Metal DashboardsWhen you think of classic cars, you may picture rugged straightforward designs... and metal, lots of metal. In the early days of automotive manufacturing, dashboards were made of steel or aluminum, which is almost unthinkable given all the safety regulations today.These metal dashboards exuded a raw, industrial charm when compared to today's soft plastic, vinyl dashboards. On metal dashboards, you would find knobs and switches that controlled the lights, wipers, and ventilation. Analog gauges delivered a more tactile feel, letting one experience the essence of the car.Automakers eventually shifted to softer materials, given that metal dashboards don't mix well with accidents. Who would've thought? Metal dashboards also absorb a lot of heat during the summer and turn icy in winter, so insulating became a priority in newer makes. Plus, dealing with vibrations and noise from the road and engine made for prioritizing comfort and quietness in modern cars. While metal dashboards in classic cars were common, safety, comfort, and technological advancements led to them being phased out.Ashtrays and LightersSmoking was commonplace back in the day, even on airplanes. So it shouldn't be much of a surprise that ashtrays and lighters were as common as cupholders in classic cars, too. In the dashboard console, you could find a lighter plug that, if you pushed in, would heat up coils which could then be used to light the end of a cigarette. You would find ashtrays built into the dashboard, the back of the front seat, or the doors. But in the early 90s, health organizations raised awareness about smoking and secondhand smoke, so laws and regulations restricted smoking in enclosed spaces, including cars. This led to automakers phasing out cigarette lighters and ashtrays. Nowadays, instead of cigarette lighters, we've got 12V power outlets for charging devices. And instead of ashtrays, modern cars have cupholders, storage, and wireless charging pads for smartphones. For classic car enthusiasts who get into restoration, having these features is important to maintaining their authenticity, reflective of a time when smoking in the car was the norm. For everyone else, a pocket ashtray is probably a smoker's best bet.Manual Window CranksMuch of what is seen as a huge inconvenience these days involves manual effort — Like getting up from the couch to change the channel. Can you imagine having to manually turn a window crank to roll up or down your car window? People must have had more upper body strength back then. I can imagine the words of encouragement, "Put your back into it!"The manual window crank was considered an upgrade compared to windows that folded down. The introduction of the window crank became a standard feature, and it was pretty straightforward and reliable — it only needed a gear and rotary mechanism inside the door panel.It wasn't until the mid-90s that manual-cranked windows were shown the door, and powered windows became the norm. Power windows got rid of the need for extra handles and instead made it possible to roll windows up or down at the touch of a button. Although manual window cranks can't be found in modern vehicles, they bring back nostalgia for the durable nature of classic car features.