"Autofixation" (Autofixation)
04/22/2015 at 22:32 • Filed to: muscle, tbird, thunderbird, t-bird, interior, classic, character
2
11|
"Autofixation" (Autofixation)
04/22/2015 at 22:32 • Filed to: muscle, tbird, thunderbird, t-bird, interior, classic, character | 2
| 11 |
So, I detailed a 1965 Thunderbird at work today (not this exact one, but this same color), and having not spent much time around 60’s cars, I was absolutely astonished at just how awesome this interior was. Look at the HVAC controls in the top center of the dashboard. Changing the fan settings makes you feel like you are preparing a plane for takeoff.
I’ll admit that is was a pain to clean all of that trim. But I also saw it as a privilege to sit in a car from a time that afforded so much design freedom and a priority of character over manufacturing penny pinching.
BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
> Autofixation
04/22/2015 at 22:35 |
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That’s a beautiful interior. I usually consider the dash to be the weak point of design in old cars, but this one is awesome.
The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
> Autofixation
04/22/2015 at 22:35 |
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a time that afforded so much design freedom and a priority of character over manufacturing penny pinching.
Dont forget safety. Or economy. But I guess they did the best they could with the tech they had...
JR1
> Autofixation
04/22/2015 at 22:37 |
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Thunderbird might have had the best interiors in the Ford company during this time
El Rivinado
> Autofixation
04/22/2015 at 22:39 |
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Part of it's penny pinching, but also part of it would be federal regulations. The reason most car interiors like that have their character is because most of them were made in a time when the government wasn't forcing things like Airbags and whatnot into cars for safety. As a result, once these things started getting implemented, they felt it was just easier to use roughly the same designs to appease the guys in congress rather than make their own. At least, that's my reasoning for it. I will say though, I do wish we had this character back, it's what made these cars great. Leather seats that felt super comfortable, steering wheels that aren't cluttered up with buttons for stuff that'll break easily, just simple straightforward design.
HammerheadFistpunch
> Autofixation
04/22/2015 at 22:39 |
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part of it was that you could do anything and weren’t restricted by where to put airbags, what material the dash had to be made out of for the right compliance, how to make the hood meet pedestrian impact laws, how to fashion pillars to pass roof crush/side impact/small overlap, etc.etc.
Then part of it was that no one gave a damn it it worked well or made sense so long as it was different.
Slant6
> Autofixation
04/22/2015 at 22:42 |
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I bet those HVAC controls feel real good when they’re wedged inside your skull.
Says the guy that DDs a 1965 Dart in the summer. I like the design but it really sucks in crashes. And these (Thunderbird and Dart. Well maybe not the Thunderbird so much but the controls still are sharp and stick out) interiors were pretty cheap in their day and only look sturdy now because they’re made of metal.
K-Roll-PorscheTamer
> Autofixation
04/22/2015 at 22:47 |
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The world is run by money and extreme regulations(I’m hating that word even more every day I hear it)...unfortunately. We’ll never see this again, and I wish I could go back in time to see it when it was new. :(
InB4 someone argues “look at all the safety features that outweigh these awesome designs because safety is important and money makes the world go round and that’s a good thing and blah blah blah”.
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Autofixation
> Slant6
04/22/2015 at 22:55 |
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I won’t argue just how dangerous those controls are. I actually watched a documentary that was basically about the myriad of ways old cars could kill you. My favorite was the rearview mirror making a gouge right down the middle of your skull.
pip bip - choose Corrour
> Autofixation
04/22/2015 at 22:58 |
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legal profession , and their relentless pursuit of suing someone , anyone for causing harm to their client
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Autofixation
> BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
04/22/2015 at 23:10 |
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My new job is detailing cars at a classic car dealer and this one was just stunning, I couldn’t help but sit and stare at it.
desertdog5051
> Autofixation
04/22/2015 at 23:22 |
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Hope you got a chance to experience the swing away steering wheel.
http://automotivemileposts.com/tbird1961swing…