4 Somewhat Unusual Vehicle Features That You May See On Older Cars And Trucks

Posted on: 21 December 2015

If you're an auto buff, and are currently working on your own project that you would like to give a unique spin to, you may be interested in learning about distinctive older car details. These vehicle features used to be extremely cool, but they are now a thing of the past. However, that doesn't mean that you can't draw some inspiration from them. Here are four unusual car accessories from years ago that may help you in creating something new and unique today:

1. Pop-Up Headlights

These were very popular on a number of cars, particularly sports cars. If you're younger, you may think about a Chevrolet Corvette. However, older individuals will be able to think about the 1936 Cord 810. There is a crank inside the vehicle cabin on the dash to turn for each of the headlights.

2. Record Players

When cassette players started going out of style, car buyers had the option to have a CD player installed. Today, the norm is to have a USB connection. However, back in the 50s and 60s, vinyl record players were the optional choice for Plymouth, Dodge and Chrysler vehicles. It was mounted underneath the dash and had a turntable that slid out. There is a switch that simply needed to be flipped to turn the player on. Unfortunately, those records often skipped when drivers were cruising down a bumpy road.

3. Third Headlight

In 1948, the Tucker Sedan was one of the techiest vehicles at the time. In fact, you could call it the Car of the Future back then. There were only 51 of these trucks made, and it had a third headlight, which many called the "Cyclops Eye". The headlight was in the middle of the front of the truck and could swivel as the steering wheel turned. This helped to enhance visibility, especially around corners.

4. "Peek-a-Boo" Fuel Caps

Today, you know where everyone's fuel cap is located. Back in the 50s, such as with the 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air and the 1958 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, you didn't know by looking at the car where the fuel cap was located. It was actually found behind one of the taillights. In the 60s and 70s, many fuel caps were found behind the vehicle's rear license plate.

Although, it would be extremely hard – if not impossible – to implement these into a modern day vehicle or classic car, you may be able to work with an auto expert to work some present-day magic on these old-fashioned ideas and create something new, fresh and brilliant for your vehicle. So, if you're wanting to try to bring a unique feature into your car, consider working with an automotive professional who knows the ins and outs of cars and you can bounce ideas off of. If you're looking for an automotive service in your area, visit Scotty's Automotive Center.

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