Car interiors from the 1970s and 1980s could be wonderfully strange. Designers were experimenting with technology, colors, and layouts in ways we rarely see today. But in the quest for style, some dashboards became less about function and more about fashion — sometimes at the expense of the driver’s sanity. Here are ten dashboards from that era that looked wild but could leave you scratching your head.
Aston Martin Lagonda 1976
The Lagonda’s futuristic dash was packed with touch sensitive controls and an early digital display. It looked like something from a sci-fi movie but it was plagued by reliability issues. Drivers often found themselves more focused on figuring out why half the lights were flickering than on the road ahead.
Pontiac Trans Am 1981
Pontiac went all-in on style with a deep gauge cluster that wrapped around the driver. While it looked aggressive, the smaller gauges were tucked far into the dash and could be hard to read in low light. You needed the eyesight of a fighter pilot to catch your speed at a glance.
Subaru XT 1985
The wedge shaped XT came with a futuristic digital dash that changed colors depending on driving mode. While cool at first, the abundance of flashing lights and strange shapes could overwhelm new drivers. It felt less like driving a car and more like playing an arcade game.
Chrysler Imperial 1981
This luxury sedan had a boxy dash dominated by a digital speedometer and bar graph fuel gauge. The minimal readout seemed high tech for the time but lacked clarity. Many owners complained that the speed readout was slow to update, making it tricky to keep track on the highway.
Citroen CX 1976
Although technically European, some CX models made their way to North America. The dash featured a single spoke steering wheel and a pod style cluster with rotating drum speedometers. It was quirky and innovative but left drivers hunting for basic info among the odd displays.
Chevrolet Corvette C4 1984
The C4’s fully digital dashboard looked space age in the mid 80s. It featured glowing numbers and bar graphs for everything from oil pressure to voltage. The problem was the cluttered layout — at night it could feel like staring into a pinball machine.
Ford Thunderbird 1983 Turbo Coupe
The early Turbo Coupe’s digital dash and multiple boost and temperature readouts were aimed at performance fans. Unfortunately the small displays and scattered layout meant you needed to memorize locations to read them quickly. Not ideal for spirited driving.
Datsun 280ZX 1982
Nissan’s sports coupe came with an elaborate dash full of small secondary gauges and toggle switches. While it gave the impression of being in a cockpit, it also required a lot of scanning to find what you needed. Drivers often learned to ignore half the readings.
Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo 1987
The Trofeo’s high tech selling point was its CRT screen that controlled climate, radio, and trip info. In practice it was slow to respond and could be distracting while driving. It was a bold idea years before touchscreens became the norm but not exactly user friendly.
Maserati Biturbo 1984
The Biturbo’s dash had a beautiful leather finish but scattered its instruments at odd angles. Some gauges were partially blocked by the steering wheel, while others were far to the right of the driver. It was more art piece than practical tool.
25 Facts About Car Loans That Most Drivers Don’t Realize
Car loans are one of the most common ways people fund car purchases. Like any other kind of loan, car loans can have certain features that can be regarded as an advantage or a disadvantage to the borrower. Understanding all essential facts about car loans and how they work to ensure that you get the best deal for your financial situation is essential. Here are 25 shocking facts about car loans that most drivers don’t realize:
25 Facts About Car Loans That Most Drivers Don’t Realize
