Car Accessories

[Austin Maxi]

The 1970s and '80s in particular was a time when car add-ons of the like you just don't see these days were popular.

From manufacturer-added stuff such as a vinyl covered roof (as often seen on Ford Cortinas and Granadas), to those 'C'-shaped clear plastic wind deflectors that could be attached to the driver's side window. Then there were strips which would hang down from the back of the car to the road to prevent the occupant's car-sickness, furry dice (naturally), 'Go-faster' stripes. I even recall the 'Knight Rider' cylon light from the front of 'K.I.T.T.' was available in the '80s, although I can't help feeling it looked better on a black Trans-Am than it would on a Talbot Horizon.

Then there were the essential bodges. Radio aerial missing? try a coat hanger instead!

What else was there?

[Trickyvee]

Re: Car Accessories

I remember lots of cars having those horns like the one on the General Lee in the Dukes of Hazzard. Also remember those things hanging down to the ground I never knew what they were supposed to be for, and little reflectors added to the edge of the doors. What about those green sun shade stickers for the wind screen with, for example, 'Dave' and 'Tracey' written on them, and yellow head light stickers for going abroad.

[sixtyten]

Lightning conductors apparently.
I made my mum put them on our car

[Paulos]

Re: Car Accessories

Feu orange air freshener anybody?

[Jacqueline]

Re: Car Accessories

Feu orange air freshener anybody?

[Trickyvee]

Re: Car Accessories

I had a plastic Esso man key ring (they are collectors items now) that I hung on the rear view mirror of our car. That very night our car got stolen and set on fire. I remember the police coming to the door in the early hours of the morning to tell us and I was devastated, not because of the car but because my poor little Esso man had been burnt alive!

[Austin Maxi]

Re: Car Accessories

There's some great stuff already. I forgot about the '80s trend for those small rectangular car window stickers with stuff like 'My other car's a Porsche', 'Honk if you bonk', 'If you can read this you're too damn close / someone's knicked my caravan', 'This car may be old, but it's paid for and in front of you', etc. etc. as well.

[sixtyten]

Re: Car Accessories

Aftermarket Sunroofs, whiplash aerials, CB radio

[stuckinthe80's]

Re: Car Accessories

Feu orange air freshener anybody?

My Dad had these in his car. I remember it came with a pin to keep stabbing the back for more smell. I quite liked the smell!

[Trickyvee]

Re: Car Accessories

Window stickers from places like Alton Towers. Always got one wherever you went. Back passenger windows were covered in them.

[Richard1978]

Re: Car Accessories

Stripy red stickers on the rear window spelling out the model name seemed to be around a lot in the 1980s.

Stickers of the owner's local radio station seemed to have a peak in the 1980s, but can still be seen today.

[ratboy]

Re: Car Accessories

My dad had a sticker that read "keep clear - this car runs on prune juice". As I recall, as already mentioned above, they had a whole range of these stickers in the Jack Dusty range. I think the most popular was "0-60 in half an hour" but reading any of them made me chuckle.
Also, does anyone remember the old Arthur Daley stickers you could get, the one you stuck on the back window, and it looked like a proper garage sticker. You also got the tax disc holder with it.

[Trickyvee]

Re: Car Accessories

One from the 90's...those beaded seat covers with brown and cream wooden beads meant to help with circulation or whatever. I only remembered them as I saw one for sale in Halfords today!

[Bronzegreen]

Re: Car Accessories

those plastic wind deflectors are still available for 4x4's the inlaws have boot long bought some. Who remembers the home made suspension lift kits on the rear of escorts and capri's or the black plastic louvers on the back window. The 3 way speaker pods and graphic equities with flashing lights. How about the fake fur seat and steering wheel covers and the odd furry dashboard. 12 inch mountny steering wheels. Weber carbs were common as were stickers saying gti turbo gl coupe and such. Hope these bring back a memory or two of fun cars and fun times

[Bronzegreen]

Re: Car Accessories

sorry about spelling errors my phone is being bad again