Back in the Day

[D2Cat]

 

[85Hokie]

That $1750 is worth about 20K in todays money!!!

Those old cars were full of chrome and steel - now just plastic and computer chips!

 

[GeoHorn]

That $1750 is worth about 20K in todays money!!!

Those old cars were full of chrome and steel - now just plastic and computer chips!

Yep…. and it’s a manual trans, no AC, the heater was optional, no seat belts, a metal dashboard, and no SIRIUS satellite connection!

(But it had ash trays, a heavy cardboard interior glove-box, and rubber floor mats.)

 

[The Evil Twin]

In the 60s my dad bought a Cobra for around $6500.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Yep…. and it’s a manual trans, no AC, the heater was optional, no seat belts, a metal dashboard, and no SIRIUS satellite connection!

(But it had ash trays, a heavy cardboard interior glove-box, and rubber floor mats.)

Lol. Yah. My prents first family car didn't have heat. No problem in FL. It became one when pops was transferred to Norfolk VA

 

[GeoHorn]

Did you ever try to parallel-park a manual transmission auto which also had non-power-steering..?



That ‘55 Chebby also had manual steering and brakes…and, depending on options, standard was a Six-Volt 20-Amp generator with vibrating-points regulator.

 

[The Evil Twin]

My 1st Jeep was a 5 speed without power steering. Any low speed maneuvering was no fun!

 

[chim]

Did you ever try to parallel-park a manual transmission auto which also had non-power-steering..?

WORST steering on anything I've ever driven was a fairly new (at that time) Ford F150. Before we were issued 4X4's and SUV's one of my company trucks was a 2WD '78 F150. It had 3 on the tree, 300ci six, no power anything. No radio. Plain cab. 8' bed. The ol' "twin I-beam" front end felt like it was made from a couple old I-beams from a salvage yard. It had more power than some of the 8 cylinders we had at the time.

 

[jyoutz]

Yep…. and it’s a manual trans, no AC, the heater was optional, no seat belts, a metal dashboard, and no SIRIUS satellite connection!

(But it had ash trays, a heavy cardboard interior glove-box, and rubber floor mats.)

And an engine that needed tuneups every 15k miles, and an overhaul at 100k.

 

[jyoutz]

WORST steering on anything I've ever driven was a fairly new (at that time) Ford F150. Before we were issued 4X4's and SUV's one of my company trucks was a 2WD '78 F150. It had 3 on the tree, 300ci six, no power anything. No radio. Plain cab. 8' bed. The ol' "twin I-beam" front end felt like it was made from a couple old I-beams from a salvage yard. It had more power than some of the 8 cylinders we had at the time.

I bought that exact same truck new. Except it did have power steering.

 

[DaveFromMi]

We got a good deal on a new 1990 Sentra, bare bones. No power steering, 4 wheel drum brakes, no radio, manual windows, no A/C, 1.6L 5 speed manual transmission coupe.
I put a Pioneer Supertuner Stereo and some Jensen speakers after some tweaking of rear parcel structure.
My wife has never forgiven me for buying a car without A/C.

 

[dlsmith]

Speaking of back in he day...

 

[DustyRusty]

 

[Flintknapper]

View attachment 111682

Can't imagine why you'd want to 'punish' your customer with a Shetland Pony.

 

[Biker1mike]

My 1st Jeep was a 5 speed without power steering. Any low speed maneuvering was no fun!

Mine was a 3 speed and required two hands on the wheel and serious effort to slow turn.
I have cranked a Ford Model A without breaking my thumb. That car did turn better than my much newer Jeep.

 

[Flintknapper]

My 1st Jeep was a 5 speed without power steering. Any low speed maneuvering was no fun!

You learn to keep your thumbs outside the steering wheel as well. Just bump a rock, stump/other... and that steering wheel will rotate so fast it will make your head spin.

If you have your thumbs inside the steering wheel.....you'll learn a lesson you won't soon forget.

My '70 Model Bronco 1/2 cab has manual steering (this is how I know).

 

[D2Cat]

Maybe the steering challenges were what kept folks slim and trim. Only after power steering and all the creature comforts in automobiles do Americans get lazy and obese! They drove more and ate more!!

 

[RCW]

You also learn real quick to get the car/truck/tractor rolling before cranking on the wheel…something not taught nor learned anymore.

Hate the sound of a parked car scrubbing tires as the driver cranks on the wheel.

Used that skill today.

 

[will721]

Only ever drove one manual steering car, but being in my 30s 99.9% of guys my age haven't.

A friend and I built a car from spare parts to take to a drag event down south. The zip tie drags for any roadkill fans. A 1974 Plymouth Roadrunner. The car was juat a shell with no glass, suspension, subframe, axle, ect. Once assembled it was a small block, auto, manual steering. Ran a 13.2 in the 1/4, not bad for 3 months work. After they canceled all the events I put the widest tires you could wedge under the front. All that rubber with manual steering and a welded diff makes parking lots like wrestling a grizzly. Makes a whole lotta noise, and you just can't help but smile when driving it around.

Whats hilarious is cops will not pull it over. No mirrors, seat belts, turn signals, exhaust might as well be wide open headers. I've passed cops doing double the speed limit. Only thing I can figure is when they see it they can't remember when their last tetanus shot was and just let it ride.

 

[Biker1mike]

You learn to keep your thumbs outside the steering wheel as well. Just bump a rock, stump/other... and that steering wheel will rotate so fast it will make your head spin.

If you have your thumbs inside the steering wheel.....you'll learn a lesson you won't soon forget.

My '70 Model Bronco 1/2 cab has manual steering (this is how I know).

View attachment 111704

Sweet memories. I had a necker's knob on the Jeep right up to the time I was off road and hit a big rock. The knob damn near broke my hand when it came around. The girlfriend (soon to be wife) thought it was funny as hell !