We don’t know if you remember, but driving used to be a lot more work than fun. Vintage cars had style, sure, but they also came loaded with hassles you’re probably glad to forget. These 10 throwbacks may stir up memories, but you won’t be asking for them back.

No Power Steering

Power steering systems began reshaping vehicle handling in the 1950s, yet many older cars missed this now-standard feature. In the absence of hydraulic or electric support, drivers had to depend solely on muscle to steer through tight spots. Today’s systems reduce fatigue and make steering more precise.

Bench Front Seats

Benches belong in parks, not the front seat of a ride. Vintage rides often came with full-width front seats, letting you slide like a pinball with every corner. Cozy for date nights, but try making a sharp left turn without bumping the passenger. Bucket seats now say, “Stay in your lane,” literally.

Manual Roll-Up Windows

Cranking down the window on a hot day felt like arms day at the gym. Before electric windows hit mainstream cars in the 1980s, you had to work that handle for a breeze. It gave you control, but only if you had the strength. And forget doing it quickly at a toll booth.

AM-Only Radios And 8-Track Players

Back then, your in-car entertainment choices were pretty bleak. AM radio debuted in vehicles around 1930, and 8-tracks joined in the ’60s. But let’s be honest—neither delivered quality or variety. Streaming and Bluetooth now put entire libraries within easy reach. No one’s lining up to rewind tapes or scan static-filled stations.

Manual Choke Knobs

Imagine pulling a knob and hoping the engine played along. Manual choke controls were popular additions before the 1980s and made drivers adjust the air-fuel mix by feel. Too much flooded it and too little stalled it. Fuel injection finally ended that guessing game and made cold starts far less frustrating.

Vent Windows For Airflow

Small. Triangular. Swinging out just enough to tease you with air. These vent windows looked clever but offered little relief in summer and a lot of whistling at highway speeds. Modern ventilation systems made them feel more decorative than functional. That’s why they vanished as soon as A/C became standard.

Push-Button Cigarette Lighters

You know that little glowing coil meant “danger,” right? Embedded into nearly every dashboard for decades, those spring-loaded lighters screamed cool in the ’70s—then quietly faded as health concerns and child safety awareness grew. It’s a feature tied too closely to burned fingers and smoky backseats.

Lap-Only Seat Belts

Just a strap across your lap and hope for the best. That was the norm for safety for decades. Shoulder belts only became mandatory in front seats after 1968. If you ever braked hard wearing one, you know how much your rib cage hated the design. Ouch.

No Rear Seat Headrests

Backseat naps? Neck nightmare. Headrests weren’t standard in rear seats until the 1990s in many models, leaving heads to bounce around like bobbleheads. It wasn’t merely a comfort issue because whiplash injuries were far too common and often overlooked. You won’t miss that floppy-head feeling, trust us.

Floor-Mounted Dimmer Switches

The feet handled the lights while the hands did the steering. That’s how it worked up to the ’80s when stalk-mounted controls took over. Floor dimmer switches made sense when cars were simpler, but now they feel like relics from a clunkier time. Now, modern driving deserves modern headlights.