Classic Car Ads: Safety | The Daily Drive | Consumer Guide® The Daily Drive

I haven’t heard much about how “safety sells” in recent years. Automotively, we’ve moved on from safety—in general terms—to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). ADAS systems include things like blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, and lane-keep assist. Really, stuff we should all be pretty good at by now—without help.

But before the technological ramp-up to the autonomous-car era–which we are now in—safety was a bigger deal. Consider that, for the first half of the automotive era, most cars were equipped only with drum brakes, which were much less effective than disc brakes, and suffered diminished performance when things got wet.

Tires commonly suffered “blowouts,” and there was no such thing as rollover protection. As a reminder of the safety features we now take for granted, we have collected a number of vintage car ads. Peruse them at your leisure, and tell us what you think about vintage safety systems.

Classic Car Ads: Safety

Libbey-Ownes-Ford (1934)

Car Safety for Kids, 1950s Style: Put ’Em in a Harness and Give ’Em a Gun!

1939 Hudson

Dogs in Cars: How Best to Keep Your Pup Safe

1947 Plymouth

Tech Trouble: Surprising Number Of Drivers Confused By Auto Safety Features

1949 Plymouth

Before There Were Child Seats . . .

1956 General Motors

Forgotten Concept: Volvo VESC

1973 Volvo

Just Take the Bus: Three Idiotic Things Truly Dangerous Drivers Do

1979 Volvo

Driven to Distraction: Part 1

JJD Twin Tyres (1986)

Extra Credit: Consumer Guide Goes to Teen Defensive-Driving School

1992 Toyota Previa

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Classic Car Ads: Safety

Car Safety for Kids, 1950s Style: Put ’Em in a Harness and Give ’Em a Gun!

Classic Car Ads: Safety

Car Stuff Podcast