New vehicles come with many bells and whistles, including fancy touchscreens, built-in GPS, and much more. However, classic cars have many characteristics that we miss more every day.
Each of the following best protected with proper classic car insurance will bring a smile to your face and a delightful sense of nostalgia.
Let’s delve into these special features of oldies but goldies that you just don’t see anymore.
Built-in phones
Remember when built-in phones were the pinnacle of luxury in cars? If you show members of Generation Z a vehicle with a built-in phone, they may think you are pulling their leg.
After all, modern automobiles have no need for a built-in phone because everyone has a mobile phone strapped to their hip at all times.
Another thing younger drivers may not appreciate about this feature in older models is what a status symbol it was.
In the days before mobile phones, making calls on the go was quite the privilege! These built-in phones weren’t just a means of communication; they were a statement that you had arrived in more ways than one.
Crank windows
Not all classic car features are ones that need to make a comeback. For example, many of us grew up with hand-crank windows that required good old-fashioned elbow grease to crank up and crank down.
In today’s vehicles, those old crank windows have been replaced with modern power windows. These are much more convenient, especially if you want to let a rear window down and you’re the only one in the vehicle.
Of course, if you have a vehicle with crank windows, it may be a classic, and you’ll want to be sure you are insuring it properly, whether that is through your company or via a separate carrier.
The charm of manually rolling down a window, however, still holds a special place in the hearts of many vintage car enthusiasts.
Hood ornaments
One thing most people can agree on is that classic automobiles had an abundance of style, and one of the greatest examples of this is the humble hood ornament.
Back in the day, hood ornaments were a pretty standard feature throughout the automotive industry. That’s because manufacturers realised that a good hood ornament could be downright sexy.
Such ornaments were basically little statues on the hood, and we think they make any older vehicle of yesteryear look as sleek as the luxury ones of today!
Manual locks
Whenever you get out of the vehicle, it’s a good idea to lock it right away. Of course, that used to take a lot more time. That’s because one of the old features that was completely universal was manual locking.
However, automakers did come up with the idea of locking up once the days of the Model T had passed.
These days, most automobiles have automatic locks you can trigger as soon as you are outside the vehicle. Not only does this make it more convenient to lock or unlock your ride, but you can also trigger the alarm on a modern vehicle when you are having trouble finding its location.
Tailfins
Sadly, Batman is a fictional hero, and that means none of us gets to drive the Batmobile. However, the Batmobile made popular in the late 1960s via the Adam West television show stood out because of an original design that prominently featured tailfins.
Tailfins were a great idea for the old classics because they made the vehicle look so futuristic. Now, though, you only see these fins when you see certain vintage models on the road. With any luck, these owners are keeping the automobile protected when it’s parked outside.
Bench seats up front
As you might imagine, many of the changes made to automobiles over the years included new safety features.
These updates made it easier to do things like check your blind spot or activate your turn signals. Sometimes, though, making cars safer involved a major redesign.
For instance, bench seats were a common feature in the front of the vehicle (and in the old and nostalgic VW bus). But these seats put the person in the middle (often a child) in danger.
That’s why, over time, bucket seats became the norm. It makes sense that having only one dedicated seat per person helps keep everyone safer (just like having enough insurance coverage).
The cassette player
When someone says classic American cars, every driver envisions something different. For example, some think fondly of the sleekness of the Chevrolet Camaro. Others imagine the quiet luxury of Mercedes-Benz. How about the Rolls Royce, which many people in the United States only saw in the movies?
No matter the make or model, though, all of these had one feature just as standard as seat belts and a licence plate: the cassette player! These days, drivers tend to stream music or podcasts via Spotify or Sirius when they have a long way to drive.
The drivers of yesterday, however, took special pleasure in loading up a mixtape, pressing a few buttons, and enjoying some killer tunes.
Wood panelling
What do you remember about the 70s and the 80s? There were common features like manual transmissions and spare tyres on the outside of the automobile. Aesthetically speaking, though, one of the most common was wood panelling.
This trend dates back to the 1950s, and eventually, it became commonplace to mix high-tech with natural wood panelling.
This is why early video game systems like the Atari 2600 featured similar wood grain panelling: automakers from decades past had made this a trendy norm, but that norm has been lost to the mists of time.
Pop-up headlights
Sometimes classic features we remember were born out of necessity. As an example, the government once had strict rules regarding the height of headlights. This led to the popularity of pop-up headlights, which incidentally made them look sleeker than ever.
Eventually, those government restrictions were relaxed, and pop-up headlights were deemed an unfortunate safety hazard. Thus, they became the kind of feature that we only see on classic vehicles.
Why we miss these features
Each of these vintage car features evokes a sense of nostalgia and emotional connection to simpler times, reminding us of the joys and quirks of driving in an era when the journey was as important as the destination.
The unique designs, such as tailfins and hood ornaments, offered a level of personal expression and style that modern, streamlined vehicles often lack.
Crank windows and cassette players, while less convenient than today’s high-tech alternatives, provided a tactile, engaging experience that made driving feel more personal and connected.
The straightforward mechanical simplicity of older cars also allowed for a hands-on approach to maintenance, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the vehicle itself.
In essence, these features collectively represent a bygone era of automotive history where cars were not just modes of transportation but integral parts of our daily lives and identities.
The cultural impact of vintage cars
Vintage cars have left an indelible mark on popular culture. They feature prominently in movies, TV shows, and music, often symbolising freedom, adventure, and the American dream.
The car collecting community is also a testament to their enduring appeal. Enthusiasts invest time, money, and passion into restoring and maintaining these classic beauties, keeping the spirit of bygone eras alive.
Classic car shows and events attract thousands of visitors, creating a vibrant community of like-minded individuals who share a love for automotive history.
