Great Automotive styling traits that don't exist anymore
ironmaiden53
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Automotive design has changed so dramatically since their conception in the early 1900s. The mile-long fins of the '50s died down long ago, Chrome has gone from covering bumpers to simple window trim on Cadillac's and BMW's, and hideaway headlights can't compete with today's sleek headlamps and aggressive halos.
These are some of the best automotive styling trends that aren't found on modern cars today.
1. Pop-Up/Hideaway Headlamps
From Corvettes to Continentals, hidden headlights were a common feature throughout the '70s and '80s. Originating after regulations wouldn't allow aerodynamic headlights on vehicles due to light range, many manufacturers like Chevrolet and Lincoln would have the headlamps collapse down under a shield in order to maintain the car's sleek profile, when the headlamps were activated, they would lift-up (usually by a vacuum or electric mechanism). Over time, it became a styling feature, with many muscle cars like the Dodge Charger and Pontiac GTO taking advantage of the feature to make the grille appear long and sleek.
2. Wraparound Rear Glass
Best known for its appearance on the 1964 Plymouth Barracuda, this styling feature would come to appear on some of the most iconic american cars of the century. From the "boat tail" window of the 1971 Buick Riviera to the lift-back glass of the 1997 Corvette, wraparound windows seemed immortal till their end in 2013 when GM ceased production of the C6 Corvette. Even throughout the 1980s, squared off wraparound glass could be found on cars like the Camaro IROC-Z or the Mitsubishi Starion. Although some say the GMC Acadia makes a case for a wrapped rear window, the rear window is still pillared, so it doesn't count.
3. Whitewalls
Every '50s car has them, if it doesn't, it should. Originally, tires were made with a compound that used a white material in the middle. Many manufacturers would cover the wall with a black material, but if the tire was scraped against a curb, it would rub off, revealing the white material. Many cars such as the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air and the Cadillac El Dorado took advantage of this styling feature and used it to compliment their long profile and fender skirts. Over time, vehicles started simply using a thin (about 1 inch thick) white strip along the tire, and while most performance cars has raised white letters instead, many cars still offered the option of a white strip. While the trend endured through the 90s with the Caprice Classic, whitewall tires became a thing of the past in 2011, when the last Lincoln Town Car rolled off the line.
4. Sugar Scoop
Although not nearly as popular as the other features, "Sugar Scoop" rear windows were found on the 1968-1976 Corvettes, 1966-1967 Malibu's, and the famous Dodge Charger. It gave the vehicle a sleek "fastback" look while still utilizing a smaller rear window and allowing space for a trunk. Likely died down because of decreased visibility, the closest modern feature to this is the Chevrolet Avalanche/Escalade EXT's Mid-Gate bar.
5. Vinyl Hardtops
Applied to cars for that "fake-convertible" look, it became a styling feature in the late '60s and early '70s, and miraculously lasted to the mid 2000s. The most well-known Vinyl hardtop car would be the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T S/E, with it's "formal" smaller rear window. The early G-Body Buick Regals had a vinyl section above the second row seating on the roof. Often a luxury-oriented option available on muscle cars and sedans, the roof of the car looked like a convertible, while maintaining the safety and structural integrity of a hardtop.
6. Split Bumpers
Once again the Corvette makes an appearance on this list, what a shocker. 2nd and 3rd generation models are well known for their chrome split-rear bumper, although they are also found on British MGs and early '70s Camaro Z28s.
In the dismal year of 1973, when the oil-crisis and stringent government safety restrictions were occuring, the stylish split bumpers were discarded in exchange for heavy, unsightly plastic bumpers.
These are some of the best automotive styling trends that aren't found on modern cars today.
1. Pop-Up/Hideaway Headlamps
From Corvettes to Continentals, hidden headlights were a common feature throughout the '70s and '80s. Originating after regulations wouldn't allow aerodynamic headlights on vehicles due to light range, many manufacturers like Chevrolet and Lincoln would have the headlamps collapse down under a shield in order to maintain the car's sleek profile, when the headlamps were activated, they would lift-up (usually by a vacuum or electric mechanism). Over time, it became a styling feature, with many muscle cars like the Dodge Charger and Pontiac GTO taking advantage of the feature to make the grille appear long and sleek.
2. Wraparound Rear Glass
Best known for its appearance on the 1964 Plymouth Barracuda, this styling feature would come to appear on some of the most iconic american cars of the century. From the "boat tail" window of the 1971 Buick Riviera to the lift-back glass of the 1997 Corvette, wraparound windows seemed immortal till their end in 2013 when GM ceased production of the C6 Corvette. Even throughout the 1980s, squared off wraparound glass could be found on cars like the Camaro IROC-Z or the Mitsubishi Starion. Although some say the GMC Acadia makes a case for a wrapped rear window, the rear window is still pillared, so it doesn't count.
3. Whitewalls
Every '50s car has them, if it doesn't, it should. Originally, tires were made with a compound that used a white material in the middle. Many manufacturers would cover the wall with a black material, but if the tire was scraped against a curb, it would rub off, revealing the white material. Many cars such as the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air and the Cadillac El Dorado took advantage of this styling feature and used it to compliment their long profile and fender skirts. Over time, vehicles started simply using a thin (about 1 inch thick) white strip along the tire, and while most performance cars has raised white letters instead, many cars still offered the option of a white strip. While the trend endured through the 90s with the Caprice Classic, whitewall tires became a thing of the past in 2011, when the last Lincoln Town Car rolled off the line.
4. Sugar Scoop
Although not nearly as popular as the other features, "Sugar Scoop" rear windows were found on the 1968-1976 Corvettes, 1966-1967 Malibu's, and the famous Dodge Charger. It gave the vehicle a sleek "fastback" look while still utilizing a smaller rear window and allowing space for a trunk. Likely died down because of decreased visibility, the closest modern feature to this is the Chevrolet Avalanche/Escalade EXT's Mid-Gate bar.
5. Vinyl Hardtops
Applied to cars for that "fake-convertible" look, it became a styling feature in the late '60s and early '70s, and miraculously lasted to the mid 2000s. The most well-known Vinyl hardtop car would be the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T S/E, with it's "formal" smaller rear window. The early G-Body Buick Regals had a vinyl section above the second row seating on the roof. Often a luxury-oriented option available on muscle cars and sedans, the roof of the car looked like a convertible, while maintaining the safety and structural integrity of a hardtop.
6. Split Bumpers
Once again the Corvette makes an appearance on this list, what a shocker. 2nd and 3rd generation models are well known for their chrome split-rear bumper, although they are also found on British MGs and early '70s Camaro Z28s.
In the dismal year of 1973, when the oil-crisis and stringent government safety restrictions were occuring, the stylish split bumpers were discarded in exchange for heavy, unsightly plastic bumpers.
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