were NOT made for hard turns and such. However, you could drive from Michigan to Florida in one run and feel great afterward.

[@user-dn8fp7ol5z]

I remember my mom had a Chrysler New Yorker with air ride suspension and the most comfortable pillow tufted leather seats that u just sank right into when ur cheeks hit the cushions man that was true comfort for 1989 it also had hideaway headlights, cornering lights, and a digital talking dashboard it was the last of the "old folks cruisers" and despite all my friends making fun of me for it I love the big old people cars to me that's true class!

[@DisabilityExams]

I miss vent windows. They worked great.

[@CJColvin]

I agree brother, I have em on my 1996 Ford F150 and I love em.

[@labpuppy4u]

You've got an Amen from me!

[@tj81164]

Vent windows & the footwell vents could really cool an interior on all but the most humid days.

[@DrOlds100]

I have said this over and over through the years. I'm glad others agree with me

[@johntechwriter]

After a few uses, those little windows would whistle forever, no matter how tightly closed. Their main purpose was to vent cigarette smoke.

[@flyonbyya]

Y do I appreciate this channel as much as I do ?? Every car show has the usual mustang, Camaro, vette, Chevelle etc etc….etc As great and valuable as many of these are… I appreciate the killer luxo-boats of the past the most !!!

[@rightlanehog3151]

Agreed!

[@davids6533]

"Looks like angry kitchen appliances".. yes! That summed up the look of most newer cars. I appreciate the work you put into your videos. I learn a lot, and get to see cars of my day. Those were times when it was fun to be alive, at least for me.

[@riotautorepair9662]

You really hit the nail on the head with this one Adam. 100% all the reasons in this video are why I refuse to drive anything newer than 1996 (the last year gm made the B platform). Call me crazy, but even in our Minnesota winters, I still choose to drive my olds 98 regency every day. The comfort, space, and ride quality just can't be beat by today's cars, not to mention it has that classic 80s gm styling

[@CJColvin]

Also 1996 was not only the same year I was born but its also the same year as my old classic 1996 Ford F150.

[@1966425]

I'm right there with you! I drive a '95 Roadmaster sedan as a daily and have a '96 Limited with the Grand Touring suspension for weekends. Love those big Buick seats.

[@rogersmith7396]

The Panther platform and Town Cars were throwbacks to the era. People laughed at the grandpa cars which apparently sold OK.

[@plap.]

My 96 c1500 is the newest vehicle I've owned and the first and only air bag equipped. Don't want that either but it got hard to avoid. Don't want my hands blown off the wheel in an emergency and/or a powdery bag hitting my face at 300mph

[@paulpeterson4311]

& why I drive a 2007 Town Car.

[@tntanto]

Yes, blind spots in modern cars are terrible. I’ve had vehicles that always made me nervous when backing out of parking slot. As for modern styling, I agree that government regulation & globalism has produced homogenized blandness. Great video.

[@WhittyPics]

Some Ford in the 70s had horrible blind spots too.

[@rogersmith7396]

Yeah I never feel safe backing in my Jeep Cherokee even with a camera. The lane change feature is good but there is no way to judge distance. Lots of tail gaters here. When they close up on me they disappear from my view under the high rear window. Actually I like this because they otherwise irritate the hell out of me. There is no stopping them. Inadequate law enforcement combined with fools is not a good combination.

[@danielestrada1850]

Yeah, in my Valiant there's no need for a back up camera or sensors up front 'cause I can look over the hood right where the front of the car ends. Same in the rear. I can actually make out the tip of the trunk lid. As for blind spots when changing lanes all I have to do is look over my shoulder as any good driver is supposed to do in the first place.

[@manthony225]

@@WhittyPics agreed. My 76 Mercury Comet had a tiny rear window. Every 70's car with a "Landau top" had huge blind spots.

[@seana806]

That’s the main reason why I haven’t driven much in the past 5 or so years since I am trying to save up for a nice classic, modern vehicles just have too many blind spots and is quite dangerous if you really think about it since the pillars can hide entire vehicles and pedestrians. As someone who’s 23 years old, I honestly wouldn’t loose too much sleep if all modern vehicles were suddenly gone tomorrow since that’s how much I DESPISE modern vehicles along with the people who keep on buying ‘em.

[@danielestrada1850]

I have recently let go of my '19 Jetta to finally dedicate myself to keep restoring my '67 Valiant and there hasn't been a minute in which I've regretted the decision. It took me many years of driving modern cars to be able to fully appreciate (again) and enjoy daily driving such a nimble and torquey car as that good old girl, my Valiant. I'd also like to point out something I've never heard anybody mention and that is -in my opinion- the negative impact today's cars have had on road rage, given their aggressive, angry- kitchen appliance looks that Adam pointedly mentioned. When I look in my rearview mirror while being tailgated by a modern angry-looking car I feel as though the driver wants to confront me or pick up a fight whereas being tailgated by almost any car from the old days just doesn't seem quite as menacing. Just my two cents.

[@allenwayne2033]

You make a great point. Vehicles seem to be styled after playground bullies anymore!

[@jaex9617]

Yup. The angry styling is completely out of control now.

[@allenwayne2033]

@@jaex9617 it sure is! Adam nailed it when he said "angry kitchen appliances"!

[@huskyflylangley6053]

I don't know. The rear view mirror shot of McQueen's mustang in Bullitt is pretty intimidating, also any big Dodge or Plymouth cop car from 1969- the 80s Diplomats was something you didn't want to see in your mirror, although the smogged out stuff couldn't outrun the older stuff. It took the 9C-1 Caprice and 351 Vic to finally get cop cars really fast again

[@geraldscott4302]

This is something I noticed quite some time ago. Not only do I find this kind of styling hideously ugly, but it is also menacing and aggressive as well. Reminds me of the sharks mouth painted on the P-40 "Flying Tigers" aircraft of pre WWII. They even use LED lights to create an aggressive look at night. Trucks have some of the worst styling in this regard.

[@scottleyva8656]

So true about outward visibility. Even as big and lumbering as the 60's and 70's cars are, they are so easy to drive.

[@wmalden]

Number 6 - lack of interior color choices - is my biggest pet peeve of today’s cars. I drove 100 miles from home to buy my 2018 Buick Regal TourX because I wanted a shale (tan) interior. Still, it has black carpeting (except in the cargo area where the carpet is tan), black dash, black upper door panels and a black panel on the inside of the tailgate. Even odder is that the front seatbelts are black while the rear ones are tan. I miss the “color keyed” interiors of cars long ago.

[@chrismarzoli2170]

Agreed. Most models now are only offered in one or two interior colors and most dealers only order cars with black interiors not the sometimes available tan or light gray shades. I was told by a dealer that a lot of buyers don’t want the lighter colors because they are harder to keep looking clean.

[@michaelcalder9089]

Correct Adam re boring dark grey, black interiors. Plus with low roof lines and limited visibility..... yuck 🤮.....like sitting in a dark cramped cave.

[@charlesb7019]

Thank you Adam!!! This is exactly why I always drive older cars and always will!!! I especially loved the description of crossovers as angry kitchen appliances. PERFECT description. We also love a big trunk and have no desire to ride with the luggage.

[@glennso47]

Or the late votes? 😊

[@kenglavens6455]

You nailed it! Classic American cars can actually bring some people to tears because of their beauty and all of the other things that people like us still miss. I had a 67 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Custom 4 door hardtop. Nuff said huh?

[@warrenwhitmore2057]

I would add cornering lamps to the list. They were great when turning into driveways in dark rural areas.

[@paulpeterson4311]

Don't cars have them anymore? My 2007 Lincoln Town Car does.

[@howebrad4601]

@@paulpeterson4311 hate to break it to you but 2007 isn't exactly modern. I'd much rather drive your 2007 than the new cars of today.

[@mattbartolovich8228]

Column shift automatic and v8 engines to name a few!

[@henrystowe6217]

​@Matt Bartolovich my 2006 Pilot has the column shift. Lol

[@seejayfrujay]

Born in '52, with a driver's license at age 15, I was one lucky SOB. I got to drive a ragtop Shelby Mustang with a four speed, a 69 Dodge Charger 440, late 60s Olds and Buick land yachts, dragged a 69 Caprice 396 vs a 289 Mustang, etc. I turned a wrench for a few years at an MB dealer and drove a customer's 300 SEL 6.3L several times, one of Jay Leno's favorite cars. A most golden age for sure. This video was great and it reminded me of the thing I miss most, which is visibility. On some cars of that era, with a low belt line and super thin A pillars, you could see the curb or edge of the intersection quite close to the car as you turned right, an impossibility today.

[@jimlubinski4731]

I could not agree more! Really nothing current can approach the classics in style or comfort. I very much appreciate that this channel appreciates cars of the so-called malaise era. They may not have been fast, but they were stylish, unique and comfortable. Everything did not look the same. I actually have skipped attending the yearly car shows because I see enough black SUVs every day.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Adam, There are now more comments than views for this video but I will have a go anyway. 😉You mentioned interior colours but what about EXTERIOR colours? 12-18 choices were common in everyday models. What about body styles? Once again, everyday cars came in sedan, hardtop, coupe, wagon and convertible. We had drivetrain choices galore with multiple engines and transmissions. In those days we could just about buy the exact car we wanted. 😁 With all of today's technology, automation and rapid communication, there should be more choices not less. 🤔

[@howebrad4601]

What do you mean? Nowadays you can have 3 shades of grey! Well maybe a couple other drab colors too. I couldn't agree more with you!

[@wildcat64100]

It was said, with all the optional engines, transmissions, rear end gearing, body styles, colors, and trim that Chevrolet could build over a million different 1965 Chevrolet Impalas with no two exactly alike.

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@wildcat64100 Let's get Adam to crunch the numbers with his handy dandy calculator watch. It will give him something to do over the holiday weekend. 😉

[@darrellfarlough5228]

One of your best videos! My favorite part was about the V8 torque and smoothness. I can add a few other things I loved about the classic cars: 1. You could actually clean the entire inside of the windows (with the steep angles of modern cars, it is hard to clean close to the bottom of the windows; 2. a bumper jack; it takes longer and you get much dirtier using a scissors jack to change a flat tire; 3. You could actually find something if it fell under or between the seats.

[@oldarkie3880]

Some new cars don't even have a spare tire. They have a can of slime.

[@michaelbarry7018]

Nice list! Surprised that the little wing windows on driver/passenger doors didn't get their own place on the list.

[@paulpeterson4311]

Too much wind nose. 😁

[@polandharr]

@@paulpeterson4311 Perhaps, but vent windows are so cool.

[@RossEphgrave]

Good list but I have a few honorable mention items to add...1) RWD - creates a different driving experience and a power train layout that is easier to work on.. ask anyone who has worked on a 2005 Toyota echo...2) depth of body style choices for one model. There is generally only one choice per model. Gone are the coupe, sedan, station wagon and convertible all under one model. I know... consumer and safety demands... but this old guy misses it. Keep up the good work representing the finest and most underrated of vintage cars.

[@Low760]

If you've worked on modern rwd cars they aren't much better, but old cars are no better to work on in other ways, people just feel nostalgic.

[@RossEphgrave]

I've worked on pre 80 RWD cars enough as a back yard mechanic. Much prefer the rwd layout, everything easy to access, more simplistic, don't need a code reader. That's what I'm referring to... thanks for the feedback. I don't intend to ever buy a modern RWD car. Not many sold in Canada and they aren't good in Northern Alberta winters.

[@mikeweizer3149]

@@RossEphgrave But hey wait a minute, Even if you have a code reader that doesn't mean that you, as a back yard mechanic can fix what the trouble code says?.

[@P_RO_]

@@Low760 1983 Ford van 302 engine. Change both head gaskets in about 3 hours and only needs maybe 10 tools. 2003 Chevy Astro 4.3 engine changing both head gaskets is about a 20 hour job needing 3 dozen+ tools. 8 spark plugs on that Ford 6 minutes, no jack. 6 spark plugs on that Chevy 40 minutes jacked up high so you can reach the rear plugs from underneath. Both RWD. Just one comparison but about average for both years and types of vehicle. Older vehicles are far far easier to work on. No $300 headlights needing you to pull a fender or fascia, no rats nest of wires under the dash to work around, no computer needed to operate climate control functions, no starter hidden under the intake manifold, no scan tool needed to diagnose problems, and few specialized tools required to do the work. As you'd know if you'd done the work which I doubt that you have. But I have and I know which I'd rather be working on.

[@michaelreilly1310esq]

Só glad to see your selector the 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix when discussing styling cues. John DeLorean’s masterpiece is the epitome of rolling artwork

[@P_RO_]

Most people don't realize that John Z was to Pontiac what Lee Iacocca was to Chrysler, only more successful doing it. He introduced many modern concepts to building cars and he had an eye for style too.

[@jaygatz4335]

Thanks, Adam, for the reminders of what made cars great and people-oriented. Now, cars like Tesla require a degree in computer programming to operate. Other long-gone elements: stylish instrument clusters, proper bumpers, the ability to see the end of the hood and trunk from the driver's position, rear leg room, large steering wheels, hubcaps with personality, more vertical windshields which don't end two inches from your head, and higher greenhouses which don't bear down on you.

[@Low760]

Yet you can get on KZbin and complain, using a tech screen in a car is no harder.

[@Low760]

I'm 6'4", old cars have no head room either, particularly"large" jags etc

[@davidiverson2541]

I really like to see the end of the hood and trunk. It makes the car much easier to park. Also the windshields were much easier to clean on the interior.

[@howebrad4601]

@@Low760 I'm on KZbin from my living room chair, not trying to navigate traffic at 75mph.

[@howebrad4601]

It's ironic that in teslas quest to be "minimalist", they've actually made actually using the car maximumalist. An adjustment that could have been made by feel, now requires eyes off the road, and punching thru screens like you're working on a spreadsheet. I'm picking on tesla but most of these new cars are equally egregious, if not worse than tesla.

[@Porsche996driver]

I was hoping to see something about classic large luxury cars with bucket seats. That was a real sign of success.

[@sassed12many]

#8 is a huge pet peeve of mine. I'm old school on visibility. #7 the last comfy seat car I owned was a 92 Bonneville.

[@charlesb7019]

Agreed. I rented a car a few years ago and could literally not see over my shoulder. I was forced to rely on the indicators in the side mirrors and a back up camera. I hated every minute of it. What happens when that stuff fails??

[@michaelbaka4777]

I am BLESSED to own my Dad's 73 Buick Limited [Electra]. Beautiful, spacious inside, huge trunk, and a BIG block V-8 under the hood. My under-stressed V-8 will last almost forever [with proper maintenance!] and has all the power I need to take her anyplace at any time. Long, flat quarter panels give this car a distinct styling you could tell from over a block away. When I was a little kid, I would look eagerly to the latest model cars to see how the manufacturer made their designs better and more attractive. Keep your little turbo-powered crap-cars; I want to keep driving my old Buick until the day I die. Oh, and I've subbed!!!

[@OLDS98]

You are really on things in this in the video Adam. You are telling the truth about things that are no longer with us. The last Oldsmobile Toronados 1986-1992 had hidden headlights. Your list was correct about styling and features and those things that made cars appealing. They used to pay attention to details. We all miss that. There is something missing today. Thank you Adam.

[@bobthbldr3]

The early Toronados had them also, starting with the first in '66. I had a '67 that I bought in 1969 that had them and that was a fantastic car! The only problem was we didn't have radial tires yet and the tremendous torque of that car with the front wheel drive made it hard to pull away from a stop in the rain without spinning the bias ply tires. The styling of that car made it unmistakable and the interior was fantastic with an amazing amount of room. Terrific highway car!

[@mr.blackhawk142]

on this in this in the video ???? So, which is it, on or......IN??? L0L

[@paulgoree5206]

Thanks,I grew up with these vehicles and was able to enjoy them, they were so plentiful,l love them thank You for saving and preserving them

[@jayf6741]

So much agree with your point about interior colors! Today's cars are so boring with just black, tan, or gray interiors!!! I miss the blues, greens, reds, golds!!!

[@rogersmith7396]

With modern marketing I would be afraid they would make the interiors look like a 3 year olds bedroom with balloons and clowns. Give me black any day.

[@kingkrimson8771]

@@rogersmith7396 Yeah, the colorful interiors of yesteryear were ALWAYS tastefully done (sarcasm alert)

[@rogersmith7396]

@@kingkrimson8771 Some of the stuff Adam likes gags me. Unusual yes.

[@howebrad4601]

@@rogersmith7396 well at least people had a choice. Don't like gold, then get blue. Today all there basically is black, or worse grey. Heck even tan is more appealing than what is offered.

[@glennso47]

Or black, tan, or white exteriors

[@thomasdudley823]

You are spot on.....as always ! Thank you ! My first car... 1958 Fairlane with a 312, I loved that car !

[@billmagorian490]

When you went to styling I was waiting for you to feature the Rivieras, suicide four door Lincolns, and the Lincoln Marks of the late 60's through the 70's. In regards to seat comfort cushy can seem comfortable for a while. The problem I see is the lack of any lumbar support for people that are dealing with back pain or find their backs bothering them on long trips. I really like your show and the type of cars you feature that are not found anywhere else. What is really cool is your extensive stable of cars from this era that you feature.

[@dieterkoch6563]

Line of the year-"Angry Kitchen Appliances"! You are never gonna call my 1965 Riviera that.

[@cymbalspecialist]

Haha. "angry kitchen appliances". Good one Adam.

[@deanfawbush9071]

Agree, I don’t really know what kind of car I’m looking at until I can see the nameplate, all cars today look alike and ride alike. I have a 1959 Oldsmobile with a 371 V8 and it has style and power. Keep up the great videos Adam.

[@brianbeswick3646]

Great video. I totally agree, you forgot one other feature I love about classic cars well 2. First the cornering white lights which were great for night driving and the other is the hood nounted turn signals that Chrysler and Cadillac had back in the day. I always liked them. I have always wanted a 4 door hard top and I hope to get one someday.

[@aquarianstar67]

Hello, Adam. Virginia, my 1975 Imperial LeBaron 4DHT, wished me to thank you for the great video. She may not be the gal she used to be, but man oh man, she still has it where it counts!

[@Hall102]

Thanks for this video and especially mentioning the dull gray and black Interiors!

[@garyeagleson5634]

Great advice & sound Knowledge regarding classic cars. Thanks for posting this on U-Tube, I enjoy seeing All the collection of classic cars you have saved. 👍💚😎

[@kjisnot]

I think these subjects are why you see a lot of people driving full size pickups as daily drivers. They get good vision, comfortable seats with lots of leg room, typically they have good power, a long wheelbase with a nice ride, and plenty of space in back.

[@jeffedge872]

Great memories of dad bringing home upholstery and exterior colour samples mom to choose . Oh the good old says !!

[@rightlanehog3151]

Adam needs to start featuring more classic brochures on his channel. It is one of the few areas where Lou Costabile's channel has him beat. 😁

[@CJColvin]

Also Adam what I also miss about classic cars is the vent windows, I have em on my 1996 Ford F150 and I love em.

[@kennethcleveland110]

I never had the pleasure of operating power vent windows.I am sure those were totally awesome///👍👍👍

[@CJColvin]

@@kennethcleveland110 I agree brother

[@dieselgrandpa4181]

I love driving my hardtop around on a sunny day with the windows down no post and vent windows pointed all the way backwards to blow warm air on me in my non- air conditioned vehicle. I remember when air conditioning was an option, I always thought if someone had A/C they were rich people. I too love the color matching interiors and one of my favorites was the vinyl top, I love a clean shiny vinyl top. When I was younger I remember my mom spending a lot of money on a brand new Duster one year when she got a raise, it was gold with gold interior and a gold vinyl snakeskin roof. I loved that car, my first car was a 1970 Chrysler 300 two door ( still over 18' long 440 big block it cost me $200. It was huge it was fast and it ate bumps and potholes like they weren't even there. Although my job at the grocery store didn't pay a whole lot so unfortunately I did run out of .56 cent a gallon fuel more than once.

[@ChrisACiufo]

Adam: I agree with your points, but also accept the benefit of the trade offs with modern cars. I’ve owned and serviced many of the cars you list. I miss them, achingly. A footnote: my semi-modern 1994 Lexus LS400 rides as cushy and floaty with overboosted steering as my old de Ville. And the LS400 is starting to be recognized in the market as the next era of “classics” as the 60s and 70s become truly breathtaking museum pieces. PS: Mercury Cougar and Cyclone had hidden headlights. My 70 Cyclone’s vacuum-operated doors worked until the day I sold it a few years ago. Impressive (or fortunate) engineering.

[@bobblowhard8823]

My '66 and '74 Plymouth Valiants had these vent doors located in the front near the floor that you could open letting in an amazing amount of breeze while you were driving. I sure miss those! Funny story: My brother had a '69 Dodge with those floor vents and for a while he had no idea those existed. One day he was driving on the freeway, and I was his passenger. I told him about those vents, and he said "Really?" When he opened his vent door, several leaves which had probably been waiting there for years, suddenly blasted out, covering his face. Damn near got into a wreck. I never laughed so hard. A memory, indeed.

[@deanpaidas8089]

So true, seat comfort on today’s cars are terrible. I miss the seat comfort of my 1976 cutlass supreme brougham

[@JohnnyAloha69]

Fun video. I’d add a few; 1…proportions, the mid 60’s to early (pre 73) cars had ideal proportions. Shortish font overhangs, front wheels far forward of the cowl and long overhangs projected sleek stable motion even when parked. 2…A partner with proportions was stance. Cars that sat slightly lower in back than in front have the look of a tiger read to pounce. So much more athletic than the droopy fronts and jacked up rears of modern cars, their stance is that of a wheelbarrow. 3…bench seats-interior width. A single wide and low bench makes an interior feel and be roomy and airy. You can move around and even sit a bit sideways to open up conversation. Not to mention being able to pull your girl right up against you! 3…no irritating software. The endless dings, bells and chimes on modern cars warning you so often about so many “dangers” that we all ignore them utterly. Not to mention the frustrations when things like Bluetooth malfunction or create delays. How is it that if I push a tape in my five and a half decade old 8 track player the music is playing before I can pull my finger of the tape but my music can take sometimes over a minute to start playing in my modern car?

[@Romiman1]

Oh yes, I agree to 1000.000%! I also miss over-assisted steerings with thin steering-wheels, I miss upright hood-ornaments, whitewalls and wire-wheel-hubcaps, I miss vinyl tops and opera-lights... (Even as a German!)

[@Andrew-ep4kw]

Adam is absolutely correct on the styling issue. I see a modern sedan and unless I can spot and ID the badge on the back, I have no idea who made it. Almost all of them look the same.

[@ThursdayisGood]

Wing windows or smokers widows, idk what they're called, is what I miss the most. T tops, reserve fuel tank, 3 on the tree ... Hell any shifter on the steering wheel column.are amongst other things I miss

[@rogersmith7396]

They were mainly for defogging and worked well.

[@rickloera9468]

Finally someone who sees exactly what I've been seeing and saying for years. My parents bought a 1972 Mercury Montego MX in May of 1972. Unfortunately the seats in this car weren't that great, but it was the smoothest, quietest car I've ever been in. We always thought the speedo was off because at 55 it felt like 40. It was 55. When we bought the 1977 Mercury Cougar XR-7 in July 1977 even that car was no match for the Montegos smoothness even though it said Ride Engineered by Lincoln Mercury on the dash. Don't get me wrong. The Cougar was both smooth and very comfortable with the twin comfort lounge seats, but the two cars rode so differently. Add that to the fact that the 77 Cougar was basically a rebodied Montego. Both cars utilized the same firewall, windshield and windshield pillars, dash board etc. My great aunt and uncle had the same green Mercury Marquis you currently have with the same seats as yours. The only difference is they had a white vinyl top, but the same green body color. That was a spectacular car to ride in. My ten year old self thought he was on cloud nine in that Marquis.

[@gregstabryla9945]

Amen. I'm going to share this with a few 30+ somethings who never had the pleasure of the ' experience ' . Thanks Adam.

[@peterscocca3024]

So nice watching your take on a time when cars were beautiful and luxurious. God, do I miss my 1966 Ford LTD. Some grand road trips.

[@gmzx3]

Family had a '65 LTD, first year of the Galaxie 500 higher trim level. Coil springs and really quiet. Only had the std 289 with cruise o matic though. Around $3000 new.

[@courtesy2336]

Modern cars: Angry kitchen appliances. Love it!

[@duerandaggi]

Outward visibility and the nice, bright, airy feel you get inside that comes with it! Many cars today are like dark, claustrophobic bunkers.

[@onlyhereonce7290]

Very well done. All of the features you mentioned are relevant. And I for one wish they were still offered. Newer cars just don't have the appeal as the older ones.

[@lesaber251]

I'm surprised you didn't include the front vent (wing) windows. Everybody loved them.

[@bobhill3941]

I completely agree and lament the loss of all these features (except hidden headlights) I'm reminded of Micky Rourke's line from Sin City, "The priest had a Mercedes, at least he called it a Mercedes, modern cars, they look like electric Shavers!"

[@gregt8638]

Boy, you nailed it! Everything you said is so true!. In regarding comfort, I can't believe people nowadays tolerate such hard seats and hard rides! This has been one of my pet peeves but it seems like no one else seems to care. So so nice to hear you say it. I'm glad I'm "AARP age". To remember the pleasure. And I had to laugh about your comment the new cars look like Angry kitchen appliances! So true! What a statement I'm chuckling at it still. Thank you for all your videos and boy this one really was like your mind was connected to mine.

[@guylr7390]

There are many things that modern cars do really well and much better than the classics especially safety and handling but modern cars have lost a lot of appeal in the areas you point out. The two things I miss most that you touched on are visibility and styling. In the 50s my mom had a ‘55 Plymouth Belvedere hardtop and my dad drove a ‘57 Imperial Crown. I learned to drive on our ‘63 Bonneville “Vista” hardtop. So many modern cars make me feel like I’m inside a tank looking out through a turret port. Styling changed every year making the Fall car intros a real event. Now I have no idea what year car I’m looking at. One other big thing to me are the plastic grills on modern cars. Even very expensive cars use them and it looks cheap. The anodized aluminum Exner grill on our ‘60 Valiant looked far better than what I see today. Don’t get me started on the Lexus Spindle grill.

[@rogersmith7396]

If we had Star Trek like transporters only a handful of freaks would own cars. We have moved on from these things. For most people car ownership is a pain in the ass. If you have experienced a good subway system like London you would never own a car. Its cheap, fast, and convenient.

[@joesmithjoesmith4284]

Not cheap in price tho, plastic nightrider grille for a new GMC Yukon $1,700+

[@rickroberts9182]

VENT WINDOWS! Bring back vent windows. DAMN...I miss being able to open that little glass triangle.

[@tedlym.3390]

I agree wholeheartedly on all ten points. Excellent presentation. Thank you.

[@sigma_six]

Remember taking my driver's test in a Ford Mercury Marquis Station Wagon... had to go back next month (parallel parking... Lol...) and I was never even allowed to drive it for practice either!... I guess that was part of the test... '; D

[@jaex9617]

I agree 100% on the value of good visibility. It improves every aspect of the driving experience.

[@Vegaswill714]

Great video, couldn't agree more. I loved the comment comparing modern automotive styling to"Angry kitchen appliances". Made me laugh!!

[@paulpeterson4311]

Great video!!! Most of what you mentioned in this vid is why I'm still driving the last generation Lincoln Town Car. My only complaint is it does have wide A pillars. But my 2007 does have: Huge super thick over padded seats Dead silent ride Huge trunk Insanely smooth ride Smooth shifting More than enough power Plus 18-25 MPG

[@sooverit5529]

I agree. Everything I like about my 2004 Town Car Ultimate L.

[@paulpeterson4311]

@@sooverit5529 Oh damn and you got an L !!!

[@eddstarr2185]

Thank you Adam for reminding me of the awesome 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix. All my car crazy friends in school at the time couldn't stop talking about that car.

[@waynejohnson1304]

Adam, You hit the nail on the head! Especially, when it comes to comfort in the newer cars. The seats in the newer cars are horrible. On a long trip, I leave my newer Cadillacs at home and take my 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood. You are right about interior choices too. With most of the pre-1980 models, there were infinite choices when it came to colors and fabrics from which to choose. The newer cars ride like CRAP!

[@stuckinmygarage6220]

Spot on video. I'm happily stuck with my old wheels. 👍

[@matthewcrowley9204]

LOL... what I remember most about hidden headlights was indeed their spotty reliability. Seemed quite common back in the day to see a car coming down the road with one of the headlight doors up (open) and the other down (closed). Really looked funny.

[@johntechwriter]

Hidden or not, the sealed beam headlights of that era were so weak, and the brakes were so bad, a driver going 60 mph on a dark highway with high beams on could not stop his car within the distance illuminated by the headlights. Halogen lights from Europe replaced them, but only after years of push-back by federal regulators and from the industry itself, which wanted minimum change so the profits could roll in.

[@brianruyack7632]

Had the same issue with my 83 Supra with hidden headlights. Could manually raise one and leave it up so the car could drive at night but be winking during the day, or only have 1 light at night. That and the AC that went out were reasons I made sure to trade it in in early spring in the daylight!

[@jtsjc1]

Great points Adam. You are correct there's no such thing as working on your own car anymore. The engine bays are packed to the rim you can't even get your hands in there. There's nothing like a V-8 with a 4bbl carb! Or better yet a 426 Hemi with 2x 4bbl.

[@brhmpl]

Very well stated Adam and another great video. Looking forward to your next one.

[@vc-cw1yp]

May I add one more to your list Adam? High beam dip switch on the floor.. It made so much sense. Love your channel!

[@anthonyjackson280]

not so much in places with lots of snow and salt in winter.

[@vc-cw1yp]

@@anthonyjackson280 oooh... Maybe that's true too! I've never seen one fail, but then I was still riding a bike back then. Lol. I can see the issue though

[@billfioretti3013]

What I miss most are my 1974 LTD Brougham, my 1972 Pantera and my 1970 Boss 429 Mustang. Diverse classics!

[@mensaconservative7887]

"angry kitchen appliances" I love it. You are so right. I miss the day when you could stand next to a Packard or a Cadillac and not hear it running, when they sold cars on silence. The mid sixties Fords were touted as being more quiet than a Rolls. Also, to put a smile on your face, try driving a smooth Packard straight 8 with tons of torque on a modern freeway and watch the needle on the speedometer turn from white to red as you approach 70 mph. They used to do that. Pure joy.

[@MostlyBuicks]

Angry kitchen appliances! ha! EXACTLY. In fact cars are treated like a combination of an appliance and a personal computer/smartphone.

[@rogersmith7396]

Monkees like to push buttons. They say kids have no interest in cars because they can't afford them.

[@michaelmurphy6869]

My older brother back in the early to mid-70's had a '65 Buick Rivera, it basically had most of features you describing in this video. Loved those "clam shell" headlight covers, big and torquey V8 (I think it was 425ci) it could smoke those rear tires quite easily. Plush interior, huge trunk, tilt steering, console shift, and one of my favorite features. Am/Fm 8-track player stereo with four speakers! It was pearl white just a beautiful car. Unfortunately both are gone, but i still have great memories of both. The younger generations have no clue of the great history of what Detriot produced, all they have now is little square tin boxes with maybe a turbo which pretty much they all look alike. Thank you Adam for another great video.

[@JP-vs1ys]

Totally underrated channel. Always surprising content. Have you done a video on your own background? Automotive Engineer etc? Don't forget the triangular vent windows!

[@bobgartin4165]

Great video, I love the cars of the 60's and 70's. Very much miss them. Today's cars just don't have the soul of the old ones.

[@davidruffjr6045]

Great video sir love the term angry kitchen appliance👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@martinkiefer6733]

Big inner smilys from my little comparison of '76 Bagheera and' 82 Murena I had long time ago. Happy to see this precious uniques by well packed cars history.

[@patrickgr1547]

61 years old and miss my 1970s Pontiac Parisian the most of all - baby blue inside and out with wire wheels a moon roof a beach seat and the shifter on the column - you could stretch out in that car, I was in my twenties. I drove that car across country without a worry. Today's cars are cockpits with glass area so small it hurts my neck just thinking about it. Long live the American automotive designers.

[@danielmoose1273]

EXCELLENT video ... not many people today know how it felt to drive a Galaxie or a Ninety-Eight LS ... pieces of my heart are missing where those two Kings Of The Road used to be ...

[@JustMe-pc2ii]

Great video Adam. Your spot on. Happy thanksgiving.

[@paulcook1494]

That was a great video. I’m 58 years old and have had several classic cars throughout my life. As of the past 22 years I have. 1975 Olds Delta 88 convertible, my summer toy. I love in VT where winter is always long and cold my mother worked in a Pontiac dealership when I was a kid, and she had a 64 Catalina convertible then a 68 Bonneville convertible, she found my first car fir me, a 70 Bonegille convertible with a 455-4. I’ve worked on cars all my life as both a living and hobby, While my Olds is only a summer car, just having it gives me the feeling that I still have a “real car”. Plus my kids love it, as fo their friends,

[@karatejoe5049]

Remember how easy it was to replace the alternator on an early 70's V8 GM?

[@the23rdbryan]

I'm only 50 but am glad to say I was lucky enough to have experienced MANY cars people my age did not. I grew up with a small collection of Studebaker, Packard and several mid 40s GM's with a few others. We did have some of the typical 70s and 80s Ford/Lincoln and GM land yachts as daily drivers. I do agree about ride quality except for my most recent personal car. I bought a 2011 Cadillac SRX as my own 1st luxury vehicle. After a lifetime of driving ANYTHING I could buy quickly out of immediate need, I have to say this Cadillac really does mimic a lot of smooth ride feel of all those older vehicles. I test drove several newer Cadillacs and Lincolns when I found the SRX and none felt nearly this way. Great video ! I LOVE sharing all of my car stories and hope you don't mind 🙂

[@timricklefs2342]

Great list. I did love the big comfy seats of the classic luxury cars. I find that Volvo still makes a very comfortable seat.

[@rogersmith7396]

My 85 Saab 900 has some of the best seats ever made. I would take it cross country for up to 10 hours at a time and was always ready to go again in the morning.

[@rogersmith7396]

It could cruise all day at 85 mph no problem.

[@morganm9040]

Hidden headlights! Seeing the Oldsmobile Toronado lights strolling downward @0:57 looked so sleek and cool. I never knew they did that until now! Great channel!

[@ricksand6477]

Color, comfort, torque & style. All of the features that we love about the classic cars you regularly feature, Adam. Is it any wonder people just can't get as excited about what is in the showroom today? People still buy vehicles, of course - out of need. But I think a lot of the love is just gone from the equation. Hopefully, electric cars will allow the manufacturers to build back many of the things that are missing in contemporary vehicles. The first OEM to start offering a broader color palette - especially with interiors - will really reap rewards in customer acceptance, in my opinion. Take some of the savings reaped from simplified and lower assembly costs due to reduced component counts and put it back into the product - even as options. Are you listening GM, Ford and Stellantis?

[@Richard4point6]

I hate to think that we are depending on generic EV appliances to return style to automobiles. Is there anything on the road that is more indistinct than a Tesla?

[@CJColvin]

Electric cars are completely useless mate

[@rogersmith7396]

Auto makers have always built cars for planned obsolesence to juice sales. And frankly having a car fetish as we did as kids is not healthy. Get a life. The current marketing trends are aimed at one percenters so everyone has to aspire to own a $100,000 or more car. See Hoovies Garage. A practical regular car is just not good enough on Madison Avenue. I never let people lead me around by the nose.

[@ricksand6477]

Good for you, Roger. Glad your "unhealthy car fetish" led to to be a regular on this site! @@rogersmith7396

[@rogersmith7396]

@@ricksand6477 Its a time killer when its 15 degrees outside.

[@jayweiss4378]

Great work! Very historical 😃

[@alexandrec9372]

Mais um excelente vídeo, gostaria que houvesse mais desses carros americanos aqui no Brasil.

[@DinoLondis]

Angry kitchen appliances. Nice. To me all the new cars, especially crossovers, look like Storm Troopers.

[@jovar.3649]

While I agree with most of the list, I disagree with the seats. Honda & Mercedes were famous back in the day for having hard seats, but on a road trip, they would become more comfortable as opposed to the “comfortable” bench seats that you would start fidgeting around in a half-hour into the trip. I said this on another very similar video like this, but the one feature you forgot to mention was whitewall tires. Many modern cars IMO would look quite good with some whitewalls, but who’s doing that for 20” and up wheels? Good Video.

[@ValdezJu]

I recall driving an old Mercedes (don't ask which model) with a bench seat that had '𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨' [like a box-spring for under a mattress].. each time I went over a bump in the road, I bounced up + down for several seconds.. also, std transmission with no power steering..what a trip!! - but it was very comfortable!

[@rogersmith7396]

Am familiar with German car seats. No they start uncomfortable and stay uncomfortable. My Saab 900 has excellent seats. Soft but supportive and very well designed.

[@ValdezJu]

..this one was from the early '50s but I agree, they have had very firm seats for long, long time

[@talis84]

One thing I like about my 04 Mazda6 Sport Wagon, is the tan interior is all over. Including the headliner, dash, and steering wheel.

[@ronforeman2556]

Our 2007 Mazda 6 wagon was the same. The problem was it was manufactured in a USA Ford plant, where the Quality was Job Zero, so the build quality & fit and finish was crap. It even had a ticky tacky Ford V6. But it had a load floor large enough to accommodate my wife's concert grand harp, which was the one gotta-have-it feature that mattered, so we lived with it a dozen years until we replaced it with a 2019 KIA Sorento.