We get spoiled with options and gadgets that make life on the road more comfortable and convenient. Some of these features have crept in over time and become indispensable, particularly when the environment and weather conspire to make driving miserable. All-wheel drive and tire technology along with ABS and limited slip make rain and snow practically non-events, while climate control and advanced materials make interiors the comfortable cocoons they’ve become.
Back in 1939, Packard debuted the first factory-installed car air conditioner. It was crudely operated by current standards and had no thermostat or interior controls, so if the passengers got too chilly, the driver had to stop the engine, open the hood, and disconnect the compressor belt. By the late 1960s, almost half of all new cars had built in air conditioning, and by 2010 nearly all new cars were so equipped.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.