Driving has come a long way since the days of clunky gear shifts and dashboard dials. Some retro car features may have been cutting-edge in their time, but putting today’s drivers behind the wheel of these old-school rides would probably be a recipe for disaster. Ready to reminisce about some truly questionable car features? Here are 18 retro car quirks that would leave modern drivers struggling to keep it on the road.
1. Manual Crank Windows
Before power windows, you had to roll your window down manually by cranking a little handle. Today’s drivers, used to pushing a button, might find themselves in a panic when they need to crack the window on a hot day—or worse, try to do it while driving!
2. No Power Steering
Back in the day, steering required some serious muscle. Without power steering, making sharp turns or parking was a full-body workout. Modern drivers, who can turn a wheel with one finger, would likely end up veering off the road trying to handle those stiff wheels.
3. Bench Seats
These long, flat front seats were more like a couch than car seating. Without individual seats or seat belts in some cases, sliding around in turns was just part of the experience. Today’s drivers would be holding on for dear life—or accidentally steering from the passenger side.
4. No ABS (Anti-lock Brakes)
Before anti-lock brakes became standard, braking was a much trickier—and scarier—situation. Slamming on the brakes could cause the tires to lock up, leading to skids and loss of control. For modern drivers accustomed to ABS, handling a car without it would be a crash waiting to happen.
5. Hand-Choked Engines
Starting your car wasn’t always as simple as turning a key. Some older cars required you to use a choke knob to manually adjust the engine’s air-fuel mix before you could get moving. Today’s drivers would probably be stuck at the curb, unable to even start their ride.
6. Column Shifters
Many older cars had the gear shift on the steering column instead of between the seats. For drivers who have only ever used center console shifters, trying to figure out how to shift gears from the column would be utterly confusing—and probably dangerous.
7. No Seat Belts
Yes, there was a time when seat belts weren’t mandatory, and some cars didn’t even have them! While today’s drivers wouldn’t dream of going belt-free, hopping into an old car without seat belts might leave them feeling unanchored—and very unsafe.
8. Push-Button Transmission
In the 1950s, some cars had push-button transmissions instead of a traditional gear shift. While it sounds futuristic, it was more confusing than convenient. A wrong push of the button while driving today could have chaotic consequences.
9. No Airbags
Hard to imagine, but before airbags, you had nothing to cushion you in the event of a crash. Relying on just seat belts or your own luck, modern drivers would find this lack of safety measures terrifying—and downright dangerous.
10. Foot-Operated Dimmer Switch
In older cars, you’d dim your headlights by pressing a switch on the floor with your foot. Trying to juggle steering, shifting, and now dimming your headlights with your feet? A crash waiting to happen for modern drivers who’ve never experienced it.
11. Vent Windows
Instead of modern climate control, old cars had little triangular windows on the sides to direct air into the car. Having to adjust a small window just to get some air while driving at high speeds? Definitely not the most efficient—or safe—feature for today’s drivers.
12. No Rearview Cameras
Backing up was a whole different ball game without rearview cameras. Drivers had to rely entirely on neck-craning and mirrors to avoid obstacles. With today’s reliance on technology, some drivers might have a hard time backing up without that helpful little screen.
13. Carburetors
Before fuel injection, cars used carburetors to mix air and fuel. They were temperamental, required frequent adjustments, and often led to engine stalls. Modern drivers, used to smooth fuel injection, would likely find themselves stalling out mid-drive.
14. No Intermittent Wipers
In older cars, windshield wipers were either on or off—no in-between. Driving in a light drizzle without the luxury of adjusting the speed would leave modern drivers constantly fidgeting with the switch and taking their focus off the road.
While many of these retro car features were once cutting-edge, they’d feel totally out of place in today’s tech-filled vehicles. It’s safe to say modern drivers have it pretty easy—no need to crank windows, fight steering, or manually dim the headlights. But hey, it’s fun to look back and appreciate just how far we’ve come!
