Top 5 Strangest Car Options

Written by: Joe McCann

The early part of the 20th century brought us some of world’s greatest thinkers and inventors. In 1903 the Wright brothers ushered us into the age of flight with the first successful flight of a heavier than air vehicle. In 1905 Albert Einstein published the Theory of Relativity and made famous the equation E=MC2. However, the 1908 debut of the Model T will forever go down in history as the start of the motorized age. This all became possible thanks to the pioneer spirit and relentless tenacity of one man, Mr. Henry Ford. The model T was built for the masses. It was large enough for the family but yet small enough for the individual to easily take care of. The vehicle was built so that any hard working person could afford it, and as Ford famously stated, “You could get it in any color as long as it was black.” From 1908 to 1927 Ford produced some 15 million Model T’s, and throughout that time very little changed. Every Model T, despite its body style, came in black and had a small 4 cylinder with a 2-speed transmission. In contrast, today’s vehicles come equipped with hundreds of different options and various engine sizes. From heated steering wheels, bluetooth connectivity, air conditioned seats, all the way to chilled glove boxes to keep your favorite beverage cold. The car of the 21st century is a far cry from what rolled off the assembly line in Detroit on October 1, 1908. 109 years have passed, and the United States has seen many changes. Many of which have helped shape the vehicle of today, into what we see.

Although I’m only 28 I find myself to be fortunate to have grown up in a family business, and in a city that once had a striving General Motors assembly plant. From a young age I was immersed in not only National history, because of the large number of customers who were veterans, but also automotive history. As I’ve grown older I’ve become more and more aware of the parallels 20th century history played into the eventual grown of the automobile. The various options in vehicles were sometimes in direct contrast to various social, and economic situations that were prevalent throughout America at that time. So this Month I would like jump in the DeLorean, get her up to 88 and turn that 1.21 gigawatts of power into a fun look back on some of the strangest car options throughout history.

1. 1961-1964 Ford Thunderbird swing away steering wheel– This newly refreshed design introduced a number of changes from the classic Thunderbird that everyone knows and loves. The strangest of them was the swing away steering wheel. When the steering wheel was placed into park the steering wheel would slide almost an entire 20 inches to the right to allow the drive to exit the vehicle easier.
2. 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham with a magnetized mini bar glove box. – GM’s flagship company was trying to set itself apart from the competition with this model. There were many unique interior options in 1957 including plastic cigarette holders, and six magnetized drinking glasses with a small mini bar.
3. 1955 Dodge La Femme, the first car designed specifically for woman- This vehicle was designed by Chrysler’s marketing department after management saw that more and more women were taking interest in automobiles. Each vehicle’s interior was upholstered in a pink rosebud material. Each Le Femme came with a costume purse with lipstick, cigarette case, comb, lighter and face powder. The drive seat had a special compartment, which contained a raincoat, rain bonnet, and umbrella. The main problem with the vehicle, of course, was the fact no man on earth would ever be caught dead driving it.
4. 1960’s Chrysler Turbine Car– After the end of World War II the U.S population became enamored with the new jet powered fighters that grew from the ashes of the war. In order to try and tap into a new potential market, Chrysler engineers started experimenting with powering a small 2-door coupe with a turbine powered engine. The engine spun at 45,000 revolutions a minute and could run on diesel, unleaded, kerosene, or jet fuel. Although only 55 units were produced over 1 million miles were accumulated while in the testing face.
5. 1950’s Chrysler with Highway Hi-Fi record player- The days before USB drives, CD players, and Bluetooth, drivers weren’t left with many options other than there AM/FM radio. The system was designed by CBS Electronics and appeared in Chrysler automobiles from 1956 to 1958. The vinyl records were specially designed and had the capability to hold up to 45 minutes of music.

The automobile has certainly changed throughout history. It’s always interesting to take a moment to look to the past so we can come to fully understand and appreciate the present. I hope everyone enjoyed this month’s blog, I know there’s dozens of other options and vehicles I could have written about. Feel free to leave comments about some of your favorites. Also don’t forget to vote for McCann’s Garage in the Gazette’s Readers Choice Awards.