I’m consistently amused by many of the comments here, and on other forums, complaining about not having automatic HVAC, steering wheel controls, power seats, poor radio quality, purpose of the soundtube, funny noises and rattles, automatic windows that don’t work, and questions about how to drive a manual transmission. I’ve been a car guy since age 3, learned to drive a manual at age 6 driving my fathers’ MG TD with an unsynchronized first gear, no radio, and plastic flaps for windows. My uncle had a 49 VW beetle with an unsynchronized transmission-called a “crash box” because you had to double clutch every shift. My dad also had a 1950 Mercury coupe with a 3 speed on the column and an overdrive that was engaged by pulling a lever below the steering column. High beams were turned on by a button on the floor that you hit with your foot. Starting procedure was pulling out the choke lever, pumping the accelerator 3 times turning the ignition key and pushing the start button. No air-conditioning, no power windows, and a heater that used a slide lever. Did have an AM radio and a manual antenna and an electric analog clock. Changing oil at 3000 miles because you had to, and lubing all the front end joint zerk joints. Having to change sparkplugs every 10,000 miles or when you flooded the engine and had to take them out to clean. Actually doing, and being able to do, a tune up with new points and condenser and then making sure the timing was right, and cleaning the carburetor jets. Adjusting the valves on his 46 Chevy. Enduring vapor lock when the temperature and engine got too hot-pulling over to the side of the road and lifting the hood to let the engine cool and actually hearing the gas in the carburetor boil. Hearing the engine backfire out the exhaust and through the carburetor. Actually having to change a tire yourself. Always taking a full tool kit, including a hammer, duct tape and bailing wire. Carrying a water bag on the front of the car when we drove through the desert. Having to turn the heater on to get more water through the cooling system when the engine ran hot. Actually having to check the oil at every fill up because sometimes it used oil. No windshield washers and only 2 speed vacuum operated windshield wipers that slowed down if you accelerated. Periodically having to change out those cylindrical glass fuses. Gas was $.19 a gallon at the cheap gas station in the “bad” part of town.
Finally my dad updated and bought a 57 Cadillac Fleetwood. Four speed hydramatic automatic transmission, air conditioning, electric windows and trunk, automatic station seeking radio, electric antenna, and “electric eye” automatic high beam dimmer, and power front seats. 300 horsepower V8 with and automatic choke. We were in heaven.
My how times have changed.
