Today’s drivers might scratch their heads at some features we that classic car enthusiasts take for granted.
We recently asked our classic car owners on our Facebook page to name things in a classic car that most people would not recognise today. Their responses? Pure gold. From quirky controls to outdated tech, these bits and bobs tell the story of automotive evolution.
Here are some of our favourites.
Starting up and driving a classic car
First off, the choke. Rosie Baldwin mentioned pulling out a choke to start the car. Sounds simple, right? But today’s drivers might think it’s a kitchen utensil rather than a car part.
Ed Wolfenden also brought up the manual choke. Many enthusiasts would agree that it’s a balancing act that could make or break their day on a cold winter’s morning.
Then there’s the cranking handle, as Simon Wilkinson highlights. He also goes on to mention a number of other things that modern cars are missing: a plunger to prime fuel lines, a comprehensive tool kit, actual full-size spare tyres unlike the ones nowadays, and having to stop at the top of a hill after the cooling system boils over – overheating engines are common, and managing them is a skill.
Geoff Ferguson brings up the column change. Try explaining this to someone who’s only ever driven automatic cars! And Nigel Casey’s mention of a gearstick, followed by a laughing emoji, reminds us how rare and rewarding manual transmissions can be.
And he couldn’t be more correct. Those scorching hot days and shorts are a deadly combo – but to think positively, see it as a free sauna session.
Chris Greenwood reminisces about bench front seats and no seat belts. His mention of no seat belts in (some!) classic cars might raise some eyebrows today. We can’t imagine too many modern car drivers knowing that classics manufactured without seatbelts can be driven in the eyes of the law. However, adding seat belts can significantly increase safety and is strongly recommended by us, many classic car clubs and safety organisations.
Sliding windows are another quirky feature in a classic car that Chris Allen brings up. Forget electric windows; you have to manually slide these open. Yep! It’s a bit like having a window in your house, except you’re going 60 mph down the road.
