10 Car Innovations from the 1970s You Have to Be a Certain Age to Remember

Automotive innovations of varying importance, thanks to the "Me" decade.

Published 4 months ago in Ftw

Cars have evolved a lot over the years, and plenty of the features we're accustomed to today were products of the 1970s. Do you ever worry about locking up your breaks? No you don't, thanks to ABS.

Here are 10 automotive innovations of varying importance, thanks to the 1970s.

1
Low-speed Bumpers
While cheap-feeling plastic bumpers might not look or feel good, they keep you from having to replace your front end after every fender bender. Insurance companies like this.

2
Landau Roof
A few cars have recently started trying out multi-colored bodies again. The new Toyota Crown, for example. But no manufacturers have had the gall to bring back the Landau roof. They might have earned themselves a sketchy reputation, but dang did they look good. I’m looking at you, Cadillac!

3
Airbags
Car safety has come a very long way, and after seat belts, airbags are probably the 2nd most important feature to thank for that. Instead of hitting your head on a dashboard, you it on a pillow of air. I’d say that’s an improvement.
4
The Spare Tire Half-Wheel Bump
For some reason, auto makers are quickly getting rid of spare tires. And while yes, that might help save a bit of weight and space, there is a tried and true way to make it look cool; the bump. Retro is “in” these days, and a spare tire bump would surely make modern Lincoln sedans more desirable.

5
Catalytic Converter
Although these might feel like an annoying “Rob Me!” sign these days, the catalytic converter was a huge part of reducing auto emissions around the world, and cleaning up the air in our major cities.
6
Anti-Lock Breaks
Now you can just slam on the breaks without having to worry about a lockup. Especially in wet or icy conditions, this has been a life saver for thousands of people.
7
Cassette Tape Players
Back in the day, if you wanted to listen to music in your car, the radio was your only answer. Enter the cassette! Now, you could bring your favorite tunes, and play them whenever you wanted! High tech!

8
Porthole Windows
With the ubiquitous nature of the massive SUV these days, why not bring back the porthole window? I think slamming one of these on the back of a Nissan Armada, or Jeep Wagoneer could be tasteful. The opera window might be an even better idea.
9
The Digital Dashboard
Believe it or not, cars had digital dashboards long before the Tesla touchscreen. However, while auto makers correctly predicted demands of the future, they were off by a few decades. 1970s digital displays were so glitchy that the systems were mostly abandoned until the 2000s.
10
T-Tops
These days, many cars feature a sunroof, for those interested in adding a little more light and air, without the hassle of a convertible. But in the ‘70s, the T-Top was the answer. Personally, I think there should still be a few T-Top models to choose from.