The weird, weird world of forgotten car accessories
It’s the accessory that every motorist needs – an inflatable canoe that you can carry in the boot in case you need to traverse a river at any time. This advert is from 1960, and if you buy the full kit at £25, that works out at £565 in today’s money, so this wasn’t a cheap accessory.
Elpico radio
We’ve got used to touch-screen displays, Bluetooth and streamed music all fitted as standard, but more than half a century ago most cars didn’t even come with a radio. Instead you had to buy an aftermarket unit, such as this 2-watt Elpico unit that at today’s prices would set you back £350.
Rear seat extension
No wonder so many people died on our roads in the 1960s. Vehicle tyres and lighting were rubbish, nobody wore a seatbelt, and drink-driving was legal until 1967. You could also buy items such as this rear seat extension to allow your kids to sleep unrestrained on the move. The road safety lobby would be apoplectic at adverts like this now…
Cooper sleeping conversion
Presumably designed for use only when parked up rather than when on the move, the Cooper sleeping conversion allowed you to convert your family car’s interior into a luxurious bed for the night, to save on accommodation.
Philips shaver
We suspect the Advertising Standards Authority might have something to say about this one. The very idea of promoting shaving while you drive in our 21st century safety-conscious society shows just how much the world has changed in the past half a century.
Baronet wheel glove
Don’t waste your cash on one of those expensive heated steering wheels when you spec up your new Range Rover. Instead, invest in one of these tasty-looking wheel covers; we’ll take the ocelot finish please, just because it’s a word you don’t hear nearly often enough.
Redi-Spare puncture repair kit
There really is nothing new under the sun. Now fitted as standard to most new cars, the idea of a puncture repair kit and a canister of gas goes right the way back to the early 1960s. Of course this BMC Farina would have had a spare wheel anyway, we hope.
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