Old-School Add-Ons Gone Weird
Car design once flaunted features that probably made sense at the time but mostly just puzzle us today. What once seemed innovative has aged into impracticality and awkwardness. You might laugh or cringe at these features. Or maybe even feel a flicker of nostalgia. As technology continues to advance, let's look back at 20 features that have led to the present.
1. Vent Windows (Wing Windows)
Flip open a tiny triangle of glass, and you've got what was once top-tier ventilation. Vent windows peaked in the mid-20th century when air conditioning wasn’t common. They’re awkward now, prone to leaks and wind noise, and that’s why no one misses these mini-flaps.
Wing windows on old cars by hoohoohoblin
2. Manual Window Cranks
Manual cranks vanished once power windows became standard in the early 2000s. Twisting that handle might feel nostalgic, but it’s a chore today. They’re clunky and slow, especially in tight spots or the backseats. Ask yourself—why crank when you can just tap?
Santeri Viinamäki on Wikimedia
3. Cassette Players
Remember rewinding with a pencil? Cassette decks made mixtapes a thing, but now they’re dinosaurs next to streaming tech. By the 2010s, most cars ditched them altogether. They’re incompatible with today’s media, and unless you hoard tapes, there’s zero reason to bring them back.
Aluratek's Bluetooth Cassette Player: Bluetooth Your Old Stereo Systems and Cars by Aluratek
4. Pop-Up Headlights
Yes, pop-up headlights were stylish but not smart anymore. These 1980s design icons, like those on the Mazda RX-7 or Corvette C4, were aerodynamic in theory but terrible in practice. Motors failed, and lids stuck. Then, modern safety rules killed them off.
Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand on Wikimedia
5. Lighters And Ashtrays
Lighting up on the road was once normal, so cars came with lighters and built-in ashtrays. Fire hazards and health concerns have kicked them out. They’ve been swapped with USB ports and storage trays. Better breath and cleaner cabins make it hard to argue with progress.
6. Bench Seats In Front Row
Picture a sedan with a couch up front. That’s your old-school bench seat, found in classic Chevys and big Buicks. While it seated three, it lacked support and airbag zones. Modern cars prioritize safety and bucket seats instead. Your spine and side airbags approve.
7. Manual Door Locks
Reach across the seat just to lock the passenger side? Nope. Manual door locks disappeared fast once central locking systems took over in the '90s. They're inconvenient, especially for families or city drivers. Push-button convenience beats that awkward lean every single time.
Classic Car Restoration Door Lock Repair Kadett D Astra Mk1 by Vantage Point Video Garage
8. CD Players
Slipping in a compact disc once felt futuristic. Now? It’s a scratch-prone, bulky relic. These players began to phase out in the late 2010s as Bluetooth and digital libraries gained popularity. Unless you’re carrying a '90s mix, your dashboard’s better off without the slot.
A CD-Player for vehicles without a CD Deck (ADV-USBCD) by Connects2 | Phoenix Gold | Stinger
9. Hand-Crank Starters
Hand-crank starters were standard pre-1930s, before electric starters took over. Drivers would yank hard and hope for a spark while praying it doesn’t backfire—literally. They were dangerous and caused some wrist fractures. You wouldn’t want to wrestle your car just to get to work, right?
Hand crank starting a car + fixing choke spring return on carby by Lachie & Lukey
10. External Radio Antennas
Wobbly and easy to snap, external antennas stuck out like sore thumbs. Popular until the 1990s, they often bent in car washes or during storms. Modern vehicles often conceal antennas in their windows or use shark-fin designs. Fewer breakages and no more playing “find the static.”
11. Physical Knobs For Radio Volume
Twisting a dial might’ve been satisfying, but now it’s mostly nostalgia. Analog knobs ruled dashboards for decades until touchscreens took over. Sure, they offered precision, but they also wore out and gummed up. Steering-wheel buttons and voice control? That’s where volume belongs now.
Santeri Viinamäki on Wikimedia
12. Manual Choke Controls
Slide the choke and start the engine while hoping the air-fuel mix is right. Carbureted engines relied on this cold-start ritual until electronic fuel injection replaced it in the 1980s. Too much choke, and you’d flood it. Too little, and it sputtered. You don’t need that guesswork.
13. Car Phones
Car phones were clunky, expensive, corded, and a status symbol in the ’80s and early ’90s. Installed in luxury sedans, they cost a fortune and barely worked outside metro zones. Bluetooth’s here now, and it doesn’t need its own antenna or a bag in your trunk.
14. Manual Steering (Non-Power Steering)
Turn the wheel in a parked ’60s truck and feel your shoulder burn. Before hydraulic assistance, steering meant muscle. It was common in economy cars through the '70s. Today, electric power steering dominates. It’s lighter and a whole lot friendlier to your wrists.
15. Tailfins
Flamboyant and totally useless, tailfins soared in the 1950s—think Cadillac Eldorado or Dodge Royal. Inspired by fighter jets, they added no function and messed with aerodynamics. Style over sense ruled the era. Designers moved on, and so did everybody else.
16. Non-Collapsible Steering Columns
Crash in an old car, and the steering column could impale you. Before 1967, most vehicles lacked collapsible designs. Then, safety standards kicked in. Today’s columns fold on impact to reduce chest injuries. That metal spear in vintage dashboards? No thanks.
17. Push-Button Transmissions (E.g., Teletouch)
Looks cool, works poorly. Ford’s Teletouch in 1958 mounted transmission buttons in the steering wheel center. Drivers fumbled and mechanics groaned. The system confused users and frequently failed. Gimmicky tech rarely survives unless it’s practical. This one is now a footnote in transmission history.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA on Wikimedia
18. Digital Speedometers (Early Versions)
Early digital speedometers from the '80s looked futuristic but lacked clarity. Numbers flickered and bounced, and when sunlight showed up, they vanished. Drivers often missed the readings. You don't want to squint while doing 65. Some modern versions work better, but those pixelated pioneers didn’t make the cut.
19. Pull-Out Car Radios
Slide it out, take it with you—problem solved? Not quite. Popular in the ’90s to deter theft, pull-out radios were bulky and easy to drop. Now, cars have integrated infotainment systems and immobilizers. No one’s yanking out a head unit in 2025.
Pull-Out Tape Deck Stereo with Carrying Handle!!! (PARODY) by Quality Mobile Video
20. Hood Ornaments
Hood ornaments once screamed luxury from the Rolls-Royce Spirit to the leaping Jaguar, but they also caused injuries and broke easily. Thieves were also attracted to them. Modern safety regulations discouraged protrusions. Today, badges are flush, and the “look at me” days are over.
