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Colorized Mario's Tribute to 50 Strange and Clever Car Options My 99th Page!

Added Spinning Continental Wheel Video

1 1920's Bullet Bouncers

2 1920's Roller Safety Devices — For Sweeping Fallen Pedestrians

3 1920's The Dog Sack

4 1920's Child Safety Hammock

5 1920's Radiator caps used to be just fancy hood ornaments

6 1930's Car Vacuum Cleaner by Hoover

7 1940's Glow-in-the-Dark Hand Signal Mittens

8 1950's Dashboard coffee pot

9 1950's Electric-windows

10 1950's Window mount air conditioning

11 1956 Record player was introduced by Chrysler back in the 1950s. Had to play specially made mini-records

12 1957 Cadillac set of shot glasses

13 1957 Dealer installed passenger side spotlight

14 1957 Dealer installed vent shades

15 1957 Dealer oil filter set up. Only filters about 15% of the oil because not full flow

16 1957 Dealer manual windshield washer system. Operated with a foot pedal

17 1957 Factory dealer accessory sun visor and spotlight

18 1957 Factory dealer Autronic Eye automatic headlight dimmer

19 1957 Factory installed electric wiper motor. Much better than vacuum set up

20 1957 Factory original push button AM radio and analog clock

21 1957 Dealer bug screen. The chore of picking out bugs in the core is a non-issue

22 1957 Rare dealer installed vacuum ash tray

23 1957 Traffic light viewer and compass

24 1957 Very rare accessory compass

25 1957 Very rare litter container

26 1957 Pontiac Electric Car Razor

27 1958 Pontiac Carryout Sport-Radio

28 1960 Pontiac Sportable radio

29 1960's Car radio phone

30 1967 Tonneau cover

31 1968 Lit Cigarette Dispenser

32 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix 8-Track

33 1974 Hatchback-Camper

34 1975 litter containers

35 Realistic masked car dummy for HOV Lane

36 Car Steering Wheel Tray

37 Car travel picnic set

38 Car Seat Gap-Filler

39 Car window Escape Tool

40 Seatback Car Organizer

41 Dashboard Anti-Slip Pad

42 Electric Fans for Rear Seat

43 Car Rooftop Tent

44 Heated Ice Scraper

45 Turn Signals for Motorcyclists

46 Rear seat hanging Clothes Rail

47 Heated Center Console Armrest

48 Range Rover event seating option

49 French Fry Cup Holder

50 Solar Powered Valve Stem Lights

51 BONUS OPTION 1952 Ford Kom-Pac Trailer


Video and audio clips

31 CRAZIEST Optional Extras in Cars


"Gadgets Galore" Funny, way old automobile clips and calamities!


Spinning Continental Wheel



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Comments

azmusclecar on Aug 28, 2022 said:

Oh let me be THE FIRST to say, Mario you knocked this one OUT OF THE PARK. I never knew there was so many practical inventions to make driving safer and more dangerous. I love that coffee pot idea. That would be a challenge.

I'm reminded of a song, "Little things, mean a lot".

Lord have mercy, I like how you took the inventions from the early years to modern day.

Add this thread to your collection which should end up in the Car Lover's HALL OF FAME.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Aug 28, 2022 said:

Thank you Rob, you asked for this Thread and I'm happy to oblige. Glad you liked it.

The strangest option I see is the Roller to move Fallen Pedestrians off the street! What was it like living back then???

In any case I hope everyone enjoys how our Car Options have evolved in the last 100 years! Cheers, Mario.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Aug 28, 2022 said:

A big Thank You to our own American Torque Gear Head George for all the wonderful options on his 1957 Pontiac shown here! I think he has just about every option!

The rest of the strange and clever options speak for themselves!

Enjoy, Cheers! Mario.

[Reply to this comment]

azmusclecar on Aug 28, 2022 said:

Oh one question, that is not YOU in the #35 photo is it?.....

:-)

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Aug 28, 2022 said:

Very Funny but no, like the caption says it's a Masked Dummy! Kind of looks like my Uncle Al though, now that you mention it! I wonder if it really works.

[Reply to this comment]

azmusclecar on Aug 28, 2022 said:

That set of Cadillac 6 shot glasses sure would upset the MADD crowd. Thats photo 12 if you are keeping score.

At least we have progressed in SOME areas.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Aug 28, 2022 said:

Hopefully the shot glasses are magnetic! Wouldn't want to spill any, then I would be MAD! .......Get it?

[Reply to this comment]

azmusclecar on Aug 28, 2022 said:

Hey Mario, was #10 ACTUAL AIR CONDITIONING or is that what they filled with ice and drove with the air pushing the cold air into the car?

I've seen them here in AZ on a Hudson where there was a wooden like woven fabric that would be soaked in cold water and then put into the tube.

They are called SWAMP COOLERS here where the air is too dry to try to draw moisture out of it, rather, water is used to add humidity to the dry air and then a fan is used to force the air over the wet fiber and it cools the hot dry air down a few degrees.

There is a test on this so I hope you are taking notes.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Aug 28, 2022 said:

Here's the write up on the AC unit called a Thermador Car Cooler:

The Thermador “car cooler” uses the evaporation of water to cool air, which is then blown in through the open passenger-side window. Though it’s the first item to actually lower the air temperature, it only works in areas with very low humidity—and, it looks like you have a vacuum cleaner strapped to the side of your car.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Aug 28, 2022 said:

Added 3rd Funny Video.

[Reply to this comment]

azmusclecar on Aug 29, 2022 said:

Mario, I sent some of these to my friends, well friends may not be the right word. They couldn't believe some of these inventions. So even the unaware are now aware of your expertise.

Sadly they said MARIO WHO?

I said Andretti.....just to end the questions.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Aug 29, 2022 said:

That's funny Rob. Mario Andretti was one of the best racers ever! So good answer to your friends.

This was actually my 99th Page on American Torque and I'm working on 100!

Stay tuned!

[Reply to this comment]

azmusclecar on Aug 29, 2022 said:

Wow that is quite an achievment.....so what's the hold up? Get posting.........

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Aug 29, 2022 said:

It will be posted this week! I promise, I'm still working on it.

We also hit over 1,000 plays on the Hidden Gas Cap game this week! This has been a big week!

And you're finding a sweet 69 Camaro SS350 tops the cake! Good find, I really miss my Camaro. I even dream about it which is crazy I know but I have to face the facts. It was my first new car and one of the best I ever owned! Cheers.

[Reply to this comment]

azmusclecar on Aug 29, 2022 said:

I miss my 1969 Olds 442. Tried to find it but back in PA, cancer just ate those cars up. Verdo Green with Gold stripes with Gold cloth interior, bench seat, nice ol' HURST shifter sticking out the floor.

I even bought studded snow tires for it after an accident on ice. My friends used to ask me to light up the rear tires and the sparks from the studs would glow.

I was young and dumb back then. Somethings never change, except your age.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Aug 30, 2022 said:

Your 69 Olds 442 is a great classic car also. They were more expensive than the Camaros and Firebirds but quick on the track.

We had National Speedway out here on Long Island back then and I got to see all the Muscle cars fight it out.

As the mantra goes: Win on Sunday Sell on Monday!

[Reply to this comment]

azmusclecar on Aug 29, 2022 said:

I like that #51 added bonus. I never went camping as a kid. No one in my family went on vacation. That looks like an awesome time.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Aug 30, 2022 said:

You missed seeing my Page on the Kom-Pac Trailer I posted. Here it is:

http://www.americantorque.com/page/0/4012/

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Aug 30, 2022 said:

This is my 99th Page on American Torque. I posted my first page 10 years ago in 2012. It has been a Labor of Love posting all these threads and I will be posting my 100th Page soon! Cheers, Mario

[Reply to this comment]

azmusclecar on Sep 1, 2022 said:

Drum roll please............

You can cut the tension with a knife.......

Like Chevy Chase out on the lawn with all his family, ready to plug the 30,000 Christmas Lights in.....

And of course Chevy's Father in Law says "HURRY UP CLARK, I'M FREEZING MY BAGGETS OFF!!!!!!!!!!!"

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Sep 1, 2022 said:

I love those Chevy Chase movies. What a Funny guy he is and great movies.

Good things come to those who wait. My Dad used to tell me that. I'm still waiting! Cheers.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Sep 2, 2022 said:

OK Rob, my 100th Page is up. A little different than the others but you'll like it. Cheers, Mario

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57timemachine on Sep 20, 2022 said:

Mario, thanks for sharing some of my factory and dealer accessories for my 57 Pontiac. I have always been an accessory hound and will be till I die. I look at most accessories offered by car companies as being real value to a car and owner. Sure some stuff was goofy but most it made total sense to me. Cheers.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Sep 20, 2022 said:

You're very welcome George! You have so many options on your 57 Pontiac I wanted to showcase them. Cheers!

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Jan 13, 2024 said:

I added the Spinning Continental Kit video. Check it out, it's outrageous.

[Reply to this comment]

57timemachine on Jan 14, 2024 said:

Holy guacamole Mario, the check is in the mail. I was surprised to see all those 57 Pontiac accessories from my 57 Pontiac on here. The check is in the mail my old vintage American iron old car buddy. Cheers.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Jan 14, 2024 said:

Well thank you George. Your 57 Pontiac was a Huge contributor to this options page. Your car is loaded with so many options I didn't have to go far to find them. Cheers my friend, Mario

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Apr 12, 2024 said:

I colorized the B/W pictures.

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57timemachine on Apr 14, 2024 said:

Mario, that HOV lane dummy just made me burst at the seams with laughter. It is funny yet kind of sad that folks would stoop that low. Just goes to show that you never know. Cheers.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Apr 15, 2024 said:

I got a kick out of that HOV dummy too George! The crazy things people invent and do just to get around the law!

[Reply to this comment]


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