Welcome to the Friday mailbag, where you will find some of the comments, questions and ideas sent recently by subscribers of this newsletter. They are edited for space and clarity.
“How about deer whistles (Obsolete car features, Sept. 21, 2022)? Remember those? My dad had to have them. Then one day we went to a Little League game and some kid broke all the deer whistles off all the car bumpers and replaced them with Band-Aids. Dad was not happy.” - Dan
I’ll be darned. I didn’t know deer could whistle. - Shane
“Glove boxes are not the same and typically don’t handle gloves (Obsolete car features, Sept. 21, 2022). Window handles to roll up your windows. No more manual windows. Outside latches to open a car hood. There is one, but you have to open the hood first from the inside. Good to help slow down criminals. Long door lock knobs that could be used to help open a locked car with a coat hanger. Tailgates. The rear door is no longer a gate but a swing-up door. Rear-hinged doors. Parking brake handles.” - Rex
You are right. My gloves don’t fit in the used-to-be-a-glove box. - Shane
“What about a dipstick — and I don’t mean what you yell at someone who is driving like a dipstick (Obsolete car features, Sept. 21, 2022)! I can’t remember the last time I checked the oil when I filled my car with gas. Probably when I filled my 2005 Mustang before I bought a 2008 Caddy. Loved my heated seats and heated steering wheel in the Caddy!” - Patty
I haven’t had a car without a dipstick. Then again, I haven’t had a car with a heated steering wheel. I just get my gloves out of the… forget it. - Shane
“The Jaguar hood ornament on the Queen’s hearse did look cool and brought back hood ornament memories (Obsolete car features, Sept. 21, 2022). A few other recollections. Wing vent windows on the front doors of cars. Continental spare tires on the back of car trunk lids. Floor switch to step on for bright or dim headlights. Floor switch for optional window washers. Paying extra to get an AM radio, then years later paying extra to have the radio left out of a new car. After-market air conditioning for cars. And, of course, the ‘Woody’ of which there were several brands over several years. Memories, thanks for stirring them up!” - Chuck
I do recall clicking the button on the floor to dim the lights. And long live the Queen! - Shane
“Steering wheel knobs (Obsolete car features, Sept. 21, 2022). White wall tires. Huge intake air filters. Carburetors that you could actually clean or repair. Timing chains that never need to be replaced. Manual transmissions as standard equipment. Spark plugs that you could change yourself. Hardtop convertibles with no B pillar like my 1964 Ford Galaxy 500. Real bumpers that actually protected the car from minor damage. I’m sure there are more.” - Bill
I have learned to miss those “real” bumpers — the hard way. - Shane
Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com | 
