Guest shadetree77 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 I can now see why people collect vintage car accessories. I run across them on EBAY all the time. Is there anything that wasn't thought of back then? I've seen everything from an automatic cigarette dispenser that dispenses LIT cigarettes to a plug-in electric shaver. Now I've come across this unique item. It mounts in the trunk. You then drill a hole in the wheel well right above your tires. When you hit the switch up front, it pours sand onto your tires through tubes for traction in the snow. I don't know how well it would work but man, that's a cool idea in theory. Anyone else have some pictures of crazy vintage accessories? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Walling Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Tire sanders were very common on tractor trailers in the 50's. There was a container with two down spouts that directed the sand to just in front of the tires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 (edited) Most GM carlines offered this gadget as a factory authorized option in 1969-70; I know for sure Chevrolet and Pontiac. The GM version used a spray can of "AC Liquid Tire Chain" that was mounted upside down in brackets in the trunk, over the rear wheelhouses. Pushing the system's button sprayed this sticky chemical onto the rear tires and supposedly would give enough traction to get you going. The cans operated a lot like a cheese can or Reddi-Wip can- bend the nozzle and you get product.From current ebay listings: liquid tire chain in Parts & Accessories | eBay though I can't imagine why some of these sellers are targeting their ads to COPO owners- I guess they're going after the guys who have to have every option available.Apparently not a popular option as it lasted only two years. I've read that the goo itself was some pretty nasty stuff. Edited January 17, 2013 by rocketraider (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex98thdrill Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 If you want to see a car with a ton of accessories, check out Ron Green's Pontiac. I've judged that car before and that car will make you stir crazy with all of the accessories that are on it.Ironically Ron has the documentation to prove that every one of them are correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 I had this "SAND-SPREADER" accessory - It had been installed, probably as an authorized accessory, by the dealer, on my 1954 Mercury convertible.It worked very well in the New Jersey winters in 1961 and 1962.I reccommended it to my friends who also installed a couple of them.There was a container in the trunk ahead of each rear wheel well which held a good-sized sand bag. pulling the lever attached to the steering column released sand just ahead of each rear wheel. Very simple and effective! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Yaros Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Most GM carlines offered this gadget as a factory authorized option in 1969-70; The GM version used a spray can of "AC Liquid Tire Chain" that was mounted upside down in brackets in the trunk, over the rear wheelhouses. Pushing the system's button sprayed this sticky chemical onto the rear tires and supposedly would give enough traction to get you going. The cans operated a lot like a cheese can or Reddi-Wip can- bend the nozzle and you get product.Hmm, the directions say to "shake can well before using"? Kind of hard to do after can is mounted in holder, in trunk, is it not? I wonder how well it sprayed in cold weather?I was alive and aware back in that era, and have no recollection of this stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Dave, that's probably a big reason the option never really took off! Sand spreaders OTOH, simple and effective long as the sand didn't get wet and clump up. I remember my folks putting sandbags in the trunks of their cars in winter weather, and they got where they needed to go with the weight of the sandbags and studded snow tires.We had four inches of snow here last night and half of what I saw in the ditch this morning were 4WD SUVs, including one big Nissan Armada that passes me like a bat out of hell every morning. Roads were mostly clear but with overnight temps around 29 degrees, black ice everywhere. Sure 'nough the Nissan passed me and walked away, as usual running about 70 in a 55 when most traffic was running 35-40. Three miles down the road, there it sat in a freshly plowed field stuck up to the axles, because we have also had five inches of rain this week and the ground is completely rotten.And I saw absolutely no use in offering my 4WD F150 to help pull it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Texas Old Car Guy Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Sure 'nough the Nissan passed me and walked away, as usual running about 70 in a 55 when most traffic was running 35-40. Three miles down the road, there it sat in a freshly plowed field stuck up to the axles, because we have also had five inches of rain this week and the ground is completely rotten.And I saw absolutely no use in offering my 4WD F150 to help pull it out.Glenn: As my dear old Dad used to say, "Time wounds all heels." Your lack of help to the "poor" Nissan guy stuck in the field reminds me of one of my pet peeves - idiots who see that the road up ahead is blocked and even though the warning sign says "Lane Closed Ahead 500 feet - Merge Right", they continue up the inside lane trying to get ahead of everyone else who is patiently waiting in the right lane . . . I love 18 wheelers who purposely straddle the line to block their passage. :mad: And don't you just love it when a kid in a Corvette or Dodge Viper zooms past you and when you top the next hill a State Trooper has him pulled over to the side? Here in Texas they just opened a new tollway in late October running along the eastern side of Austin with the legal posted speed limit of 85 mph - and of course everyone drives 10 mph over the limit. At 85 you can feel the tires literally "floating" on the road even on dry pavement!Now add another element to the situation - packs of feral (wild) hogs crossing the toll road! Can you imagine what kind of damage it does to your "totaled car" when you hit a 300 pound feral hog going 85 mph? Sort of like running into a refrigerator!!! Check out this news video about the first day the new toll road opened and four cars hit feral hogs:Drivers hit wild hogs on SH 130 | KXAN.comThe day before the toll road opened the state wanted to test the reliability of their "toll tag cameras" and had a company bring in a 1,226 horsepower Cadillac CTV-S Coupe. With the toll way obviously unihabited since it was going to open the following day, the Caddy ran 220.5 mph with State Troopers supervising the run. Here's a cool video of the 220 mph trip - notice how fast the striped lines are coming at you at that speed. Hennessey Tests the Limits of Texas Toll RoadFred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 If you want to see a car with a ton of accessories, check out Ron Green's Pontiac. I've judged that car before and that car will make you stir crazy with all of the accessories that are on it.Ironically Ron has the documentation to prove that every one of them are correct.hi, how do you check out ron green's pontiac ?, i thought my 1953 pontiac chieftain custom catalina had more options and accessories than any other pontiac. charles coker, 1953 pontiac tech advisor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Your lack of help to the "poor" Nissan guy stuck in the field reminds me of one of my pet peeves - idiots who see that the road up ahead is blocked and even though the warning sign says "Lane Closed Ahead 500 feet - Merge Right", they continue up the inside lane trying to get ahead of everyone else who is patiently waiting in the right lane . . . I love 18 wheelers who purposely straddle the line to block their passage. :mad:In Ohio and many other states (these images are from Colorado) you'll find signs like this before construction zones:Ohio does this routinely. I wish every state did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 In Ohio and many other states (these images are from Colorado) you'll find signs like this before construction zones:[ATTACH=CONFIG]173320[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]173321[/ATTACH]Ohio does this routinely. I wish every state did.Life would be simpler if more states would do this!More people should be doing this instead of causing traffic to back up twice the length down the highway! Of course that would mean having to actually take turns! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Green Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 hi, how do you check out ron green's pontiac ?, i thought my 1953 pontiac chieftain custom catalina had more options and accessories than any other pontiac. charles coker, 1953 pontiac tech advisor.Hi Charles,Been crazy busy and haven’t been posting here for a while. My 55 Custom Catalina has 51 out of a possible 62 factory options and accessories. A few of the oddballs; Thermaster refrigerator, Thermaster hot/cold liquid jug, rear window defogger, ladies purse holder, Remington auto/home shaver, autronic eye, compass, etc. Paul Decker has one similar to mine however it was a dealers wife’s car and has a few more goodies.A few of the awards are; POCI gold (3 times), AACA grand national senior (4 times), Amelia Island Concours and Greenwich Concours (1st in class), featured on My Classic Car with Dennis Gage. Vehicle currently is on loan to the America on Wheels Museum in Allentown PA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweepspear Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Tire sanders were very common on tractor trailers in the 50's. There was a container with two down spouts that directed the sand to just in front of the tires.I see them on many Fire trucks in my area even today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 (edited) Hi Charles,Been crazy busy and haven’t been posting here for a while. My 55 Custom Catalina has 51 out of a possible 62 factory options and accessories. A few of the oddballs; Thermaster refrigerator, Thermaster hot/cold liquid jug, rear window defogger, ladies purse holder, Remington auto/home shaver, autronic eye, compass, etc. Paul Decker has one similar to mine however it was a dealers wife’s car and has a few more goodies.A few of the awards are; POCI gold (3 times), AACA grand national senior (4 times), Amelia Island Concours and Greenwich Concours (1st in class), featured on My Classic Car with Dennis Gage. Vehicle currently is on loan to the America on Wheels Museum in Allentown PA. well let's seepowerpack four barrel 287 V8 200hpdual range hydra-maticpower steeringpower brakespower antennapower windowspower seat six wayautronic eyeunderseat heater & defrosterradiofront & rear speakersturn signalsdual back up lampslarge rear-view mirrorrear fender panelsexhaust deflectorfuel door guardilluminated hood ornamentwindshield sun visortraffic light viewerwindshield washerdual spotlights with mirrorsfoglightsvisor vanity mirrorsglovebox lamptrunk lampdual underhood lampsash tray & floor lamphand brake signalgrille guardfront wing guardrear wing guarde-z-eye glasselectric clockwire wheel wheelcoverssafti-jackoil bath air cleanerwhite sidewall tires19 plate batteryoversize tireshand spotlampcatalina venti-shadesdraft deflectorsrear window wipertissue dispensermagnatrayfuel door lockilluminated car compasscolor tiponfactory in dash air conditioningrear trunk air conditioningfloor matsinstrument panel courtesy lightsrear courtesy lightsrear floor courtesy lightsdoor edge guardsdoor handle guardsinsect screenlicense plate framepurse hangerpontiac undercoatingrear window wipercontinential kitR11 overdrive will be installed to the dual range hydra-matici think that's 64 options & accessories.i know that my list goes beyond 1953 and into 1954,55, and 56i think that should be all of them. charles coker, 1953 pontiac tech advisor. Edited January 21, 2013 by pontiac1953 added (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Life would be simpler if more states would do this!More people should be doing this instead of causing traffic to back up twice the length down the highway! Of course that would mean having to actually take turns!You always have to take turns, it's just a matter of where. Better right in front of the construction than 2-3 miles away from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Green Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 well let's seepowerpack four barrel 287 V8 200hpdual range hydra-maticpower steeringpower brakespower antennapower windowspower seat six wayautronic eyeunderseat heater & defrosterradiofront & rear speakersturn signalsdual back up lampslarge rear-view mirrorrear fender panelsexhaust deflectorfuel door guardilluminated hood ornamentwindshield sun visortraffic light viewerwindshield washerdual spotlights with mirrorsfoglightsvisor vanity mirrorsglovebox lamptrunk lampdual underhood lampsash tray & floor lamphand brake signalgrille guardfront wing guardrear wing guarde-z-eye glasselectric clockwire wheel wheelcoverssafti-jackoil bath air cleanerwhite sidewall tires19 plate batteryoversize tireshand spotlampcatalina venti-shadesdraft deflectorsrear window wipertissue dispensermagnatrayfuel door lockilluminated car compasscolor tiponfactory in dash air conditioningrear trunk air conditioningfloor matsinstrument panel courtesy lightsrear courtesy lightsrear floor courtesy lightsdoor edge guardsdoor handle guardsinsect screenlicense plate framepurse hangerpontiac undercoatingrear window wipercontinential kitR11 overdrive will be installed to the dual range hydra-matici think that's 64 options & accessories.i know that my list goes beyond 1953 and into 1954,55, and 56i think that should be all of them. charles coker, 1953 pontiac tech advisor.You win. My 55’s accessories and options are all correct for the year and model. Certain accessories like the deluxe steering wheel, stainless fender skirts, etc were not available on the lower end Chieftain series. The traffic light viewer (not offered separately) and visor were a packaged unit (I have NOS in the box set-up) thus one accessory as the viewer was not needed without the visor. A 6-way power seat wasn’t available until 1956 and dual spotlights were not available for 55. 1955 was the first year the 287 V8 was offered.I have been looking for the following correct for 1955 accessories: radiator insect screen, exterior extremely large 3 piece bumper mounted insect screen and the umbrella (4 styles offered). My vehicle has the umbrella holder however the umbrella is missing. Willing to pay top $ for any of these items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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