Car accessories that have died a death

[crank_case]

They were never all that common in Ireland, though I understand they are ubiquitious in the States.

Probably really took in the mid 70s for the US they had cars with bumpers big enough for bumper stickers as opposed to trying to stick them on your boot or rear window.

[Cold]

The name won't come to me, but the stickers on the rear window, usually of the make of car, that was split so they fitted in between the heated rear screen lines.

Edit. Backflash. Like this
Ashover_2018-4.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1.jpg

I like that, it's clever. I don't recall seeing those kinds of stickers or thinking about it but looks classy by non-classy standards.

[deltona]

In-car CB radios and the classic heavy magnet mount with a 4ft tall aerial mast.

how-to-choose-the-right-cb-radio-antenna.jpg

[Aontroim]

Better stereos and safer steering wheels with airbags are objectively a good thing but I do miss the days when these where fun projects with just enough challenge to improve the beginner's skills but easy enough that a slightly more experienced hand could rattle this out with a friend on the driveway some dry Saturday morning.

Kinda a mix between aftermarket stereos and ott ICE installs (back when that acronym used to refer to entertainment): the subwoofer/amp install.

When I was getting into cars, my ability to install subs and amps gave my non-car friends an appreciation of why I was into this stuff. I'd be installing on a friend's car, they'd be helping, we'd have a bit of craic along the way and then obligatory laps of the town when it was done. Sad, I know but we had fun!

[Aontroim]

On the topic of stickers: Nurburgring ones or 'x engine' inside (Intel) have fairly died a death. Even the satirical 'Neverbëen' ones are rare now!

[crank_case]

On the topic of stickers: Nurburgring ones or 'x engine' inside (Intel) have fairly died a death. Even the satirical 'Neverbëen' ones are rare now!

I think it illustrates the cycle of a lot of car trends, the stages go:

1. A few people in a specific scene do something that has actual meaning be it sincere or tongue in cheek to that scene and is cool
2. Eventually down the line you get to people who just know that it's "cool" but are devoid of context so it descends to meaningless ubiquity
3. it becomes uncool
4. it goes away
5. People get nostalgic 20 years later and it makes a small comeback as a "period detail"

[markcro]

The name won't come to me, but the stickers on the rear window, usually of the make of car, that was split so they fitted in between the heated rear screen lines.

Edit. Backflash. Like this
Ashover_2018-4.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1.jpg

Yes I remember them. I have to say, even now, they are still cool! There was a fellow near me with one of them "205GTI".

Also sun strips, the translucent green or blue ones on the inside. Not the vinyl ones stuck on the outside of the 2000s


One from the 2000s, the "shopping list" down each side of the car of all the aftermarket part makers that you wished you had in your car, like:
TRD
HKS
Toyo
K&N


And then that morphed into actual shopping lists that made me laugh
- Washing up liquid
- Potatoes
- etc

[Deadly Dave]

Anti theft things that hooked onto the steering wheel and the brake pedal . My little Mini came with one

[Aontroim]

I think it illustrates the cycle of a lot of car trends, the stages go:

1. A few people in a specific scene do something that has actual meaning be it sincere or tongue in cheek to that scene and is cool
2. Eventually down the line you get to people who just know that it's "cool" but are devoid of context so it descends to meaningless ubiquity
3. it becomes uncool
4. it goes away
5. People get nostalgic 20 years later and it makes a small comeback as a "period detail"

Very true!

Parts/modifications/cars are kinda the same. There was a rad/Max Power resurgence a year or so ago and for the first time in 15 years I heard people discussing TSW Venoms etc.

They were mega cool, then people couldn't wait to scrap them, then some time down the line people are wondering 'where did all the Venoms go?'. Obviously wanting them for the ironic/novelty/nostalgia factor second time around.

I'm guilty of it too. I'd looove a 'period' 306 D-Turbo as a cool throwback to seeing lads drive them around my town when I was 15/16 but I know if I'm being honest that I derided them all those years ago. I'm pretty sure I lusted after the 'modern, future of motoring' VAG group TDis back then... the irony. I'd be unlikely to touch an A4 TDi with your barge pole these days! *


*tongue-in-cheek; if you enjoy these types of cars then good on you! Just not my thing (anymore).

[Aontroim]

When was the last time you put a CD into your car stereo?

I remember turning my nose up at aftermarket stereos for an 'o2 car I had circa 2019 on the basis that they had no CD player.

I' ve owned my current daily (2014 car with CD player) for nearly two years and have NEVER put a CD in it. For all I know, the previous owner's NOW104. 7 CD could still be in there!

[shaggy]

Not so common, but rear window louvres. I have a set on my van (79 Chevy) and think they still look cool on the right classic coupe or fastback. They look stupid on modern cars though.

[Bold]

M3 mirrors like the ones on the e36 m3 seemed to be a very popular mod back in the day I remember putting a set on an eg vti civic of all things.. Single wiper conversion.. Morette twin headlights.. Underbody neons.. Twas a time of very bad taste 😂

[conneem]

Anti theft things that hooked onto the steering wheel and the brake pedal . My little Mini came with one

Not exactly this, but I spotted a Cayman GTS in the multistory at Edinburgh airport a few weeks ago with a big yellow steering wheel lock.
I haven't seen one in years.

[markcro]

Not so common, but rear window louvres. I have a set on my van (79 Chevy) and think they still look cool on the right classic coupe or fastback. They look stupid on modern cars though.

Louvres are cool!


Fuzzy dice hanging off the rear view mirror!

[Zoom]

I like that, it's clever. I don't recall seeing those kinds of stickers or thinking about it but looks classy by non-classy standards.

To be fair, if I had an XR3i like that one now, I'd probably have that backflash on the back window too, just to add to the feel of it.

Also, spot lights. Now, while headlights back then were not fantastic, they did the job required. But that's not why spots were added. Spots=cool. Ring Rally Giants were a common sight, although CIBE's where the ones to have. But even back then, they were expensive enough to be fecked.

Also, the aftermarket fog light that was fitted to "upgrade and update " your car as a third brake light. Just in case, 2 might be fitted in some circumstances

The sound system required that a Pioneer speaker setup be present and visible through the back window. They were powered by a Pioneer amp, unless you couldn't afford a Pioneer, in which case you had a Soundlab amp, (which I still have, 4x100amp). Probalby why I'm half deaf now.

The Feu Orange air freshner with the pin was a staple smell. Interesting if a weapon such as that pin would be allowed today.

c9521758b3efb6787ee4f48261e1038b.jpg