Cars today are loaded with touchscreens, driver assists, and endless connectivity, but in the not so distant past, vehicles were filled with quirky features that gave them character. Some were practical, some were gimmicky, and a few were downright odd, but all of them made driving feel a little different from the uniform experience we have now. Here are eight car features that people have largely forgotten about.
Hidden Headlights
From the 1960s through the 1980s, hidden or retractable headlights were a symbol of style and speed. Cars like the Chevrolet Corvette, Pontiac Firebird, and Toyota Celica Supra used flip up designs to give a sleek, aerodynamic front end. They were fun to see in action, almost like the car was winking. But moving parts added complexity, and safety regulations eventually killed them. Today, hidden headlights are remembered with nostalgia, a cool feature that disappeared with modern design rules.
Fender Mounted Mirrors
Before door mirrors became the standard, many cars from Japan and Europe came with mirrors mounted on the front fenders. This placement gave drivers a wider view of the road, and it was considered stylish in its day. By the late 1980s, most markets phased them out in favor of door mounted mirrors that were easier to adjust. Outside of Japanese domestic imports, fender mirrors have nearly vanished, making them a forgotten design quirk.
Ashtrays and Lighters
Every car once came with ashtrays and cigarette lighters, even if the owner never smoked. Some models even had ashtrays for every passenger, front and rear. Over time, smoking declined, and automakers shifted toward twelve volt outlets, and later USB ports. The old flip open ashtray with its spring loaded lighter has become a relic, replaced by smartphone chargers and cupholders.
Vent Windows
Those little triangular side windows that could be flipped open were once a standard feature. They provided fresh air without blasting wind into the cabin and were especially handy before air conditioning was widespread. By the late 1980s, vent windows began disappearing as manufacturers streamlined door designs and climate control became universal. Today, younger drivers might not even know they existed.
Floor Mounted Dimmer Switches
Older cars placed the headlight dimmer switch on the floor, to the left of the brake pedal. Drivers toggled high and low beams with their foot, keeping their hands on the wheel. As controls migrated to steering columns in the 1970s, floor switches faded away. For anyone who grew up using them, they were simple, durable, and oddly satisfying. Modern cars have more complicated stalks, but the old floor dimmer was as straightforward as it gets.
Crank Windows
Rolling down your window used to be exactly that—rolling. A hand crank on the door panel let you lower or raise the glass. Power windows began trickling down from luxury cars in the 1980s, and by the 2000s manual cranks had all but disappeared in North America. Today, finding a new car with a crank window is almost impossible. For many, the crank is a forgotten symbol of how simple cars used to be.
Column Shifters
For decades, especially in American sedans, the gear selector was mounted on the steering column. It freed up space on the floor for a third front seat passenger, back when bench seats were common. As cars moved toward bucket seats and consoles, column shifters faded out. They still exist in a few trucks and vans, but for most people, the idea of shifting on the column is something they’ve only seen in old movies.
Retractable Antennas
Nothing said “ready for the road” quite like turning on your radio and watching the antenna rise from the fender. These power antennas were common in the 1980s and 1990s, but they were fragile and prone to breaking at car washes. Automakers replaced them with shorter fixed units and integrated windshield antennas. Today, the sight of an antenna rising with a buzz is something most drivers have forgotten.
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