Auto memories from the days of the original T Bird

[Rondor]

Since most of retro owners are over 50 and bought our cars because of the things it reminds us of It might be fun to remember automotive things from back then that no longer exist. This can also be educational for our under 50 friends.

Example :::: curb feelers or driving off and forgetting to hang up the speaker... Or steering knob " knuckle buster ".

[007Cruiser]

Air conditioning meant putting the window down and turning the vent window to blow air in your face.

[RBIRD]

Squirrel tails on car antennas, blue dots in the center of tail light lenses, 8-track tape decks...cassette decks!!

[RustyFrye]

Push button gear selectors

....gears.JPG

[RBIRD]

Gene! I MISS those side vent windows!

[EllisonCal]

Growing up in the 50s working for my Dad in his Sinclair Service Station (yeah, that is what they were called). Every 1000 miles you got a Grease Job (cars had about 25 zerk fittings where grease was pumped in under pressure). As I recall it cost $1.50 plus the $3 for 5 quarts of 10W-30 oil and $2 for a new filter labor was included. Total 1000 mile service was $6.50 in 1955.

[Quickdraw]

Cal, Was the oil change interval also 1,000 miles? I forget that but remember tune-ups, with plugs and points every 10,000 miles - about $80 for 8 cylinders as I recall.

[007Cruiser]

Gene! I MISS those side vent windows!

[RustyFrye]

.... in his Sinclair Service Station

I miss Dino!

dino.JPG

[007Cruiser]

How about listening to the static on your AM only radio with one speaker in the dash. The cool guys had another speaker that they put in the rear shelf and added a reverb unit. Of course, some came without a radio or even a heater.

[CROW]

How about sitting on a pillow as we strattled the centre consul and holding onto the dash looking forward (NO SEAT BELTS and the first to fly as Dad hit the car ahead)
OR laying across the rear package shelf at the rear window
OR sitting in the back seat looking out the rear window in a Station Wagon and teasing the trucks following us
OR riding in the rear box of a pick-up truck on a blanket going to the local pond for a swim with my 13 year old brother driving and shifting gears with 3 on the tree.

Man those were the GOOD OLD DAYS of a Lazy Hazy Summer

[Rondor]

All great stuff;; If we had a junkyard special some of us used recycled oil at ,15 or .20 cents in a glass bottle. Big thing in '50's also was lowering blocks. Then in sixties instead of lowering rear we raised the front The only parts house in town was Western Auto.

[hippy_mailman]

how about the high beam switch on the floor

[TBird1stLuv]

hippy_mailman I remember that high beam switch!! RustyFrye Just came back from vacation with the family (no TBird...sat in the garage) and saw a lot of Dino gas stations near Oklahoma. My hubby remarked he had missed that chain as well. It is good to know they are still in some states.

[Rondor]

My favorite chain way back was Pure Oil. We moved to Fla. in 50's and no pure but had Gulf and I have a porcelain sign from the 30,s Would love to find a PORE sign.