Learn about this deeply flawed feature found on 1971 GM vehicles. The feature was eliminated after one year.
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@Kingwoodish2 жыл бұрын
Big mistake was elimination of the vent windows. I still miss them years later.
@jimmiesmith58112 жыл бұрын
Yeah gm got rid of them the last year for them was 1968 big mistake
@Robert-ff9wf2 жыл бұрын
It's funny that you mention the VENT WINDOWS that were pretty much standard on every car back then!! I think the Japanese also started to incorporate Vent windows in their cars also! The first time I saw them ,they were installed in my mom's new 1966 Chevy Nova 2. They were great on very hot days, on the highway, you could adjust it to get what ever type of airflow you wanted, from very soft to hurricane 🌀 force winds with very large volumes of air all without using a fan or electricity! Back then, nobody really had Air-conditioning in their house or car yet. There was no houses with central air conditioning. It's funny that you mention the VENT WINDOWS that were pretty much standard on every car back then!! I think the Japanese also started to incorporate Vent windows in their cars also! The first time I saw them ,they were installed in my mom's new 1966 Chevy Nova 2 coupe. They were great on very hot days, on the highway, you could adjust it to get what ever type of airflow you wanted, from very soft to hurricane 🌀 force winds with very large volumes of air all without using a fan or electricity! Hand cranked car door windows were the norm for the day Back then, nobody really had Air-conditioning in their house or car yet. There were no houses with central air conditioning. China didn't have any cars, only bicycles! China was like a jail back then. A closed society and none of us really gave a crap about poor, poor China! It was such a backwards country with nothing but uneducated farmers who seemed perfectly happy with China staying on the down low! I liked it that way too!!
@kathrynck2 жыл бұрын
Vent windows were the best. I was born long after they stopped making them, but i've driven some pretty old cars which had them. I don't know why they got rid of those, they were so useful. Only reason I can think of is that they tend to "whistle" a little bit when closed.
@wtmayhew2 жыл бұрын
The last GM equipped with wing windows, which I owned, was my 1969 G10 van in delivery trim - so stripped down, it had only a driver’s seat. My van had a solid windowless rear doors, but there was a completely useless rear view mirror (mandated by Uncle Sam, perhaps?). Those big exterior truck mirrors were nice though. The G10 had an almost total disregard for safety - paper thin doors, solid steering post, no front crush zone. Even a fairly minor crash would likely have been medically pretty serious. For what it is worth, there was a seat belt.
@ly7762 жыл бұрын
Vent windows and floor vents that riders in the front could open even when it was raining - were great features.. It probably saved $100 per car by eliminating these - and no doubt some engineer got a big bonus as a result.
@stoneylonesome40622 жыл бұрын
I remember reading an old Kurt Cobain interview where he talked about how all his clothing in the trunk became ruined because of rusting on the trunk of his Oldsmobile while on tour playing music.
@hackdaniels72532 жыл бұрын
How the hell could Kurt Cobain tell if his clothing was ruined or not?
@101Volts2 жыл бұрын
@@hackdaniels7253 It might be a matter of his clothes getting moldy, not just tattered and dirty.
@BambiTrout2 жыл бұрын
@@hackdaniels7253 Maybe it's because his clothes started out clean, and then he drove with them in the trunk of his car, and then they were suddenly covered in rust, and he now only had dirty rust-covered clothes to perform in. That's how he could tell.
@Carlton-B2 жыл бұрын
So, that's how the Seattle grunge style started!
@coloradostrong2 жыл бұрын
He certainly does not need clothes now.
@kirbywaite15862 жыл бұрын
A lot of roof- rust that is associated with vinyl tops stems from the fact that the top material and the associated trim pieces placed at the edges were all applied after the car had been painted. The holes for the numerous fasteners are drilled through the painted metal and this exposes a small but very vulnerable area of unpainted steel which attracts moisture and ultimately rusts. The vinyl helps retain the moisture around those bare metal sites and after enough time the area will rust through. I have seen examples where the metal top has nearly detached from the body.
@J.Gainez2 жыл бұрын
funny, people associated vinyl roofs with prestige, to me it seemed like a cheap tactic to not fully paint the car, just put a drilled‘durable’ rag over it lol
@bettermost2 жыл бұрын
Yes we had a 1972 Buick LeSabre with a vinyl top that started rusting/bubbling in the rear roof corners within 3 years.
@kingboagart8992 жыл бұрын
Owned my '70 chevelle SS since '75 and had the rear window to trunk lid sheet metal reskinned for the 2nd time last year, this time with structural repairs. Such a poor design that even when mostly garaged they rust out. Still I wouldn't change a thing.
@5roundsrapid2632 жыл бұрын
My older brother redid a lot of vinyl tops in auto shop class. He got very good at it. The rest of the car would be fine, but the vinyl top would rot away. This was down South with no salt; I imagine the Midwest was far worse.
@kirbywaite15862 жыл бұрын
@@J.Gainez Even Rolls Royce offered a vinyl option. I've seen many with them.
@kifhurlbut2 жыл бұрын
What about GM's innovative Michigan Ventilation System that admits fresh air through the rockers?
@jeffrobodine85792 жыл бұрын
Rust particles have vitamins and minerals when inhaled in great amounts.
@klasseact66632 жыл бұрын
My first car, a 75' Chevelle/Malibu had great Michigan ventilation in the rear quarter panels by 1986. It's a feature that also lightened the car and made it faster due to less weight and also more efficient😇
@NorthernKitty2 жыл бұрын
LOL, it took me a minute to get the joke. Too funny!! 🤣
@newsreader43212 жыл бұрын
Heavy
@fyrbyrd712 жыл бұрын
This factory option has been so successful, every model year has been equipped with the same treatment throughout all makes, foreign and domestic, specifically distributed amongst dealers and buyers alike located in roadway and oceanside mineral-rich inclement climate areas. Only those rare areas of pleasant tropical climate received less application of this factory option for preservation of the financial investment specifically to drive up the repurchase markets beyond twenty-five years of model year existence. Usage may vary. Our investors appreciate your continued purchases. Please come again.
@kellismith43292 жыл бұрын
I always hated that I couldn’t shut off the fan motor, especially when a bearing gets noisy - these got a toggle switch installed
@corvetcoyote4432 жыл бұрын
At first I thought I had a bad switch until I got other 70s GMs, which was Cadillac and Oldsmobiles and even a couple Vegas,but yeah that constant running fan annoyed me as well.
@hughjass12742 жыл бұрын
that's another problem with this system, constantly running fan motor means early demise of the fan motor.
@DanEBoyd2 жыл бұрын
@@hughjass1274 Which is likely a Hugh J. Pain to replace...
@Fluffy652 жыл бұрын
@Karl with a K and yet, millions of people are still loyal to this company after getting screwed over and over! Then GM acts surprised when Toyota takes over the world. How about selling people something that actually lasts for awhile for a reasonable price?!
@timyank84332 жыл бұрын
When I was little, my Grandparents had a red 71 Impala with a black vinyl roof and the number reason they ended up getting rid of it was because it too had the rust issues that you mentioned in the video. It was a shame because it was such a pretty car.
@gradycothren22672 жыл бұрын
I had a red 71 Impala as well. No vinyl top though. The louvered trunk lid did rust out and had to be repaired. Eventually suffered a very "Christine-like" front cap fire and was a total loss. The horn and the headlights were seemingly trying to tap out an SOS signal as the horn went off and on and then lights flashed (even alternately). I hope someone was able to fix her up. I miss all that room!
@eddstarr21852 жыл бұрын
Ah, the 1971 GM trunk lid louvers! Always found it odd the way people were fascinated by holes in the trunk lid. My uncle called them, "rust makers", I just thought they were weird. Couldn't help noticing that the pattern of the louvers varied by make and model. The 1971 Buick Rivera had the coolest set-up, twin rows of louvers on each side of the trunk lid's boat tail - they give the '71 Rivera a sporty/nautical look. The plain trunk 1972 Rivera lost that visual feature, but the benefits were worth it.
@corvetcoyote4432 жыл бұрын
I thought the louvers looked cool on the nicely styled Vega,and on the tailgates of the big wagons.
@basilpunton57022 жыл бұрын
Can not understand why this was Included. Obvious water and rust problems. In 1971 GMH (Holden) in Australia introduced a car with total air flow through ventilation without the water/rust problem. The air flowed under the rear seat, and out via the boot(trunk) and the b-pillar. No water ingress problems. Please note that the air leaving via the b-pillar was later copied on US cars. Also defeated any dust sealing weaknesses. Versions of this car remained in production until early 1980's. Never heard of any problems.
@joemashburn61712 жыл бұрын
My 71 Electra 225 coupe must have had much love in its life life prior to my purchase. 63k miles, 100% original survivor, vinyl top, rear sail areas and trunk all rust free, overall car is near mint despite all the “designed in” flaws. Have always loved the louvered look, and GM big car styling of late 60s early 70s . She gets driven often but will be pampered for rest of my time as it’s caretaker. Good article 👍🏼
@ronniescopeline74862 жыл бұрын
My Dad had a sweet 71' Impala custom that he wouldn't sell to me in 1991, but instead sold it to a barfly tootsie that crunched the door and junked it for $50. While I got to drive it for the short time, I was very popular! Everybody loved that car. 400/400 w duels and skirts.
@hardrays2 жыл бұрын
thats a familiar story to mine. but they sold the 74 just before i could drive and got a dodge minivan. so i bought a rusty one several years later. "take that!" haha
@Flies2FLL2 жыл бұрын
Adam, one thing you can do as a video is "Best Automotive Features Of All Time: '70's Oldsmobile Toronado High Mounted Rear Brake Lights" This feature on this cruddy car ACTUALLY worked! The high mounted accessory brake lights on Toronados were visible through windows to cars trailing behind and helped prevent rear-end accidents. It was SO EFFECTIVE that in 1986 the government REQUIRED high mounted third brake lights!
@frankdenardo86842 жыл бұрын
The 1974-1976 Buick Riviera had the dual rear brake lights. The Toronado had that feature from 1971 through 1978. When the feature was introduced in 1971. The third brake light was 15 years away. When that model was redesigned for 1979. That device was 8 years away.
@Channel-gz9hm2 жыл бұрын
It was effective at the time because it was unusual, strange, and something people hadn't seen before. Now that it's ubiquitous its effects have become statistically unmeasurable. These aren't my words, that was the NHTSA report a few years ago. However, since the third brake lamp only costs manufacturers an average of $17 to add they see no point in changing anything
@pcno28322 жыл бұрын
@@Channel-gz9hm I suppose that no matter no matter how good a safety feature is, users will nullify the improvement because of the added sense of security. Nonetheless, the high-mounted brake lights make driving a lot easier; I love being able to look down the road and see what drivers are doing a mile ahead.
@Flies2FLL2 жыл бұрын
@@frankdenardo8684 That feature actually caused these cars to be in far fewer accidents. Insurance companies noticed this and did research to find out why; They discovered that people looked through the windows of cars ahead of them and could see the brake lights of these Toronados and knew to stop sooner. Thus the third high-mounted brake light was mandated starting in 1986.
@stevenjohnston34962 жыл бұрын
I remember the advent of the third brake light(I installed after market ones for a few friends). The glowing reports of the reduction of accidents typical for this government mandate came as no surprise. However neither does the fact that you never hear of the great advantages now that they are standard equipment. As I predicted at the time the psychological extinguishing of novelties like this has lead to no current appreciable effect of these gimmicks. They are now only good for improving dexterity do to the difficulty of changing bulbs!
@aldenconsolver3428 Жыл бұрын
Short features like this are much appreciated - not only from a user standpoint but the ability to learn more about the goods and bads of the engineering of these cars is a real pleasure.👍
@vwestlife2 жыл бұрын
I thought the ventilation fan always running at low speed was based on a recommendation by Ralph Nader, to prevent a buildup of fumes in the cabin. Having it create the opposite effect was a pretty bad screwup! Many other cars of the '70s, like the VWs and SAABs, had vents on the rear quarter panels for flow-through ventilation, but putting them on the trunk lid seems like a typical dumb GM decision of the era.
@Bonzi_Buddy2 жыл бұрын
Ralph Nader is a commie hack.
@Qusin1112 жыл бұрын
it was and this is pointless
@new2000car2 жыл бұрын
A buildup of fumes in the cabin was terrible. Carbon monoxide from a faulty exhaust was a huge concern back then, so forcing the ignorant people (and non-ignorant as well) to have fresh air flowing through the cabin was a good idea. Too many people would drive with everything closed up, with the heater controls on “off” when it was cool out but not cold enough to need heating. With this system they stayed safer.
@DanEBoyd2 жыл бұрын
Perhaps the idea was to slightly pressurize the cabin, to try to prevent fumes from getting in.
@new2000car2 жыл бұрын
Yes it did accomplish that, to keep occupants from getting CO poisoning. Also it kept the ductwork dry so that moist air didn’t get suddenly dumped onto the windshield by someone sliding the lever from “off” to “defrost” after the system being off, closed tight as a drum, so that mold and mildew could grow.
@corvetcoyote4432 жыл бұрын
That 71 Toronado is a beautiful car, I remember seeing them on the road back in the late 70s and 80s and was always fascinated with the turn signals under the rear window,cars back then we're innovative,one of a kind,works of art back then,not like todays drone wagons that all look the same.
@joegilly15232 жыл бұрын
I have a friend who has one. It’s huge for a two door. It gets like 6 mpg ,green also.
@tahcogunworks2 жыл бұрын
My dad had a 72 and a 74. They were awesome.
@marine4lyfe852 жыл бұрын
I love the old Land Yachts. They may have gotten crap fuel mileage, but they rode like floating on a cloud.
@klasseact66632 жыл бұрын
Problem with the 71' Toro is that the 66 & 67 Toro exsists.
@justkegan8512 жыл бұрын
I remember being able to identify 90% of vehicles at night based off their headlights or taillights. Now everything is so similar I’ve given up trying what once was a fun game I was playing alone in my head 😅
@stevesmith62362 жыл бұрын
My Dad bought a new '71 Impala sedan back in '71.The flow of air from the car's electric blower motor couldn't be turned off, even during the cold Winter months in NJ. I remember fabricating hinged metal flaps that could cover the air coming out on the floor. It wasn't factory looking, and you had to reach under the dash to open/close them but they worked rather well.
@MoultrieGeek2 жыл бұрын
That was a common complaint here in PA. Nothing like a cold Wilkes-Barre morning in January and an ice cold blast of air that you can't shut off. My grandfather (a died-in-wool Buick man) raised hell with his dealer over his new Riviera that froze him and passengers alike. The dealer's response was to install a cheap toggle switch that looked like something from the Radio Shack clearance bin. If memory serves that was the last big Buick he bought.
@rickc3032 жыл бұрын
@@MoultrieGeek why not install an expensive toggle switch that looks like a work of art???
@alanhumphrey41982 жыл бұрын
Our family bought a new 1971 Chevy Caprice that had the flow-through system...my poor mother was always freezing in the winter!!
@pcno28322 жыл бұрын
I almost always run the defroster when I start out on a cold morning, though that works better on cars that allow the defroster to work in recirculate mode while it is warming up. It's a little annoying, but if the fan were off altogether, the windshield would fog up. I don't remember cars of that era taking that long to warm up.
@brianlaurance85702 жыл бұрын
My parents purchased a new 1971 Buick Centurion during December 1970. The car remained in my ownership from the late-1970's until October 2021. In nearly fifty-one years of ownership, we experienced no problems with the forced air ventilation system, despite the extra number of trunklid louvers on our early-production example. But I did experience rust issues in the lower rear window corners, prompting me to have the rear window area repaired and vinyl roof replaced twice during our ownership history. Centurion Formal Coupes and Olds Delta 88 Royale coupes used fiberglass plugs in the rear window area to create a smaller rear window opening; a vinyl roof was standard equipment on these models, and the combination of the vinyl roof and fiberglass insert trapped moisture, eventually creating rust issues even on garage-kept cars. . . . Another aspect of the 1971 full-size body designs resulted in a different set of problems: The extreme tuck-under of the lower bodyside / rocker panel area allowed the front tires to throw gravel / rocks onto the lower body side, effectively sandblasting the paint behind the front wheels. This was a particular problem in areas of the country (Pacific Northwest) where crushed rock was employed as "sanding rock" on snow and ice-covered highways. My mother complained to Buick Motor Division, who paid to repaint the body sides of our car when it was nearly new. We learned from the Portland Zone Manager that test drivers at the GM Proving Grounds had observed that the front tires of the new '71 GM full-size cars threw water up onto the side windows of the cars, but the drivers failed to report the issue to the engineering personnel. The problem was learned only when the drivers were interviewed in response to customer complaints. . . . Apart from these issues related to body design, the '71 Buick was remarkably trouble-free -- a superb road car over the decades of ownership.
@michaelbaka47772 жыл бұрын
My uncle Chuck bought a brand-new 1968 Chevy Impala. It had the Astro-ventilation air circulator feature, same feature talked about in this video. Same year they dropped wing-windows in the doors. Wing-windows worked VERY well, especially for smokers!!! [Like Uncle Chuck!] He HATED that "a**hole ventilation" and argued with his Chevy dealer to the point that he wanted his trade-in back and the deal cancelled!! He traded in a '65 Impala and really loved that car! He told anyone who'd listen that this was a crap feature......and I agree!! Pop 'em a bit if it's raining, or crank those wing-windows all the way, you really got fresh, cool air into your car! FORCED ventilation, for sure. Wish they would bring wing windows back!
@z06rcr2 жыл бұрын
GM had used lock pillar louvers prior to the flawed 1971 design and returned to them in 1972 probably at great redesign expense. They work perfectly fine so the 1971 adventure just never made much sense. Interestingly the Vega kept trunk/hatch louvers through 1973.
@eddiestanley1352 жыл бұрын
I guess GM figured if you were a poor soul that owned a Vega you may be to the point of welcoming asphyxiation! 😉
@robertbeirne98132 жыл бұрын
Part of the Vega’s built to rust design
@Duke_of_Prunes2 жыл бұрын
@@robertbeirne9813 The upside: most of the Vega aluminum cylinder engines didn't last long enough for the rust to eat all the way through.
@robertbeirne98132 жыл бұрын
@@Duke_of_Prunes this is true
@gregstevens95622 жыл бұрын
@@eddiestanley135 Its possible that the Vega was unable to exhaust the necessary amount of air through the small quarter panel area. Unless they rusted out. But that never happened. 😆 Incidentally, I always liked Vegas.
@richroggio2 жыл бұрын
Adam, I like the old toronados and rivieras with the set of lights on top of the trunk !
@ScottALaFollette2 жыл бұрын
Good video. I was waiting for you to mention, or someone in the comments, that Astro ventilation eliminated the front passenger doors vent windows or “wing windows“. Probably huge cost savings at the factory. The wing window should’ve stayed in the event of HVAC failure on a rainy day when the interior glass would fog up. Vent windows would prevent that from happening. Also I recall my fathers left hand on the steering wheel holding a cigar. The smoke flowed out the wing window, no problems. “Bring back the wing windows”. Thanks for another good video.
@wizzard54422 жыл бұрын
I agree with the wing windows but I think they were eliminated due to crash-worthiness and safety inside the cars. The singular vertical window guide plus the small piece of glass were probably found to contribute to injuries in accidents.
@pcno28322 жыл бұрын
@@wizzard5442 They were also said to make the car easier to steal without the loud crash of the main glass breaking.
@wizzard54422 жыл бұрын
@@pcno2832 So it was more of anti-theft rather than safety? lol
@ScottALaFollette2 жыл бұрын
Eliminating vent windows via Astro ventilation. Safety reasons? Theft deterrent? Reduce manufacturing costs? Perhaps all three. During a side impact is a single pane of glass better than a door with a wing window and slightly smaller main glass area? Maybe so. Would owners locking the keys in the car or thieves have less expense replacing the vent window.? Maybe so. Did eliminating wing windows then adding vent louvers on trunk lid or in door jams reduce manufacturing costs? Maybe so. What I do know, opening a vent window at highway speed‘s had less wind noise and interior wind buffeting than a slightly opened single window. Thanks folks, enjoying the conversation. Anybody have a coat hanger I can borrow? 🤷♂️😂
@michaelbenardo56952 жыл бұрын
@@wizzard5442 I think so.
@jonhunt54082 жыл бұрын
Contrary to the claims that forced air ventilation systems were flawed, they’re still widely used. In order to gain maximum efficiency of the system, the exhausted air needed to be released in a low pressure area- such as behind the rear window. The real flaw was the lack of one way valve that you’ll see incorporated into pillar vents that prevents reverse flow in non-optimal conditions. That GM made engineering changes after one year shows that they were on the ball in ‘71. One wishes they were still as responsive today. Btw, who washes their car in freezing conditions? That’s an excellent way to find all your doors frozen shut.
@LoserwinS12 жыл бұрын
I'll tell you who: people who want to keep their cars from rotting! One of the best things you can do besides rustproofing to save a car is wash all the kicked-up salt & grime off frequently in the winter. Bit of lithium grease or wax on the door seals keeps them from freezing anyway.
@PeterBee911 Жыл бұрын
Who wash their car in freezing conditions? People who live in northern states and Canada, and who aren't driving a pile of trash.
@MrTommyboy682 жыл бұрын
I remember when GM came out with the "high mount brake lights" on the Toronado and Riveria's. The motoring public DESPISED them. I thought that was an excellent safety feature and fast forward to the '80's and they were mandated.
@stevendaleschmitt2 жыл бұрын
Toronado is the reason they were mandated. Began as a fashion feature, then statistics showed a significant reduction in Toronados getting rear-ended.
@corvetcoyote4432 жыл бұрын
I thought they were unique and cool,as well as the sequential turn signals in the 60s Cougars and Thunderbirds.
@oceanlover35302 жыл бұрын
@@corvetcoyote443 Those turn signals were so cool! Now they’re on the new Mustang’s. They look awesome! ✌🏻🙂✌🏻
@101Volts2 жыл бұрын
This reminds me of the mid-sized G. M. station wagons from the 70s up to some time in I think the 80s; they had the lights *inside the bumper.* I was born in 1991, so they weren't commonplace when I first started paying attention to cars, but the tail lights being in the bumper (and nowhere else) looked like the worst place ever for them.
@martyjoseph95072 жыл бұрын
I despised the mandate in 1986.
@BaltimoreAndOhioRR2 жыл бұрын
I did enjoy it! Thanks for posting. This channel always has interesting information. Even things I thought I knew about, I always learn something additional! 👍✔
@0Sirk02 жыл бұрын
This is a bot. Or paid comment. Or drunk. Or the fat guy from Mr.Mayor.
@adriangoede74332 жыл бұрын
Excellent video. Brings back my childhood like it was yesterday. Thanks!
@wraithconscience2 жыл бұрын
Super video, Adam! Frankly, in world of junk mail, fake news, faux leather, leading from behind, distopian politics and all the ills of our current world, well, it's just nice to have a few minutes of genuine, factual automotive history! Somehow, it soothes the soul. Thanks!
@chrisbrianjeremiaholsen97872 жыл бұрын
I second that. Germany here.
@daveroe86122 жыл бұрын
the instant-on low-speed fan caused some people to disconnect that feature. Ice cold air blew in in the dead of winter.
@catlovermarty2 жыл бұрын
You just had to move the temp slider for heat. I had a 1974 Impala with this system. I thought it worked well.
@fourdoorglory59452 жыл бұрын
Great video. I love the vents in my ‘71 LeSabre with 24,000 original miles. The story you told about the forced air design flaw definitely creates interesting conversation when someone asks about the trunk louvers. My car was built in March of ‘71, has six sets of four down from the 10 sets on the early production cars.
@pcno28322 жыл бұрын
I'll bet they changed the dies during the strike.
@fredmauck69342 жыл бұрын
No, they simply "pulled the punches" out of the trim die. The task probably took little time on the die floor
@Primus542 жыл бұрын
Very interesting, Adam. One wonders how the issues that presented themselves escaped the engineers in the first place, particularly the ones residing in Michigan who should have been hyper-aware of the challenges of winter driving. Thanks! 👍👍👍
@jasonrackawack93692 жыл бұрын
Lol.... my Dad always said that for the big 3 being located in michigan they should at least know how to build a car that works in the cold weather and snow....the concealed under hood mounted wipers on my 70s trans am prove his point
@aarongranda78252 жыл бұрын
Gentlemen we've spent millions of dollars on this system let's go ahead and put it in the cars and hope no one notices it's a failure.
@J.Gainez2 жыл бұрын
trial and error, but with their case it was straight up trial and throw it into production with no regards for safety, sounds very 1970s america lol
@Mach1412 жыл бұрын
GM. Making garbage since 1971!
@67marlins2 жыл бұрын
@@Mach141 Not even truthful, bad try. Come back after you absorb some facts. Oh yeah, I'm a Ford guy, too.
@scottleyva86562 жыл бұрын
I remember that low fan speed noise in 70's GM cars.
@mikearvin14432 жыл бұрын
Hey Adam - I always enjoy your videos. I was pleasantly surprised to see one of my old cars in this video at the 2 minute mark. I owned the white ‘71 Olds Custom Cruiser for several years around 2008 to 2012 or so. Definitely miss that one - should have kept it! Keep up the good work!
@corvetcoyote4432 жыл бұрын
Nice car, always liked the motor driven tailgate that opened with the turn of the key.
@hardrays2 жыл бұрын
neat!
@TomSnyder-gx5ru4 ай бұрын
I think the '71 Olds (Ninety-Eight) Custom Cruiser was the best looking wagon of all wagons - also loved the 'clamshell" tailgate. Never did see very many of them back then and definitely don't see any of them today.
@salo00092 жыл бұрын
We had a '71 Impala and during the winter in Minnesota, the constant low fan would blow frigid air on you until the car warmed up. A major annoyance.
@loveisall55202 жыл бұрын
Growing up on the Texas Gulf Coast, my parents' last Pontiac after 25 years of them was the '71 Grand Ville they bought while I was in high school. It had those awful louvers on the trunk, always leaked in the trunk regardless of what the dealer tried. They rusted and also caused the taillights to rust quickly. Both of them converted to Peugeots after that lemon and never came back to GM.
@jeffaulik39802 жыл бұрын
I agree. Peugeot would be at the top of my list if I was choosing a foreign car after a bad experience with an American car.
@loveisall55202 жыл бұрын
@@jeffaulik3980 My mother bought a 504 sedan and my father, a 504 wagon. I dearly loved driving that wagon on occasion...
@desertmodern76382 жыл бұрын
I had several '70s GM vehicles with forced ventilation, and had no complaints. The defining characteristics (which to my observation did not change when the trunk louvres were eliminated) were the mandatory low speed fan (once the coolant was up to temperature in cold weather), and a mandatory high speed fan when recirculated air was selected (and even then a percentage of the air was fresh). The A/C was so powerful that the rather authoritarian programming just seemed to go with the theme. You were going to be saved from the perils of unexchanged cabin air whether you wanted to be or not.
@richardprice59782 жыл бұрын
CO2 prisoning? protection? as the piper charkee air plane had some deaths from it and a recalls
@pcno28322 жыл бұрын
That probably did prevent a fair number of "lovers lane" CO deaths, so it seems like a reasonable feature.
@jazzvictrola71042 жыл бұрын
I especially hated the default to Hi when Recirc was selected. Also, placing the Recirc feature in the warm-cold slider seemed silly, especially coming off '70 and earlier when each brand had its own HVAC system with intuitive controls that you could set as you pleased. FoMoCo had much better controls and in '72 began using GM's superior A-6 compressor in T-Birds and Lincolns and in all the big cars in '75 on to replace the noisy York reciprocating compressor. In the meantime, GM went to the annoying CCOT system in '77 with its cycling compressor and the horrible little C-4 pancake compressor that was good for about a year.
@richardprice59782 жыл бұрын
dumb question so if the fan parts of the system where designed better for NVH aka biger motor/fan so it spun slower would that have helped make it feel more luxurious? as mini spits in homes now do some of the same things
@punker4Real2 жыл бұрын
@@jazzvictrola7104 I got a electric compressor in my GM hybrid ICE cold 35F. in the summer even if it's 110f outside... I have to bring my hamburger earmuffs with me the cabin gets so cold i can see my breath
@rtex85632 жыл бұрын
Mom had a 1972 Pontiac Catalina 2 door with a vinyl roof. I tried to seal the back window with silicone. When she sold it, there was a good size hole in the trunk, as well as the right rear passenger foot well under the carpeting.
@darrellfarlough52282 жыл бұрын
Another worst automotive feature was the horn on the stalk of 1983 Ford Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar. One could never find the horn quickly! Horrible feature.
@kaischmidt80302 жыл бұрын
Yes! The ultimate in cost cutting. I’m surprised it was even legal to have the horn button not in a “panic” location.
@acemobile98062 жыл бұрын
81-85 Escort/Lynx & Tempo/Topaz the same. It's very easy to rob horn contact parts from later cars to put the horn back where it belongs as I did for my '82 Escort years ago but still, have to wonder what the hell they were thinking. I've worked on many late 90s International 3800 school buses that use the exact same turn signal switch from so long ago. The vestigial function for the old horn switch is still there because you can still push in on the stalk just like those cars but it doesn't do anything.
@jnucci12 жыл бұрын
Ford put the horn on the signal stalk in anticipation of airbags. This was their solution instead of figuring out how to keep the horn button on the wheel pad.
@frederickbooth79702 жыл бұрын
The 1st time we went to use the horn in Ford Faimont in an emergency on an urban street we almost got hit as we could not find the horn activation switch! 1 of Fords dumber ideas!
@ragglerog31852 жыл бұрын
Ah yes, these were even installed on Ford Australia's Ford Falcons. Good to see that this flawed design went global!
@joeseeking35722 жыл бұрын
I've known about this problem, yet I still have an affinity for the 71 B & C bodies - the louvers do look 'cool'. And in most cases the 71's were slightly more attractive than the 72's, which in turn were better than the 73's and then the whole design got homogenized, smoothed and lost most of its character.
@michaelbenardo56952 жыл бұрын
The 71s were also faster!
@johnmiller89752 жыл бұрын
I had a '71 Eldorado convertible, it was a lovely car, and since it was a convertible the cabin was drafty enough i had no monoxide issues
@citibear572 жыл бұрын
I learned something new: the panel between the bottom of the rear window and the leading edge of the trunk lid is called the *tulip* panel. Wow!
@ratman57272 жыл бұрын
You are a wealth of information. This channel is going to go places!! Brace yourself!!! I grew up with many of the vehicles you speak of, and you are 100% spot on.
@pg9702 жыл бұрын
You do a great job with your videos. I'm a classic care enthusiast so I find your topics very informative
@micksterboone45172 жыл бұрын
Those '71 Toronados are gorgeous.
@jayski94102 жыл бұрын
It always surprises me when corporate designers don't actually know or test how their work will behave in real life. The classic examples are hood scoops. They are often placed in low pressure aerodynamic areas where they can draw in almost no air. And like with this video's forced air louvers, if air can flow through so can water but water will behave very differently.
@joseyzadoria78152 жыл бұрын
That is what happens when profit outweighs quality. Its a main reason why foreign car companies do so much better in sales than American car companies, the emphasis of "quality assurance" is simply ignored.
@fredmauck69342 жыл бұрын
The Deck lid Inner was stamped in such a way to allow water to drain out the rear while air had to circle back to the forward area of the Deck lid
@josephdugal45332 жыл бұрын
What’s an example of a low pressure area?
@straightpipediesel2 жыл бұрын
@@joseyzadoria7815 Not "foreign" car makers. Japanese. They stick with one design and refuse to change it. Toyota's still shipping trucks with rear drum brakes. The Europeans change stuff for the sake of change far more than Americans. (Part of it is due to the fact that European cars are driven, less than 2/3 of the miles American cars are) Go look how reliable a VW or BMW is and how many gadgets they have.
@joseyzadoria78152 жыл бұрын
@@straightpipediesel I am going to respectfully disagree. How many foreign cars have you personally owned and driven? I detect and smell some bias from you. For starters Toyota has dominated the US car market since the late 80's because American cars were such shit in terms of terrible designs, and being unreliable. In fact two of the best all time selling cars for not only for reliability but also for resale value is the Toyota Camery and the Honda Accord. (You can look up that fact yourself) As far as Toyota still shipping Trucks with rear Drum brakes, please cite source that supports that assertion, this is the first time I have ever heard that claim. Lets list a few American cars that were among the worst and almost sunk the American Car industry shall we grandpa? 1. Reliant K car 2. Pinto 3. 79 to 85 Cutless Supreme 4. Chevy Chevette 5. Dodge Durango 6.Chevy Lumina 7, Cadillac Cimmeron (What the fuck was this? No serious! What the fuck was this garbage?) 8. Chrysler PT Cruiser 9. Pontiac Aztek 10.Dodge Omni 11.Ford Explorer 12. Chevy SSR 13. AMC Gremlin 14 AMC Pacer 15. Chevy Citiation 16. Ford Mustang II 17. Dodge Aspen 18. Olds/Buick/Chevrolet/Pontiac Diesels 19. Renault Alliance 20. Chevy Vega These are just a few as I am sure I can probably find more to put on this list especially the years in the late 70's and 80's where its widely accepted knowledge that these were the worst years for American cars. In fact the American car industry in today's terms can't really be considered American any more due to being owned by Chinese and Italian companies. Chevy and Chrysler to be specific. The last American car that I owned was a 78 Mercury Cougar, which after going into a store to purchase beer only to come outside to watch it burn to the ground due to an electrical problem. It was absolute shit! After that I never owned another American car again. The car that I ended up driving and purchasing was a VW Golf. It was one of the best cars I have ever owned and I ended putting 350,000 miles on it with minimal maintenance. When I eventually traded it in for a Mercedes Diesel, that car was still running strong. The misconception about VW's is the ones that came from Germany (Wolfberg Editions) vs. the ones that were imported from Mexico. The ones that were assembled in Mexico and imported to the US market had all sorts of problems and were not the same in quality than cars imported from Germany. Car enthusiasts will confirm that fact. The Mercedes that I owned was a 1985 300D Turbo Diesel and it was also one of the best cars I have ever owned and a lot of those cars are still on the road today due to being able to easily convert to Bio-Diesel. As far as BMW's depending on what Model one would purchase was hit or miss, but the M3 and M5 packages were geared toward European Performance and has a loyal following in terms of handling and reliability. I drove a few of them and their fuel management system along with their road handling put American cars to shame. I also owned 3 Toyota Land Cruisers and absolutely loved those vehicles for not only their off-road handling capability but also their reliability. The only thing I will say about American cars is that they have improved in the last 20 years, and most notably they are known for their trucks and Diesel engines. (Although Chevy's experiment with putting diesels into cars failed miserably whereas the German cars were much better with their designs when it came to diesels) Ford trucks or the Ram diesel is something I would consider buying for not only their capability for towing and durability, but also their resale value is reasonable, (although given recent gas prices I am not sure what that looks like currently). Speaking of Ford, they are the only American car company that can be still consider American, and didn't have to take a US funded bail out and is still widely sold through out the world. Aside from owning and driving the vehicles you so disparagingly speak of, I also worked in the car industry for several years as a Sales specialist, so I actually know what I am talking about when it comes to cars in general, and I have no bias when it comes to evaluating cars for both their quality and reliability. My biggest sellers were always Japanese.
@markholder82 жыл бұрын
My folks had a 1971 Bonneville, and an uncle had a 1971 Buick (LaSabre, I think); both had massive leaks in the trunk that could never be fixed. Thanks for the video, I'd forgotten about this "feature" from the Malaise Era.
@ximx1235 ай бұрын
1971 was not malaise era lol
@hcombs01042 жыл бұрын
Why wouldn't GM force this "design" on the public? They forced the Vega on an unsuspecting public. One of the worst cars of all time.
@hillarylevenworth88242 жыл бұрын
Compared to a Pinto, a Vega was a Rolls Royce!
@J.Gainez2 жыл бұрын
it’s something so interesting learning about gimmicks car companies did back then, alot of these things are either drastically redesigned or impossible to replicate
@gradycothren22672 жыл бұрын
I owned a 1971 Impala with the louvered trunk lid. Lots of folks thought I had them added trying to be cool. I just told them that I ate a lot of beans and that solved the problem.
@terry-zi7eh2 жыл бұрын
Chevy used a system called Astro Ventilation starting in 1968, but it didn’t have trunk louvers. A friend’s 68 Caprice 4dr hardtop had this. It actually worked ok, but the 396 under the hood made it even better.
@pcno28322 жыл бұрын
Didn't they add that to replace the vent windows? It worked fine until the cars were downsized in the late 1970s and the dashboard vents were fan-forced to save space, even if you didn't have AC. The problem was that the heater still trickled all summer unless you installed a manual cutoff valve.
@BreakfastTacos2 жыл бұрын
Adam you did a good job with this video I particularly prefer your having shown pictures of the vehicles instead of just your face talkin it was a lot more palatable as a viewer to just gaze upon pictures of these lovely Vehicles just listening to your silky smooth voice a winning formula!
@Sheisthedevilyouknowwho-ft9weСағат бұрын
3:59 oh, that's what those were. All I knew was that our big 1970s Pontiacs had these. thanks again Adam
@offhandacoustic2 жыл бұрын
Am I the only one who has never noticed any rear vents on any car ever? I feel like I should have seen this before in my 40 years.
@FoxeemaTV2 жыл бұрын
did you know 1966 Studebakers had a non power vent system that had vents from trunk thru top of rear tail lights...
@michaelbenardo56952 жыл бұрын
Yes! I remember those. Rare, because they only sold a few 66s.
@kevinbarry712 жыл бұрын
Reminds me a little of the old station wagons where you could roll down the window on the tailgate. This turn the vehicle into a gas chamber, sucking your exhaust right back into the cabin.
@misters28372 жыл бұрын
EVERY Van I have had, back windows that opened...Never had a problem.
@big28682 жыл бұрын
I absolutely remember that. We had a 1970 Vista Cruiser and a 1973 Custom Cruiser and more often than not, it was fume city if the rear window was open, unless you were moving.
@kevinbarry712 жыл бұрын
@@big2868 Old times. Carbon monoxide coupled with some lead.
@m439882 жыл бұрын
I had a 63 Buick LeSabre wagon where that same thing happened. It was awful and I could never understand it.
@misters28372 жыл бұрын
@@big2868 They seem to be the same places to me...I don't remember my mom's 72 Pontiac Safari wagon being a problem with window down except the DUST on gravel roads...Also Problematic on Vans, not only do the glass on vans pop open, they are also removable (though most people didn't know this) I have Dual Pipes straight out the back on my 1971 Ford Ranch Wagon 429, but it has A/C so I haven't driven much with that back window open...(I imagine it would be BAD, with those pipes under the bumper though.)
@douglasarnold5942 Жыл бұрын
Continue learning facts I knew not before this video. Plus information giving knowledge which may improve purchasing power or simply great conversation points. Highly recommend the topics , concerns and information discovered throughout these videos. Thanks again !!
@toasteroverdrive10972 жыл бұрын
Thank you for schooling us about that one year feature, and what they were trying to acheive. Loved the pictures.
@georgeballow70282 жыл бұрын
Adam, another great video. I remember something called “Astro Ventilation” on 69 and newer GM when they eliminated most of the vent windows.
@terry-zi7eh2 жыл бұрын
68 actually, is when the vent windows disappeared. Astro Ventilation was cool, they even put a decal with those words where the vent window used to be, on a 68 Caprice, I know.
@jnucci12 жыл бұрын
Vent windows disappeared on the coupes first. The sedans still had them in 69.
@pcno28322 жыл бұрын
@@jnucci1 My '68 Fleetwood had 4 of the, but my '69 Sedan Deville had none. I think certain coups like the Riviera and Camaro lost them before the sedans. Fairmonts and Crown Vics still had the option well into the 1980s; must have kept some Ford customers loyal.
@gshsr12 жыл бұрын
I believe the 1968 corvette had the first gm forced ventilation. It was called " Astro Ventilation ".
@will7its2 жыл бұрын
Astro Ventilation took cowl air and blew it thru vents in the kick panels and didnt use a fan so probably not. When you stopped the air stopped too.
@DSP19682 жыл бұрын
An excellent overview of this feature, Adam. As a kid, I noticed that even the '73 and newer Chevrolet/GMC trucks had this same feature.
@mercoid2 жыл бұрын
Back in 1976 while I was in elementary school, we took a field trip to Philadelphia to see the Liberty bell and see the movie “1776”. On the way back to NY there was a dark green Chevrolet Vega that passed our bus doing about 80 mph. When it got about 200 yards ahead of the bus, the hood popped open and from the force of wind, ripped by it off the car and it went flying over the car behind it and flung to the side of the highway. The man driving the Vega pulled over and got out, LAUGHING HIS ASS OFF while walking back to retrieve the hood of his car. I’ll never forget it.
@howebrad46012 жыл бұрын
I could very much be mistaken and happy to be corrected if I'm wrong but I thought the Vega had a front hinged hood. If I'm wrong please let me know
@dave19562 жыл бұрын
I remember when this system debuted and how unpopular it was. I read John DeLorean’s book “On A Clear Day You Can See General Motors” where John DeLorean talked about how much money GM spent retrofitting these cars to solve some of it’s myriad of problems. In theory it was a good idea. I always tell people how when I was a small child I was allowed to stand up in the front seat between my parents when driving and they were both heavy smokers. There were no child safety seats in those days. It’s surprising that many of us are still here today.
@allegory76382 жыл бұрын
Yeah, about 1969 I was standing up in the front seat of my aunt's car, looking out the back window. She had to hit the brakes when a car turned in front of her. I hit the dash and broke my lower back.
@V8_screw_electric_cars2 жыл бұрын
Smoking and playing on the phone are two different things
@michaelbenardo56952 жыл бұрын
@@allegory7638 That sounds pretty horrible. Hope you fully recovered.
@michaelbenardo56952 жыл бұрын
@@V8_screw_electric_cars I wish they would actually ticket azzholes who insist on motor mouthing on their damn cell phones while driving.
@michaelbenardo56952 жыл бұрын
@Account NumberEight Yuk.
@cjdesign57002 жыл бұрын
Adam...Great video topic....It really "blows" no pun intended. I had both a 1971 Vega Wagon...in Maine, and a 1971 Impala Convertible...in upstate NY and in Iowa. It was always freezing, and in the winter impossible to get warm.
@AJ679012 жыл бұрын
They certainly made identifying a 1971 GM of any brand easy. I had a couple of cars with these vents, but never had any problems with them.
@TomSnyder-gx5ru4 ай бұрын
My dad had a '71 Chevy Caprice for about twenty years and never had any trouble with the ventilation system and never any rust issues in the trunk either.
@tripsadelica2 жыл бұрын
It's interesting that many of GM's foreign divisions did NOT adopt this system mainly because the local engineers could see the pitfalls of it. GM's Aussie outpost (Holden) rejected it out of hand, not because of the ice issue but because the local engineers could see the possibility of exhaust blow-back and also because the system would create havoc on outback roads full of red dust. All Aussie car makers had to make sure that their cars limited dust entry on country roads. So, in the 1971 year, Holden introduced their own "flow through" system which did not need the fan to be on. This happened in the HQ series cars (all Aussie Holdens have a two letter model designation...the last Australian made Holdens designated "VF"). Aussie Holdens also offered a vinyl roof option starting in the 68 model year (HK) but Holden's system involved finishing the fixing holes with extra adhesive which offered protection against rust. The final outcome of that was that the cars did not rust at the rear pillars at all BUT they sometimes collected water through the vinyl roof side seams which collected in the centre of the roof which then could lead to rust. It was very much the luck of the draw. Here's an interesting contemporary road test of the '71 model which mentions the flow through ventilation: www.whichcar.com.au/features/classic-wheels/1972-holden-hq-kingswood-road-test
@donk4992 жыл бұрын
Yeah, this system certainly must have promoted quick rusting. And yeah, those vinyl tops held water and caused quick rusting also.
@fleetwin12 жыл бұрын
Yeah, I remember my buddy's parents 72 Impala four door with the vinyl top, water sure got trapped in those corners. That car rusted quickly. That issue wasn't quite so bad on my 73 Caprice coupe because the rear window extended down behind the metal panel before the trunk, and there was no vinyl down there to trap the water. I wonder how they sealed the joint between the body air exit into the trunk...
@BradGryphonn2 жыл бұрын
I feel that from the 40s onwards, gimmicks were all the rage. Many of these gimmicks failed, but some developed to become standard equipment in many cars. For example, moisture-activated windscreen wipers. I'm annoyed that the best non-aircon ventilation system for cars ever developed has been made obsolete over the years. I speak with reverence of the 'Quarter Glass Window'. May this wonderful item of automotive history rest in peace, and may it one day have a resurgence in popularity.
@another-learner86772 жыл бұрын
"Water getting frozen in trunk" This is brilliant engineering! During snow months having weigh on back of a rear-wheel drive car is always good!
@mesasavage Жыл бұрын
Love your channel. It’s full of the kind of nerdy stuff that I deep dive on all the time. Only you’ve done all the hard work already! Thanks! The louvers look nice on the Riviera for sure!
@johnhall83642 жыл бұрын
Interesting video, the 72 system of door jam exhaust vents wasn’t new. Just about all GM cars in 69 (and some without vent windows in 67-68) used door jam pressure relief vents to release cabin air. In those years AC cars had a low rather than off position for the HVAC fan but non AC cars had an off position for the fan.
@christopherkraft13272 жыл бұрын
Thanks Adam for sharing another informative video 👍
@Miami5432102 жыл бұрын
I am quickly falling in love with this channel. Congratulations. Very interesting. And thank you so much.
@andrewgohring76252 жыл бұрын
While I didn't get familiar with any of the cars shown here, I gotta say- the front vents that worked with the front quarter windows in the early 70's Novas were a smokers dream!
@kevinvoyer50532 жыл бұрын
Ok I for one being a life long non smoker loved the way that system worked, especially in the 71 Toronado I owned. That I bought used for peanuts during OPEC III, in I believe 1981? It only had 48,000 miles on a premium gas 455 Rocket engine, with the TH425 FWD system that was utterly fantastic on all roads and surfaces, especially in snow and rain, that could be up to 10” deep and I would just plow through! Especially after I installed 4 studded Firestone Town&Country Snow tires on the 15” Toronado exclusive wheels. That were the biggest sized 15” Town&Country tires I could find. Plus I added MOOG Cargo Coil rear springs with HD Munromatic Shocks all around, plus cranked up the front torsion bars to gain over an inch front an rear, I tried to get more in front, but could not get the alignment to specs. But that car was amazing! I could fit 6 big guys in comfort for road trips, splitting the gas up for road trips up north to ski, with a roof rack holding all the skis and the truck all our other stuff!
@joelarson17332 жыл бұрын
I've had a 72 Toronado for a couple years now and I love it
@timsheahan60162 жыл бұрын
Hi Adam, I enjoy your knowledge! Thank you! I was wondering if this was why the 71(?) Riviera with the louvard trunk was a 1 yr only design? Thanks again
@jnstonbely52152 жыл бұрын
As I was watching this excellent video, I remembered many cars where the issues you covered were problems for friends and family who had some of these General Motors cars. The 70’s were the beginning of GM , Chrysler & Fords’ slide into mediocrity and ruin as they ignored what their customers wanted , and were buying from Japan , Germany , and later South Korea .
@frankhklaeschen32882 жыл бұрын
My 79 Camaro Berlinetta 350 also has the blower Motor starting if you turn ignition on. Not possible to stop, but in the 21 years I own it here in Germany no problem for a now 60.000 miles car, only driven for fun at sunny days. Best regards and thank you for your interesting stories of American classic cars.
@DerrickOil2 жыл бұрын
Ahhh, the Vega. So promising....
@bobfeller6042 жыл бұрын
It was called "flow through ventilation", as on my parent's '71 Bonneville. It was never a problem, I'm assuming it was designed because the cars no longer had wind wings, and my dad never went to the car wash in freezing temperatures.
@tedburnard8412 жыл бұрын
We got it on our HQ Holden here in Australia. The extractor was in the C pillar area between the belt line and the dogleg. The LX Torana had the same system but on the Hatchback, the extractor was at the base of the B pillar. Fan assistance was at the driver’s discretion - Off, Low and High
@josephlalock83782 жыл бұрын
props on using the correct name for the "tulip panel" . i've been in autobody for 30+ years, have even worked in a few restoration shops and nobody i have ever come across knows that name.
@SuspenseESCAPEremastered2 жыл бұрын
By far, GM had the biggest design blunders of any car manufacturer - The 'X' car, the 8-6-4 engine, the gasoline engine converted to diesel, to name just a few.
@ricfax2 жыл бұрын
👍 I was scrolling to see if anyone was going to mention the '81 Cadillac 8-6-4 engine debacle. One of GM's stellar examples of pushing crap out to dealers that hadn't been adequately tested. Electric cars that can't be charged in garages lest they set the house on fire indicate that tradition continues.
@SuspenseESCAPEremastered2 жыл бұрын
@@ricfax Oh yes, the Chevy Volt (now rebadged as "Bolt" - go figure that one out!) I've been a "car guy" my entire life. My dad was a Ford dealer after WWII thru 1960's. I still follow the auto industry, and GM continues making huge mistakes. They took 15 years to come out with a turbocharged truck engine to compete with Ford's Ecoboost. So what do they do? They build a 4-CYLINDER for their full size trucks!
@davidp28882 жыл бұрын
First and second gen Firebirds were notorious for having trunk leaks.
@keithstudly60712 жыл бұрын
Yeah, but for a different reason. The bottom part of the rear window frame was almost horizontal and only took a little bit of dirt or leaf pieces to block the drain holes under the rear window trim. The channel under the trim would then collect water and rust through and that would let the water drain into the trunk. You needed a special tool and some skill to take the window trim off and clean out the dirt that collected under it.
@Thundarr9952 жыл бұрын
Musty smell also might be an old rat nest,possibly with a dead rat in it.🤣 My uncle picked up a nice old Cadillac limousine. We took it to a rock concert. It was the first time that car had been driven in a long time. It was winter time and it started to get cold back there. One of my brothers made the mistake of asking him if he could turn on the rear heat. Now the heat did work,but it also blew out this horrendously horrible smell. OMG was it bad. About a week later I went down to his place to hopefully track down where the smell was coming from. I found it with one of those cameras that are mounted in a flexible tube thingy. He bought one at Harbor Freight fairly cheap. Without it,we never would have been able to find that rat nest in the heat duct. Since then,I bought one too. They come in really handy. Also used it to see what was going on with my neighbor's early 2000's jeep grand Cherokee. Used it to look down the spark plug holes. Found dropped valve seat without completely removing the head. Well it needed to come off anyway to fix /replace the head,but at least we knew exactly what needed to be done.
@Austin180252 жыл бұрын
Bet it was a mouse and not a rat.
@rutheliz752 жыл бұрын
I forgot how elegant those models were . Thanks for posting.
@turbo1gts2 жыл бұрын
Totally different generation of vehicle here, but I really appreciated the outside air vent under the steering column of our old '91 Grand Caravan. You could get fresh air blowing directly on you with the windows rolled up. Really good for not having highway speed air buffeting in through the side windows, or needing to have the windows down when it rained. It worked even better when the rear vent windows were opened.
@Earcandy732 жыл бұрын
My 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo had the improved flow through ventilation system with the door jamb louvers. The fan would not operate below freezing due to a temperature sensor mounted under the dash.
@drozcompany41322 жыл бұрын
If they had positive air pressure venting out of the louvers, how did exhaust get sucked in? Or, was it also acting as an intake? The video seems to suggest otherwise.
@spaceghost89952 жыл бұрын
You crack a front window and it may cause a backflow . Air has funny ways of going where you don't want it to.
@Mach1412 жыл бұрын
Its a GM. Certainly the fan was underpowered for the task
@paulr75472 жыл бұрын
The unintended consequences of design. Interesting Adam.
@johnkern70752 жыл бұрын
I remember seeing those events when I was just a kid however I had no idea what they were for. Not until I watched this video. Thanks for posting this.
@mitchellbarnow17092 жыл бұрын
I love setting off smoke bombs in my car to see how well it’s cabins filters are working!
@heybofe2 жыл бұрын
My 71 Buick Estate has a vinyl roof that is in need of replacement, and under the vinyl is just a thin coat of red primer. GM didn't bother to paint a roof if it was getting vinyl on it, but it was Lacquer primer they used, and that is not at all moisture proof, so rust spread rapidly at the edges. They didn't care about longevity at all. The backside of all the body shell is bare steel, so keeping it garaged and dry is important. I'm doing away with the vinyl when the car is restored- Good riddance.
@elultimo1022 жыл бұрын
Wandering through the junkyards, every vinyl top had rust underneath, to some extent. A bad idea, just for show. At least the truck bed liners served a practical purpose, until the moisture trapped beneath rotted out the bed----Oops, nobody saw that coming either.
@Sedonalegendhelenfrye2 жыл бұрын
Great overview and helpful at understanding these vehicles. My stepmother had the 71 Sedan Deville, color was Primrose Firemist, it had the louvers you mention. That said I had several GM vehicles, restored several in Corvallis Oregon. Let me tell you vinyl roofs were a nightmare in a region where it rains night and day. The trunks were always full of water, partly too from rear window which always leaked. I bought a '64 Riviera at Portland which I restored, the rear floor boards were full of water on the lot! Fought leaks on that car endlessly, think there just isn't a car that can with withstand the deluge of rain and moisture in the Northwest (at least a vintage one). The only salvation is a garage. The only classic car I owned for many years was a '69 Eldorado, to my recall it never leaked. Finally I fled to the Southwest!
@deanberg40332 жыл бұрын
My parents had a 73 Chevy Vega GT and it had the louvers in the hatch. The louvers leaked and we often found standing water in the well where the spare was located. Our Vega was Gold which was fitting as it was a big ole LEMON.
@Sedan57Chevy2 жыл бұрын
Cool idea, but obviously a major failure. It's interesting how ford had an existing comparable system that worked fine, yet gm missed the ball so hard. For me personally, I'd rather just have good old vent windows for circulation- but I almost always have the windows open anyeays, unless it's super hot out and I'm using ac.
@califdad42 жыл бұрын
Yeah but Ford had their horrible power steering system, some have wondered, why in the age of industrial spying, they didn't find out why GMs power steering system was so superior and duplicate it, don't forget Ford's infamous transmission that would jump out of gear and run over the person who walked behind it to retrieve their paper
@michaelsimko76942 жыл бұрын
It amazes me how such a wealthy company that sold tons and tons of units made many bad engineering decisions
@12yearssober2 жыл бұрын
Nepotism was strong back then in the automotive industry
@stevendaleschmitt2 жыл бұрын
bad engineering is often very good for the wallets of the actual engineering 'decision makers', the board of directors.
@abpsd732 жыл бұрын
Well, they haven't changed much. I did a Vortech 2800 timing chain and tensioner a few months ago. It was the most wretched hostile engineering I've ever dealt with, the job would have been easier with the engine pulled out of the truck.
@clarkhull75462 жыл бұрын
They ALL had bad ideas from time to time
@jmd17432 жыл бұрын
@@12yearssober You can see this with how overnight the Auto industry stopped producing bland late 90s to to late 2000s automotive designs. It's as if a whole generation of engineers & designers retired. Even Kias today smoke BMWs in design from just few years ago. Look at the rocket industry. The whole point of the SLS rocket program is to keep engineers around long enough to draw a pension. Right now everyone seems to be hoping that SpaceX goes away so they can continue to produce rocker designs from the 1970s.
@revmo372 жыл бұрын
Really excellent and entertaining video. Takes me back to high school. Thanks
@zemo42 жыл бұрын
I'm German, but I have to say that the Americans have built and are still building really good cars. I drive a 2017 Challenger myself and my next purchase will be a Cadillac xt5. the Germans greatly underestimate American cars. even a corvette is not taken seriously here in Germany and is labeled as scrap. in this country everyone thinks Porsche is faster and better, but that's wrong! I wrote this with Google translator because I don't speak English very well
@lonwaslien1042 жыл бұрын
Good idea…on paper
@TheKiing812 жыл бұрын
Tornadoes looks sick 👌🏽❤️🔥
@michaelbenardo56952 жыл бұрын
SICK? The Tornado was a FANTASTIC looking car.
@macieksoft2 жыл бұрын
GM: Our forced air ventilation system allows you to smoke with windows closed till you get a lung cancer or you get killed by lethal gas from the exhaust. Hitler: I should have patented my gas trucks.
@hanzzarkov76902 жыл бұрын
Just came down to say, what a great looking blue pontiac convertible. Big chrome bumper. Big ass trunk. Great Louvers. Beautiful.
@Chris_Troxler2 жыл бұрын
Mmmmm... Toronadoes.🤤🤤🤤
@chrisfranklin21042 жыл бұрын
Hmmm, an interesting pluralism, like tomatoes !!
@Sensecommon5572 жыл бұрын
I learned something new. Great video - perfect length too
@markcollins4575 ай бұрын
I was told years ago by an employee at GM that one hidden reason for the ventilation fan was to maintain a positive pressure inside the car and reduce window leaks and whistling from the poor fitting frame less windows. Unfortunately a lot didn't work. The GM cars from the 70's had the wow factor but where plagued with poor quality.
@stevebyrne42352 жыл бұрын
No need to worry about early '71 Vegas and car washes, the lower shock mount prevented the car from travelling along the rails of the car wash floor. Another great review, thanks.