Musings on automotive dinosaurs

Last night, I was thinking about the future. There is every chance the kids who are 10-16 right now will be the last generation that will drive a manual transmission. I'm almost 29, and in my HS parking lot there were about 4 manual transmissions. It isn't coming back either. It won't be long before there aren't any new cars sold with one. 

And my mind wandered, and I realized that I have never driven a column shift manual. Probably never will, although I'm now searching for something to scratch that itch because... Well, why not? What is life without whimsy? 

But it made me wonder, what else is out there that is dying away? First thought was non-ABS. Carbs have been gone for a long time, I'm not even sure I've driven a car that was carburetted. Any others?

People that give a e36 m3 about driving and driving well.

Roll up windows. Manual door mirrors. Manual steering. 

Orbital ball steering. Starter button on the floor. Chokes. 

There's a bunch of stuff that's going or gone: wind-up windows, manual chokes, vent windows, analog dashes and auxiliary gauges, drum brakes, manual steering, cars without air conditioning, brass radiators, iron blocks, bias-ply tires...the list goes on. Driving used to require a skill set to manage the machine; this has now been dramatically reduced - largely by technology - to the point that few skills are required. Driverless cars are merely the culmination of decades of development in this direction, driven by market forces that demand it.

NordicSaab said:

Orbital ball steering. Starter button on the floor. Chokes. 

Your username reminded me of this one... 2 stroke cars. Maybe 2 stroke engines in general. I am down to 1 boat engine and 1 weedwhacker, the weedwacker I want to replace with electric.

Record players, reel-to-reel, 8-track, cassettes and CD players were all introduced and killed off in cars.  With tablets replacing the center console, I predict that traditional radios with head units will disappear.  It will be integral to the electronics and updated by download. 

Oh, and vent windows went away in my lifetime, as did the fuel filler behind the license plate. 

Heck, ACTUAL chrome might go away.  Too heavy, better to use chrome-look plastics.  

Steel dashboards.

I’ve driven a column shift manual. On track! It was terrible. 

The parcel tray behind the back seat is no longer a place for toddlers to lounge on long trips. Cringe- we actually did this.

Floor mounted dimmer switch

In reply to fasted58 :

I miss the floor mounted dimmer switch, and vent windows. Three on the tree can stay obsolete, though.

My dad has a column shift 4 speed mercedes. I think it hasn't really been on the road in the last 10 years.

It's actually in my mind a great setup for a luxo cruiser, since you get to keep the front split bench, and as long as you're not in a hurry you are likely going to be able to differentiate between 2nd and reverse. But try to hustle and it becomes a big pain quickly. Actually, it is currently off the road because of a shifter linkage issue. Probably because it got bent when someone tried to jam it too quickly. I won't name names, but I guarantee it was my dad ;)

I think I also spent a portion of my learning to drive a manual trans in that car. With the absolutely giant flywheel it has, I wasn't even that bad. 

gearheadmb said:

In reply to fasted58 :

I miss the floor mounted dimmer switch, and vent windows. Three on the tree can stay obsolete, though.

By floor mounted dimmer switch you mean the highbeams/lowbeams right? not the dimmer for the dash lights?

In reply to Robbie :

That is called the dimmer switch, yes.

Some cars had a push-button to pump the windshield washer fluid.  Fancy Chryslers had a button next to the dimmer switch to change the radio station!

Carburetors aren't completely gone, you can still buy new Motorcycles with carburetors, mainly dual sport and dirt bikes.

You could get a column shift pickup into the mid 80's. My Dad's 53 Merc is column shift, seen dads at a show pointing it out to their kids, who didn't believe they existed. Good to see dads teaching kids stuff about older cars.

I have owned a lot of column shifted vehicles, as recently as last year. Same with floor mount dimmer switches. Carburetors ? I have had more cars with carbs than EFI.

What I celebrate being gone is vacuum wipers. No amount of nostalgia or whimsy can make them neat.

Don't worry, manufacturers will eventually bring it back as an "innovation"

So far, steerable headlights have been invented in the 1930s, again in the 70s and then in the 90s.

Cannister oil filters have been invented more than a few times.

Mechanical direct injection has recently been invented again.

I'm sure the preselect transmission will be along again anytime soon.

Keys

Robbie said:

My dad has a column shift 4 speed mercedes. I think it hasn't really been on the road in the last 10 years.

It's actually in my mind a great setup for a luxo cruiser, since you get to keep the front split bench, and as long as you're not in a hurry you are likely going to be able to differentiate between 2nd and reverse. But try to hustle and it becomes a big pain quickly. Actually, it is currently off the road because of a shifter linkage issue. Probably because it got bent when someone tried to jam it too quickly. I won't name names, but I guarantee it was my dad ;)

I think I also spent a portion of my learning to drive a manual trans in that car. With the absolutely giant flywheel it has, I wasn't even that bad. 

Especially with the big front wheel drive cars like early eldorado,toronado,Seville’s etc with a flat floor. With cruise control it really would allow you to stretch out.

one thing that fits automotive dinosaurs now that just about every manufacturer and type of car had were the pop up headlights.

Man, that makes me think of the time I had to teach some junior mechanics how to drive an 80's GMC 100LL fuel truck because it was manual.

Nothing beats teaching some 20 year old kid how to drive a heavy duty truck with 3000 odd gallons of flammable liquids in it around a flight line of airplanes.

I have the RX-3. My kids (2 and 4) think the manual windows are neat, I'm probably not going to put AC in it, and it'll be a manual transmission. So they're going to see some of that stuff at least. They like to sit in it and roll the windows up and down already.

Carbs can stay dead. I hate dealing with them on airplanes and small engines. I have no desire to deal with one on something I drive on a regular basis.

Seats without headrests.

I still like my pushbutton TorqueFlite.  It confuses the guys at the inspection station.

One feature I miss. Cars without consoles. I love that vast expanse of under dash area and not having my shin or knee resting on something.

Having lived through the dinosaur era, there is not much I miss.  You lived with it because it is the way it was.