Remember when- Air conditioning a luxury on your new car

[packman]

?t=4

As I recall, it was in the range of $400/$600 back in the mid-50's. I remember living in D.C. area in early 60's without it - suffered that once and never again after a brutal summer.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

1. Unfortunately, yes.

[Ohiogal]

2. I didn't realize cars had a/c that far back!

I remember when my mom bought a car in the late 70s that was the first car our family had with a/c in it and my dad thought she was nuts for spending the extra $ on such an unnecessary luxury. My late father-in-law had a car with a/c in it but he never used it, even on the hottest day of the year, said he didn't like it.

Not me! I couldn't live without a/c in my car!

[Major Nikon]

10. ...

[exboyfil]

3. I remember when non-powered windows and locks

saved you money when you elected them instead of the powered version (my 2002 Cavalier).

When I went to buy my 2009 HHR that was no longer an option. Guess what doesn't work now on my HHR, the power windows and locks. The front locks aren't a real issue, but reaching back with my short arms for the back locks is an issue. Also don't get me started about the hatch back door which doesn't have a key lock. The windows, you can imagine, are a concern (at least it is only the front control that no longer controls the back windows - there individual controls still work for now).

Guess what still works on my Cavalier, the manual windows and locks.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

4. I remember when we used to counter with...

“I have air conditioning, it’s called 2/60, two windows at 60mph.

[mitch96]

7. " two windows at 60mph. "

Yup!! don't forget those little quater windows flipped so it would direct all that hot air on your face..

m

[BumRushDaShow]

13. The side vents!

[Ohiogal]

8. Ha Ha, the phrase around here was

"I have 440 air conditioning! 4 windows down at 40 mph!"

Another one that comes to mind (joking of course) "I've got a 4 on the floor and a fifth under the seat".

[BumRushDaShow]

14. OMG I think my Dad used to say that.

[Historic NY]

5. The 40 Packard was the first American car with factory AC

We had a 55 Chrysler with a/c .Today restorers pay thousands of dollars to find these early units parts. I remember an a/c we had at home that had ice hanging off it .


[link:https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2012/08/03/weather-conditioning-from-packard/|]

[Ohiogal]

9. My '84 Renault Encore

a/c unit would spit out ice chips if you ran it too long. Had to turn it off for about 5 minutes every so often. And I never could go up a hill with the a/c on in that car because it took away so much power from the engine .... had to turn it off every time i went up a hill.

[Bengus81]

6. My parents didn't have an AC car until about mid-60's

My dad got company cars and I think the first with air was in 65-66 when he worked for PPG. Before then we took trips down to Houston to seen cousins with no air. And...of course my mom couldn't have her hair blow when doing 75 mph so it was windows up until we hit a town.

My grandparents had a non factory under the dash unit put in a 64 Chevy they bought new. That damn thing would freeze your ass off if your were in the front seat.

[Major Nikon]

11. Remember when air conditioning your lawn mower was a luxury?

[BumRushDaShow]

12. I had a '78 Dodge

in the '80s with no AC and AM radio only.

Tried to find a fan that could plug into a cigarette lighter and whatnot but alas.

[ffr]

15. Cars and refrigerant will be our undoing.

Between pollution in the name of convenience and making it possible for humans to inhabit places and keep food from spoiling, our numbers are artificially boosted by both. Take both away and we'd probably witness human population numbers closer to what Earth could sustain; drastically lower than the 7.6 billion (and growing) they are at today.

Personally, when I see automobiles, I see them sucking in life giving oxygen and exhausting toxins out. They will be remembered as our era's dinosaur, what our legacy will leave behind. A great invention that sealed our fate.

[tomhagen]

16. Wasn't it great living in the Ultra Modern age of 1953?

[sdfernando]

17. Yes. We didn't get AC in a car until 1969

Previous to that our car had this? Anyone remember that?

[gay texan]

19. Call and raise

Mine still has "3 on the tree"

[sdfernando]

20. I've driven trucks with 3 on the column

What an experience! Never want to do that again!

[gay texan]

18. Ah yes

The days of R-12 and monster A/C compressors that let out a healthy CLANK when they engaged

[trusty elf]

21. a palindrome with "DeSoto"....