Comments on: Awesome or Atrocious? 4 Bizarre Car Accessories that Used to Be Cool

By: Denis

Denis — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:59:57 +0000

My 58 Caddy you had to push the reflector.

By: Lu Johnson

Lu Johnson — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:49:12 +0000

Al Hoove, you are smack on! LOL! Your wool-knit-cap-in-summer and narrow-black-framed-glasses hipsters comment really had me rolling. But it’s so true! Don’t know where you live, but here in SoCal, I am awed by the number of administrative drones, PA’s, directors, etc. in the movie industry who wear these glasses. They’re everywhere! I often think I should have a pair made with ridiculously thick lenses, and wear them when I go to auditions just for laughs.

By: oldtimer

oldtimer — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:44:01 +0000

There is good reason to use the right signal for a left turn. It fools the oncoming traffic so they don’t speed up to try and stop you from turning.

By: suntrana45

suntrana45 — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:43:31 +0000

Thank You, Thank You, my exact thoughts, have wondered if this isn’t an “option” on new cars….

By: Rich McKeever

Rich McKeever — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:43:31 +0000

Yeah, my Dad had a 1964 Dodge I believe and the shift buttons, vacuum actuated if I remember right, were to the left of the steering column, again if my memory doesn’t fail me. I was just a little too young to drive in ’64 so not having driven that car I don’t remember for sure.
My son is now an automotive tech at an Albuquerque dealership and we were discussing shifters the other day, I was telling him about the Hurst Competition Plus I put on my Muncie T-22 I stuck in my old ’61 Vette.
Can anyone else remember in the mid to late ’60′s when Corvettes were just ten year old Chevys? I bought my first ’61 from my brother for $300.00, no motor or trans and then when I got home from the Service in 1971 my cousin, oddly enough, sold me my second ’61 ‘vette for $320.00. This one had a 327/300hp instead of the original 283 motor. Completely rebuilt that car, took 3 years and mucho cash/time and then, one fateful and horrible day, I had a case of Schlitz for breakfast/lunch one day right after completing the job and totaled it! Fiberglass moving at 65mph will lose to a 6′ pine tree every time. I still cry at night when no one is looking, but anyhow, that is all the old ‘vettes cost then.
Too bad it is not that way now as my son and I are looking for one to build into a road racer. Oh yeah, If you are looking for a cure to drinking and driving, just read the above tale of youthful woe!!! One other note: If I had not installed a harness type seat belt in lieu of the lap belt that my cousin put in I would not be writing this. If I remember the car came sans seat belts of any kind or they were at least an option.
Rich in New Mexico.

By: Rich McKeever

Rich McKeever — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:22:57 +0000

You got it Steve, That is right. That roughly two inch long piece of vertical chrome trim rotated to the right to open the hinged tail light lens ass’y. I remember working at a few gas stations, pumping gas during High School, I just dated myself with that, 61 years old, but it was sometimes a challenge knowing where all the fill necks were located back in the day there! In fact most folks who were buying regular usually got two dollars worth and those buying hi-test bought three dollars worth. That usually bought you about eight gallons or so at the prices back then. That wouldn’t even buy one now!
The ’56 Chevy was pretty cool though. They made the basis of a lot of hot rods too, along with the ’55′s and and ’57′s as well.
Rich in New Mexico.

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:39:38 +0000

No, please don’t bring back the dimmer switch on the floor! I cheered the day when American automakers put the bright / dimmer switch on the the stalk (I believe that European cars had them before we did, but won’t swear to it: maybe Japanese). I didn’t have to try to be a contortionist to 1) dim the lights while 2) disengaging the clutch & shifting gears, & 3) hitting the brake pedal. It’s much easier now to just flick the lever on the column to flash your lights at an oncoming car on-coming car to ask them to dim their lights.

By: Ted

Ted — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:49:19 +0000

I thought that only happened here in Indiana

By: Name Here

Name Here — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:18:43 +0000

My father, living in FL, only uses his signal when he THINKS there are cars around him. Drives me crazy.

By: Kat Connell

Kat Connell — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:42:35 +0000

Al Hoove, I don’t know who you are, but you have made me cry with laughter at your seriously entertaining banter. I wish I had seen this article and comment thread back in December when it was alive. Thanks for making my day!