1. Bench Seats: Many sly males took advantage of the seat design while driving with a
female companion; a quick, unexpected sharp turn made with his right arm
resting on the seat back sent the lady sliding right into his embrace.
2. Full-Size Spare Tire: The advantage with a full-size spare was that
you could put it on, stow
the flat tire in your trunk, and go on your merry way with no particular
urgency to get it repaired. Until one day you got another puncture,
only to discover that the tire in your trunk was just as flat as the one
on the axle.
3. Horn Rings: Horn rings were originally considered a safety feature as well as a
convenience device. Previously, the driver had to completely remove one
hand from the steering wheel to depress the button in the center to honk
the horn. The horn ring was designed so that both hands could remain on
the wheel and just a stretch of a finger or thumb would be able to beep
a warning sound.
4. Vent Windows: Vent or “wing” windows were popular in the pre-air conditioning era of
automotive manufacturing. But they were convenient for many purposes
that are still valid today. For example, on those days when it’s
temperate enough to open windows rather than run the A/C, the vent
windows allowed air to circulate freely without blowing street grime in
your face and messing your hair.
5. Tailfins: By the late 1950s, most folks had shrugged off the war and were fixated
instead on all things space-age. Tailfins grew to enormous proportions,
giving cars a futuristic look.