1956 Powell Brothers Sport Wagon with pull out drawers for fishing rods and rifles.

 

Back in the day, stuff was designed so practically. I’m not from “back in the day” unless you include the 90s, but I’ve seen so many pictures and old advertisements of such practical features that things cars, appliances, and furniture came with. You don’t see it today.
 

Stuff today is about how much redundant technology that nobody asked for can be crammed into a new product. I just bought a new truck, and all of the damned bells and whistles it came with and none of them really do much besides make noise and light up at you. I don’t need a single one of them. Thank god for the cup holders I guess. At this point it’s the only car feature from back in the day that is still put into new cars. 

That is really cool. Thanks for sharing.. 👍

@Swamp Girl - that’s not yours, is it? Your canoe would look great on top.
 

We have a 1968 Buick GS400 convertible. When we brought it home, our daughter climbed around it and said, “Dad, there’s nothing in it.” She was amazed that everything was manual and it has ashtrays in the back. @Jar11591, no, our ‘68 doesn’t have cup holders 😏.

 

She’s a true Jeep girl. Her Jeep has to have manual transmission and ‘rollie’ windows. She’ll drive our Buick with me, but won’t take it out by herself. Kat’s commented that I can’t EVER sell the Buick: It’s the only thing she wants from our estate….. 

 

Yeah, they don’t make them like they used to …

2 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Stuff today is about how much redundant technology that nobody asked for can be crammed into a new product. I just bought a new truck, and all of the damned bells and whistles it came with and none of them really do much besides make noise and light up at you. I don’t need a single one of them. Thank god for the cup holders I guess. At this point it’s the only car feature from back in the day that is still put into new cars. 

I love the new technology in today’s cars. Back up cameras, GPS, Car Play so I can play my music without listening to commercials. Not to mention tire pressure sensors, oil life monitoring, keyless entry, and push button starting. Old cars were nearly done if they reached 100,000 miles, now they last twice as long. They get better mileage and start every time. The aluminum body on my current truck won’t rust out like my last truck did. I don’t miss anything about any of the old vehicles I’ve driven over the last 50 years. 

Fun Fact

 

A friend of mine was showing me an old Packard from the 50s he was restoring.  He said when they were sold new both the radio and the automatic transmission were optional add ons.  The single speaker AM radio option cost more than the automatic transmission option.

I have a 1964 new (american) car price guide that includes both retail and dealer prices. Every option available for every car is a blast to see. Most cars had a minimum of 4 engines available, 3 transmissions and rearend ratios, etc. I used to "build" my cars fully loaded, stripped for drag racing, or somewhere in-between. It even would tell you how much credit you would get for heater or radio delete, etc. I remember building a convertible Corvette with everything and it had a msrp of a littlr over $5500........dang.

9 hours ago, Scott F said:

Back up cameras, GPS, Car Play so I can play my music without listening to commercials. Not to mention tire pressure sensors, oil life monitoring, keyless entry, and push button starting. Old cars were nearly done if they reached 100,000 miles, now they last twice as long.

 

Yes, I agree that new cars and their technology are 'cool'.  Do you work on them?  Jeep wanted $700 to change the spark plugs in ‘boss-lady’s’ '18 Wrangler.  The intake manifold has to come off to get to the driver's side plugs.  It took me less time to pull the motor/transmission out of my '68 Buick GS.

 

I also agree that until the late '80s or early '90s, you weren't getting much more than 100K and many folks can't do their own repair work.  I'm lucky, I can, and do.

 

I also had most of a friend's '24 Tundra apart.  The build quality is good, but I'd call it 'delicate', meaning it's very easy to break the 'small parts' that holds much of the truck together.

 

My neighbor's '23 Silverado's motor was just replaced under warranty. I could go on and on...

 

I've worked on cars & trucks since the '80s and believe today's cars are built for planned obsolescence - no more than 7/8 years or 150K miles at best.  The best were Japanese cars from the latter '90's through mid 2k's, at least for reliability and not needing a computer to fix them.

My "sport wagon" holds 12 rods comfortably.  

I would trade the wife’s Explorer for that thing in a heartbeat!!!

2 hours ago, ElGuapo928 said:

I would trade the wife’s Explorer for that thing in a heartbeat!!!

 

I love it too. 

 

Two weird things about this wagon:

 

It was made from a repurposed old vehicle.

 

It was perhaps the first cross-over ever made.

 

https://www.makesthatdidntmakeit.com/powell

I upgrade my vehicles when they start to cost more to maintain than they are worth, OR……when there are new features that are a “must have”. My 2004 truck made it to 175k when I decided I needed a new tow vehicle in 2016.  My 2016 is currently at 108k.  There are a few things I like in the new trucks like the baby Duramax and some trailering monitors and cameras.  I had my truck into the dealership for a state inspection and I mentioned to the service guy how I was tempted with the new models and he looked at me and shook his head no.  Told me the more they add, the more there is to malfunction and the new trucks are so loaded with electronics, they can cost a fortune to repair. No more DIY driveway mechanics.  I bought my 2016 as my “last” truck but if I keep stacking up the miles, I may need to reevaluate. 😉

@Swamp Girl, Powell also made a pickup truck with that same feature. Tried to post a picture but I guess it was too large. It’s pretty sweet.

 

I’ve got a 2018 Toyota Tacoma, absolutely great truck. I love the new technology in these new vehicles but I’d much rather have either my old ‘72 Ford F-100 with a 300 six cylinder or my ‘70 Chevy C-10 with a 250 six banger.

On 9/13/2025 at 10:18 AM, Scott F said:

Old cars were nearly done if they reached 100,000 miles, now they last twice as long.

I disagree.. I had a 1957 Rambler American that went 196000 miles with nothing but maintenance work (brakes, clutch, oil, shocks, etc.). Had a 99 cubic inch six with 3 on the tree. Rusted frame finally killed it. 1962 Chevy Wagon---186000 miles with nothing but maintenance. V8 (327?) auto. Again, frame rust killed it. 1966 Chevy Impala Convertible. 327, hurst 4 speed, Bought used with 125,000 on it, and drove it to 175,000 and sold it. It was still on the road and driven daily 3 years later with over 200000 miles (in Florida). 1968 Buick Riviera. Bought brand new (well, actually a dealer demo with 200 miles on it when I bought it). 455 cu, 400 hp, 3 speed auto with overdrive, and every possible bell and whistle available at that time. I keep that till it had 173,000 miles on it. It was still in almost showroom condition (again, in Florida) when I got rid of it. The problem was it got 9 miles to the gallon in town, and 14mpg on the highway, and ran on nothing but leaded high test or unleaded high test with "instead of lead" additive. I loved that car, and should have kept it, but it cost me more in gas than I could afford at the time. Other examples....my father had a 58 chevy Biscayne Wagon that went 218,000 miles. A 68 Chevy Wagon that went 175000 or so. A 76 Chevy Wagon that got 180,000.  All it took was regular maintenance to keep all those on the road that long. 

We’ve been looking for me a new truck, and it’s not going well.
 

I would like to know whom in the auto industry decided to dig out the relics from the 70’s “Brougham” epidemic and apply it to pickup trucks. I don’t really need “rich Corinthian leather” or all the tech gadgets….I just want something that runs reliably and can safely/efficiently tow my boat, preferably without being towed to a dealership every couple of months. Apparently that’s a big ask in 2025. 

 

3 hours ago, ElGuapo928 said:

I just want something that runs reliably and can safely/efficiently tow my boat, preferably without being towed to a dealership every couple of months.

 

At this point I'd say go find a Tundra with the 5.7L or an OLDER Silverado.  I haven't kept up with Fords, maybe if you can find one with a V8?

 

Best of luck.

 

8 hours ago, Kirtley Howe said:

The problem was it got 9 miles to the gallon in town, and 14mpg on the highway

 

I think that's better than my '68 GS400, which is a 10.25:1 compression motor.   My idea of gas mileage with it is FULL or EMPTY.  And if memory serves me right, Buick didn't offer the 455 until '70.  Did your Riv have a 430?

1 hour ago, DogBone_384 said:

 

At this point I'd say go find a Tundra with the 5.7L or an OLDER Silverado.  I haven't kept up with Fords, maybe if you can find one with a V8?

 

Best of luck.

 

 

I think that's better than my '68 GS400, which is a 10.25:1 compression motor.   My idea of gas mileage with it is FULL or EMPTY.  And if memory serves me right, Buick didn't offer the 455 until '70.  Did your Riv have a 430?

You are correct. My bad. All I know is it had more than enough power and got bad gas milage. It was a very powerful and smooth motor. That car ran like stink in a straight line but was pretty much a bathtub on wheels in corners. It was unbelievable comfortable to ride in.

43 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

That car ran like stink in a straight line but was pretty much a bathtub on wheels in corners

Most of them were. Our GS is 440+ lb/ft torque and has manual drum brakes. Kind of scary.

 

It handles pretty good for its age. I upgraded the suspension with performance springs, bigger sway bars & urethane bushings.

14 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

 

At this point I'd say go find a Tundra with the 5.7L or an OLDER Silverado.  I haven't kept up with Fords, maybe if you can find one with a V8?

 

Best of luck.

I’m trying to convince my wife that it’s far more economical/rational to just go through my ‘96 GMC than take on something new. All it really needs is cosmetic - Vortec 350 and 5 speed manual should outlast pretty much everything made today.