Accessories and fads from the past

morbias

Well-Known Forum User
Rubber strap things hanging from the back end of cars to reduce static - allegedly (90'S?)

Is that what they were supposed to be for?! I never knew that! I remember seeing them (mostly on Volvo bricks) but never really thought about the function.

My own pet hate is 'dildo' shifters / hand brake levers like you get on drift cars, what the actual f is that about...

As soon as I see someone with such a monstrosity in their car, I mentally (and involuntarily) tick the checkbox in my mind marked 't*sser'.

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As for bolt on flares, I wouldn't personally call it a fad as it's been around since what, the 60's? Plus, I'm biased :)
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Silly Fads - IMO of course (it's a generation thing):

Spinners on wheels.
Wheel trims that fell off all over the country - cars ended up with cable ties on wheels (nice).
Stuff hanging from the rear view mirrors especially the floral garlands.
In the 70s/80s spoilers on everything for the UK market no matter how un-sporty the car is e.g. family saloons.
Security? glass (very dark)
Wheels usually 30% wider than needed and very low profile tyres. Affecting noise, tram-lining, ride, wheel-kerbing (what an industry wheel refurb is!),
No spare wheels
Signs in cars say 'Princess on Board' or 'Baby on Board' 'I'd rather be Fishing' etc what purpose do they serve?
Huge and very powerful sound systems in cars
Front and rear of cars having no minor impact protection (rubbing strips etc) so the paintwork and bodywork gets damaged easily (and lighting fitted in it).
Most front spot-lights/fog-lights - useless. Sales gimmick.

etc etc
 
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STEVE BURNS

Club Member
Silly Fads - IMO of course (it's a generation thing):


Signs in cars say 'Princess on Board' or 'Baby on Board' 'I'd rather be Fishing' etc what purpose do they serve?


etc etc
The concept behind the baby on board sign originated in the States after a car caught fire and rescuers did not know there was a baby on board and I believe the baby perished
The problem with it is it lost its effectiveness as everybody started to use it as more a fashion statement and do not take them off when there is no baby on board
Must admit it does really bug me when I see it and have a couple of times let rip at the driver of the car
 

SKiddell

Well-Known Forum User
Steve Burns said:
The concept behind the baby on board sign originated in the States after a car caught fire and rescuers did not know there was a baby on board and I believe the baby perished

Sorry but but the origin of the sign appears to be an urban myth
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/parental/babysign.asp

Though the backstory about an infant who died in a car crash because he wasn't found in time is one that would chill any parent's blood, how these signs came to be is far removed from the lore. There were no dead babies, no horrific crashes.

In 1984, Michael Lerner founded Safety 1st for the purpose of manufacturing "Baby on Board" signs. The inspiration for the signs came not from a deadly accident that took the life of a youngster but from a friend who saw similar stickers in Europe.
 

Gaz 300

Well-Known Forum User
Rear window louvers. viper strips. side vents and mad colours :)




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AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Silly Fads - IMO of course (it's a generation thing):

Spinners on wheels.

Spot on!!! :thumbs:

In the 70s/80s spoilers on everything for the UK market no matter how un-sporty the car is e.g. family saloons.

One of my aunties had one fitted to her Volvo(!) so that she could tell when she had reversed all the way on her garage!! OK, this was the lady that (no joke!) only used here mirror for make up adjustments. Motorway journeys with her were an experience!!

No spare wheels

Bugs the hell out of me!! As if a spray can will fix a side wall blow out (which I have had on the motorway when I went over a discarded sharp strip of metal).

Signs in cars say 'Princess on Board' or 'Baby on Board' 'I'd rather be Fishing' etc what purpose do they serve?

A very good purpose indeed and I tell you what it is! Just keep this in the back of your mind for the next 1000miles of driving - every car, without exception, displaying one of those signs is piloted in a terrible way and often makes you wonder if it's important enough to stick a sign up to tell other road users about it, it must surely be as important to drive safely and with awareness!? To me the purpose is warning me of terrible drivers ahead!! ;)

Huge and very powerful sound systems in cars

One of the best stickers I saw once on the back of a G reg 1 litre Nova with blacked out glass, lowered suspension, neons underneath and it's lights dimming to the beat of the Bass was ....

"If it's too loud, you're too old"!!!

Said it all and perfectly!! I'm too old ;)
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
The awful drivers :

Iffectively those with 'baby on board' stickers - absent-minded women always in a rush.

Fish profiles signifying God-fearing, Christian charity driver who leave it to 'his' will if you miss them...or not.

My other car's a Porsche = I lack imagination AND money (but could afford this sticker).

England flag stickers - what's wrong these days being British ?
 

Huw

Club Member
Silly Fads - IMO of course (it's a generation thing):

Spinners on wheels.
Wheel trims that fell off all over the country - cars ended up with cable ties on wheels (nice).
Stuff hanging from the rear view mirrors especially the floral garlands.
In the 70s/80s spoilers on everything for the UK market no matter how un-sporty the car is e.g. family saloons.
Security? glass (very dark)
Wheels usually 30% wider than needed and very low profile tyres. Affecting noise, tram-lining, ride, wheel-kerbing (what an industry wheel refurb is!),
No spare wheels
Signs in cars say 'Princess on Board' or 'Baby on Board' 'I'd rather be Fishing' etc what purpose do they serve?
Huge and very powerful sound systems in cars
Front and rear of cars having no minor impact protection (rubbing strips etc) so the paintwork and bodywork gets damaged easily (and lighting fitted in it).
Most front spot-lights/fog-lights - useless. Sales gimmick.

etc etc

Stupidly big exhaust tail pipes on obviously standard cars,
 

Fairlineguy

Club Member
Beam me back scottey
Remember it all first car in 1977 Escort mk1
Jacked up rear suspension
Wide arches
Fury die
Huggie bear seat covers
Side pipes
Body strip
Performance mod twin choke card
Green racing team sun strip
Pod speaker and a selection of tapes

But never had a nodding dog on the rear parcel shelf
 

Al Douglas

Club Member
Wheel spacers, I had double ones on the back of my Ford Escort, handling was bloody awful!
White tyre pen to highlight the manufacturers name and tyre size.
Early 80's in the Scottish Borders there was a fad of painting wheels white.
Fake fingers stuck on below the boot shut line.
 

toopy

Club Member
Not strictly a fad but, people with badly faded, years old, Red Noses or Poppies strapped to the
front of the car/van, some i've seen are so old, they're not just faded to pink, but practically white or transparent!
 

toopy

Club Member
Car alarms that had the Knight Rider red light on the interior sensor!

God, i thought it looked so cool..... in my gold over brown Vauxhall Chevette 4door Saloon!!
 

Al Douglas

Club Member
I had a fake bonnet scoop on my 1.3 Mk1 escort 1300 sport. Car was metallic grey and the scoop was red with two white stripes. Why!!!!!!!!
 
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