Rare/unusual auto options.

[rattle can man]

Studebaker Hill holder.

Golf club compartments on thirties cars

Headlight wipers, first used on SAABs

'68 GTO chrome bumper

.

 

[RSchnell]

I parted out a rough as a cob '56 Merc Montclair that had the automatic chassis lubricator on it. You hit a button on the dash & it shot grease into the suspension from a central point where a can of grease was screwed into a manifold. I sold that setup in the primitive days of ebay for what I thought was an ungodly amount. 

While not quite related to the car, Ford sold Charcoal & small Charcoal grills. I've been looking for one of these for my collection for a while! I have the brochure, but not the box of charcoal or grill. Ford also sold Portland Cement, Fertilizer, Potassium Nitrate, all available at your local Ford dealer's Parts Counter.

 

[Sledsel]

I saw a car Jay Leno was given by an elderly woman but forgot what it was, possibly a Desoto, but it had a dash mounted cigarette dispenser that dispensed a lit cigarette!! 

[Bills72sj]

6 hours ago, Chuckyg1 said:

Make that the Brougham

My Dad had a 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. Before I was born in in 1961. He told me about that mini bar set up. He shared that owning that car was such a divorcee magnet. You know... the women that marry for love, get divorced, then work on marrying for money.

[AMT68]

Not sure if any other manufacturers offered the adjustable pedal option but Pontiac made it available for a few years in the mid 1970's. 

[peteski]

On 12/28/2024 at 11:41 PM, rattle can man said:

Headlight wipers, first used on SAABs

Those were actually popular for quite a few years on a range of different cars. They also included a washing fluid nozzles and later the wipers were replaced by just high pressure washer fluid nozzles.  To me those would be more mainstream than rare, but they were unusual.

[stitchdup]

most euro cars came with those headlight wipers, and an ugly box for the washer jets. They never worked for long either, one winter would destroy them. One of my first jobs in the garage was making plugs for the holes when we removed them. they didn't last long but it was the nearest the garage got to doing custom work sadly.

[espo]

2 hours ago, AMT68 said:

Not sure if any other manufacturers offered the adjustable pedal option but Pontiac made it available for a few years in the mid 1970's. 

I bought a new 2010 Dodge Charger RT that had a switch on the left front of the driver's seat cushion bottom that would move the brake and gas pedals back and forth to adjust for the length of a driver's legs. Obviously, nothing new but it was nice since I drive with the seat all the way back. The telescoping steering wheel was also a great aid. 

[Muncie]

  Vacuum operated power ashtray - A GM dealer installed accessory in the mid-fifties, A square funnel under the dash sucked up the ashes and deposited them in a jar under the hood. 

 

There were even aftermarket kits that fit anything with a little work. photo from ebay - 

Edited December 30, 2024 by Muncie

[AMT68]

1 hour ago, espo said:

I bought a new 2010 Dodge Charger RT that had a switch on the left front of the driver's seat cushion bottom that would move the brake and gas pedals back and forth to adjust for the length of a driver's legs. Obviously, nothing new but it was nice since I drive with the seat all the way back. The telescoping steering wheel was also a great aid. 

Interesting. I wasn't aware of companies offering a similar option so not necessarily rare. Didn't find it unusual and actually a nice convenience. 

[sfhess]

4 hours ago, AMT68 said:

Interesting. I wasn't aware of companies offering a similar option so not necessarily rare. Didn't find it unusual and actually a nice convenience. 

Adjustable pedals were available on several Ford Models.

In the Maserati Bora, the seats were stationary, with adjustable pedals and steering wheel

[deuces wild]

On 12/28/2024 at 8:26 PM, 1972coronet said:

The quite expensive 1971-1974 cassette player-recorder-microphone that was an option in the Charger, Super Bee, Demon (1971 only), Dart (1971 only), Satellite, Road Runner , GTX, Barracuda, Duster (1971 only) , and Valiant (1971 only).

 

Back in '72, my neighbor bought a new Charger SE with bright red paint and a black interior... And it had one of those cassette recorders in it.... I might have a picture of that car at mom's house...

[espo]

On 12/30/2024 at 5:09 PM, AMT68 said:

Interesting. I wasn't aware of companies offering a similar option so not necessarily rare. Didn't find it unusual and actually a nice convenience. 

Ya we enjoyed it as well since I'm 6'3". The Charger that we bought to replace the 2010 doesn't offer this and it is no longer an option I was told. 

[Thedragsterdude]

Seats that were backwards in station wagons 

Edited January 3 by Thedragsterdude
Just added photo no words

[Nosferatu]

Toyota Van Ice Maker

 

Illuminated Tires

Not only did Goodyear’s engineers develop a translucent tire in 1960, but it was also able to be dyed multiple colors as well.

[stitchdup]

does a dipstick on a modern bmw count?

[Bills72sj]

15 hours ago, stitchdup said:

does a dipstick on a modern bmw count?

The driver or the engine?

[Old Buckaroo]

On 12/28/2024 at 5:27 PM, Chuckyg1 said:

These are pretty cool. Keep em  coming. Two others come to mind. The mopar "flower  power" vinyl top and the Caddy Biarritz cocktail set.

The "Mod Tops" had floral print vinyl tops with matching seats, they were marketed towards the ladies 

Ive got a upper back seat out of a '70 Cuda with this design. I'll get some pics of it, I keep it around just for a conversation piece.

[Old Buckaroo]

Here is a pic of the factory upholstery in that Cuda , I kept it as is (to hang on the wall) for a conversation piece.

[Mark]

On 12/29/2024 at 12:15 AM, RSchnell said:

 

While not quite related to the car, Ford sold Charcoal & small Charcoal grills. I've been looking for one of these for my collection for a while! I have the brochure, but not the box of charcoal or grill. Ford also sold Portland Cement, Fertilizer, Potassium Nitrate, all available at your local Ford dealer's Parts Counter.

The charcoal was made from by-product from Ford's production of station wagon bodies (other car companies subbed them out, as production was low).  The grill was a way to get people into dealerships during the Depression when car sales were way down.  

I don't know if it's true or not, but I have heard that the Kingsford brand of charcoal is somehow related to the ex-Ford Motor Company wood related operations.

On 12/29/2024 at 12:15 AM, RSchnell said:

 

 

Edited January 15 by Mark
Added info

[Bainford]

On 12/29/2024 at 1:15 AM, RSchnell said:

While not quite related to the car, Ford sold Charcoal & small Charcoal grills. I've been looking for one of these for my collection for a while! I have the brochure, but not the box of charcoal or grill. Ford also sold Portland Cement, Fertilizer, Potassium Nitrate, all available at your local Ford dealer's Parts Counter.

 

That's an interesting list of applications for the Ford Charcoal Briquets "Fuel of a hundred uses".

Edited January 15 by Bainford

[TarheelRick]

On 1/3/2025 at 9:41 AM, Thedragsterdude said:

Seats that were backwards in station wagons 

Dad's '57 Chevrolet wagon was built that way. I regurgitated back there a couple of times before I got used to riding backwards.  He also had an early 60's Rambler sedan he used on his mail route that had a fold down front seat back. It could be laid all the way back to the rear seat to make a semblance of a bed. The perfect date car for a teenage boy.

[slusher]

On 1/3/2025 at 8:50 AM, Nosferatu said:

Toyota Van Ice Maker

 

Illuminated Tires

Not only did Goodyear’s engineers develop a translucent tire in 1960, but it was also able to be dyed multiple colors as well.

I remember the back seat a the Caprice but I dont know anything about illuminating tires.  When was them sold.