Today, April 18, is Invention Day in Japan, a remembrance of the day in 1885 when the Japanese patent system was established. The automotive world has often been on the forefront of innovation, whether its advanced stuff like carbon fiber composites or what-took-them-so-long ideas like the humble cupholder. And don’t forget the Bubble Era gimmicks like the Pulsar EXA’s swappable rear hatch. For the purposes of not stating the obvious, we’ll exclude items like engines and, you know, the wheel, unless you have a unique take on the topic.
What’s your favorite automotive invention?
The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How do you listen to audio content in your car?”
As technology has advanced older cars have required more and more convoluted workarounds to keep up. Land Ark has wired up a system of Bluetooth receivers on his older cars, Yuri installed a modern double DIN head unit on his Supra, while Jan van Kleef swaps out USB sticks.
Some of you refused to bother with those things and just made do with what the car gave you, whether it was Mike P. listening to AM radio or Lupus enjoying the concert hall experience of a Nakamichi era Lexus.
Far and away, however, the most common answer, somewhat surprisingly, was that you chose to listen to nothing at all. Chuck, Brett, MWC, BlitzPig, Long Beach Mike, MikeRL411, f31roger, and Steve all preferred the the soundtracks provided by their cars’ engines. It was hard to choose a winner, but Alan probably said it best:
I roll down the windows (manually, natch), drop down a gear or two, and pin the throttle to the carpet. Four throttles honking to 8400 rippums a few inches behind your head is a hell of a drug.
I have an elaborate, late 1990’s, JDM double-din Pioneer deck with a motorized face and CD/cassette but that’s just for show. AW11s don’t have much space for speakers, which is totally cool with me.
Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!
This is a hard one to pin down because I can think of three things that really have made motoring so much better and who is to say which one is more important? But since the question is for one, I’ll choose something bequeathed to us from aviation… The disc brake.
It’s something that we just take for granted these days, but I invite all of you younger readers here to seek out an older car with 4 wheel drum brakes, or even better a very much older car with totally mechanical drum brakes, and experience for yourselves the thrill ride that was drum brakes. In my position as a full time mechanic at an automobile museum that also does work on customer vehicles I have this joy on almost a daily basis.
Hence I worship at the altar of the disc brake. All the turbos, overhead cams, bazillion valve heads, and track rated suspensions in the world would be useless without the disc brake.
All hail the king of stop, for he makes all else possible.
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Popup headlights. Once invented to make (sports) cars more drag efficient, but made obsolete with the introduction of non-standard shaped headlights.
I love them go up an down with the push of a button and I just have to plan my trips to include as many tunnels as possible!
Radial tires. Some people may be nostalgic for them, but I’ve driven cars on bias-ply tires and spirited driving can be described as ‘slithering’ up the road. Not so with radial tires, which have a much stiffer carcass and while you have a rougher ride, you have so much more road feel and more direct input on the car.
The most iconic form of headlight – the popup headlight. Iconic from European to Japanese (and many a J-tin sported them), and even Americans dabbled in them. An unfortunate casualty of the never-ending chase of safety – the popup headlight pretty much became synonymous with the ’80’s.
I really like the “high roof”. The raised roof japanese manufacturers had in the 80s. A good example is the 1983 Honda city manhatten roof or the Daihatsu charade turbo. I really like the look of those cars. Also the Honda city had a cool orange –> https://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/1375390/blog/40766829/
The 5- speed manual transmission. It is a good compromise of gears even in today’s world and it allows or demands one to be interactive with the vehicle allowing a oneness of car and driver. When the art of heel and toe shifting, breaking, and throttle come together it is a beautiful dance. And with the right motor tune and exhaust system is music to the ears.
Its a tie between heated seats and rain sensing wipers. Nothing like a warm butt while driving safely in the rain.
I think for me, it’s a simpler design option called the moon roof.
I have one on my 00′ Accord and it is so, so nice. Having a slight breeze without too much road noise or wind in your face when it’s just tilted makes such a difference. I really like watching the raindrops run over it on stormy days. I think it’s a feature we don’t give enough thought to.
I submit the disc brake.
Why?
Because all the turbos, overhead camshafts, bazillion valve heads, and fuel injection in the world would be worthless if you couldn’t stop your vehicle properly.
Most drivers today take their brakes totally for granted, and why wouldn’t they? Modern brakes are a wonderment. Safe, straight, sure stops are always on tap thanks to this wonderful invention that was bequeathed to us from aviation. Those who have not experienced the darting joys of hammering a set of cold 4 wheel drum brakes should count yourselves lucky. And like me, those of us who have owned 4 drum brake equipped cars should count themselves VERY lucky.
It’s the disc brake. All day, every day.
The first that jumps immediately to mind is the steering wheel.
Having recently actually driven a 1905 Oldsmobile I can safely say that tiller steering is terrifying, even at riding lawnmower speeds and power levels.
Other things we take for granted, I’ve since discovered, include electric start, brakes that contribute an effort towards braking, conventional H-pattern gearboxes, auto-advancing/retarding ignition, and actual, quantifiable suspension. Windshields, seat belts, tires that do not come from bicycles, doors and/or roofs are also quite underrated.
My favorite automotive invention of all, though, has to be the reliable, affordable, practical, usable, durable Japanese vehicle as we’ve known it for the past four decades or so. That this unmatched group of attributes often also includes others like fun-to-drive, powerful, luxurious, technically advanced, or high performance (both on and off-road) just adds to the endless appeal of Japanese cars.
I cannot drive, work on or own enough. I will never be satisfied.
PS thanks for the award!
For me, it’s a simpler customization. The moon roof. I use mine on my 00′ Accord so much. It’s really nice. If I just want a slight breeze or to hear road noise, I can tilt the window and boom.
I also really enjoy watching it rain on the roof. It gives a really cool vibe.
Having recently actually driven a 1905 Oldsmobile I can safely say that tiller steering is terrifying, even at riding lawnmower speeds and power levels.
Other things we take for granted, I’ve since discovered, include electric start, brakes that contribute an effort towards braking, conventional H-pattern gearboxes, auto-advancing/retarding ignition, and actual, quantifiable suspension. Windshields, seat belts, tires that do not come from bicycles, doors and/or roofs are also quite underrated.
My favorite automotive invention of all, though, has to be the reliable, affordable, practical, usable, durable Japanese vehicle as we’ve known it for the past four decades or so. That this unmatched group of attributes often also includes others like fun-to-drive, powerful, luxurious, technically advanced, or high performance (both on and off-road) just adds to the endless appeal of Japanese cars.
I cannot drive, work on or own enough. I will never be satisfied.
PS thanks for the award!
Blind Spot Warning systems (BSW).
As a lover of pre 90s vehicles, most of the cars I have owned do not have the safety technology that most people take for granted today. Yeah my exhaust is usually boisterous and my automotive style leans more toward flamboyant, but the type of people who settle for bland CUVs and the largest monster truck they can afford (I live in Texas) aren’t the most “road aware” people.
I guess my favorite automotive invention should fall under Heard Immunity. The masses are being nannied so that I can safely drive my old, not always correctly working, sometimes-headlights-don’t-work, non-ABS, overpowered, windshield-wipers-are-for-show, death wagon… I mean; my classic Japanese daily.
I know that some of you probably drive SUVs or other “I’m too man enough to just get a minivan for my family” vehicles, but I thank you. Even you help keep the road fun and safe for me, who chooses to drive something that is slightly more safe that a motorcycle.
With BSW technology you will always know I’m there weather you can see me or not… or even care if I’m there.
Having recently actually driven a 1905 Oldsmobile I can safely say that tiller steering is terrifying, even at riding lawnmower speeds and power levels.
Other things we take for granted, I’ve since discovered, include electric start, brakes that contribute an effort towards braking, conventional H-pattern gearboxes, auto-advancing/retarding ignition, and actual, quantifiable suspension. Windshields, seat belts, tires that do not come from bicycles, doors and/or roofs are also quite underrated.
My favorite automotive invention of all, though, has to be the reliable, affordable, practical, usable, durable Japanese vehicle as we’ve known it for the past four decades or so. That this unmatched group of attributes often also includes others like fun-to-drive, powerful, luxurious, technically advanced, or high performance (both on and off-road) just adds to the endless appeal of Japanese cars.
I cannot drive, work on or own enough. I will never be satisfied.
PS thanks for the award!
Power Steering would be my pick. 235/50’s without Power Steering becomes an exercise & ultimately practicality. PS systems have come a long way from the 60’s. Call it a concession to purity. I’m ok with it. I’ll drive it more.