Hooniverse Asks- What’a the Coolest Antiquated Automotive Term?

Robert Emslie

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1940Dodg9e

Think about the use of the phrase dial a phone number. Or, relatedly, the dial tone. The simple fact of the matter is that for the most, part phones haven’t had dials for decades, and an entire generation has grown up possibly never seeing one outside of an old movie. 

The world’s automotive lexicon is also filled with obsolete – or soon to be – terms, and names for things we simply no longer use any more. Curb feelers? Sealed Beams? Whitewalls? Do any of these mean anything to you? Hello? Bueller, Bueller. . . Well, of course they mean something to you, after all you’re Hoons, and some of you probably own or have intimate knowledge of cars or trucks that possess one or more of these antiquated features. 

But for many, these – and even things that are still as seemingly commonplace as window winders and clutch pedals – will soon have no meaning for a new generation of drivers. That of course doesn’t mean that there haven’t been some cool brand and common names for automotive features. Dual-quad, Positraction. . . lake pipes, these are all vestiges of an automotive past that is sorely fading from the collective knowledge bank. Since we are all keepers of the flame, and probably the most apt to remember, what do you think is the coolest antiquated automotive term?

Image source: Illinois AACA 

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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129 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- What’a the Coolest Antiquated Automotive Term?”

  1. Don Avatar
    Don

    Using the term "garage" for a dealership., When I had a Buick-Pontiac-GMC store (that had been at the location for years) the locals all referred to it as "The Buick Garage". Always thought that was pretty cool.

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      My dad always referred to his job as "the Garage." Never "work", never "the dealership".

      Reply
    2. Impalamino Avatar
      Impalamino

      In all my dealings with dealerships, including as an employee, the insider term has always been "store."
      "Head on over to the Acura store, get us some oil filters."
      "I used to work for the BMW store, then I moved across the street to the Infiniti store."

      Reply
  2. Modeleccentric Avatar
    Modeleccentric

    Here's a few: Choke, Prime, Flood, Double Clutch ….oooooSix Volt…Maybe not so much a term as a system..

    Reply
  3. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    I'm pretty sure you haven't been able to buy a pickup truck with a "granny gear" for at least 20 years.

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      Nope. Now it's called the "differently abled" gear.

      Reply
    2. Impalamino Avatar
      Impalamino

      My '04 Silverado 2500HD with an NV4500 5-speed does indeed have a "granny" first gear—even the owner's manual recommends starting out in 2nd gear. In 4WD, 4LO + 1st gear = SUPER GRANNY!
      I agree that nothing on today's market has a granny low.

      Reply
    3. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
      BlackIce_GTS

      How about 'bull gear'? Same idea, but it came from when gearboxes were newfangled wizardry.
      To pull a heavily loaded wagon up the ramp from a loading dock, they'd hook up an extra-beefy bull.
      Or so the legend goes.

      Reply
    4. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
      C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

      Elderly gear.

      Reply
    5. Mister X Avatar
      Mister X

      While my new 1990 Honda Civic S 5 door 4WD wasn't a pickup truck, it did indeed have a "granny low gear" within it's six speed transmission.

      Reply
  4. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    Fill 'er up?
    <img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5jeioZlXN1qj5efm.jpg"width="500"/&gt;

    Reply
    1. Target29 Avatar
      Target29

      I was corrected many times on my recent trip down-under (NZ and Australia) for saying "better get some Gas". They thought the rental ran on propane when I said that.
      "Petrol up" just doesn't sound right.

      Reply
      1. $kaycog Avatar
        $kaycog

        They do talk differently down there. Lovely places and lovely people.

        Reply
        1. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
          C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

          I will live in either Oz or New Zed, someday.
          The month my wife and I spent there was nowhere NEAR long enough.
          Plus, I want a V8 ute.

          Reply
          1. $kaycog Avatar
            $kaycog

            I think I could easily live in New Zealand. Yeah……….one way to get a Ute.

  5. tintedchrome Avatar
    tintedchrome

    "Turn Signals" seems to have faded from the collective knowledge..

    Reply
  6. JayP2112 Avatar
    JayP2112

    Going away soon- Gas pedal.

    Reply
  7. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    Jetting the carb. It always sounds cool. Now them new-fangled computers do all the work fer ya.

    Reply
  8. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    Riding in the "way back" of the wagon.
    <img src="http://cache0.bigcartel.com/product_images/37235612/SALACUSE16AlienSkinWEB.jpg&quot; width=500>

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      What a perfect photo!

      Reply
    2. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      In a car, I get seriously motion sick if I'm not facing forward with a good view out of the front, so I've come to call this the "vomit bench."

      Reply
      1. OA5599 Avatar
        OA5599

        Bench? That implies having parents frivolous enough to spring for a third row, and then *gasp* actually using it. No, the proper way to ride in the way back is to sit directly on the floor. More room to play that way.
        <img src="http://modernkiddo.com/images/stationwagon_back.jpg&quot; width="500">
        EDIT: I just noticed the boy in the original picture is indeed using a side-facing seat. I can't tell about the girl, who appears to be facing rearward. Here is another pic to replace the first one.
        <img src="http://daddytypes.com/archive/station_wagon_living_play.jpg&quot; width=500>

        Reply
        1. P161911 Avatar
          P161911

          Plenty of room for the baby to sleep. I think that would get your arrested today.

          Reply
          1. TurboBrick Avatar
            TurboBrick

            Now that car would be a moving jackpot for a Texas DPS trooper right there. Car seats are required by law for kids until they turn 9, and then it's just the usual mandatory seat belt thing. Which I believe is for every passenger under 15 the driver is responsible for. So in the above picture, mom gets one ticket and pop gets four.

          2. P161911 Avatar
            P161911

            Mom and Pop MIGHT have their lap belts on. Who am I kidding, of course they don't!

    3. pj134 Avatar
      pj134

      The E350 still has them though, they're not dead yet. That and I guess the Tesla counts too.

      Reply
    4. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      <img src="http://pattersonscritiques.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/the-way-way-back-poster1.jpg&quot; width=500>
      It might be coming back, if Oscar-winner and part-time fictional Dean, Jim Rash, has anything to say about it.

      Reply
  9. buzzboy7 Avatar
    buzzboy7

    Trafficators
    <img src="http://www.fototime.com/AB452197F3105D8/standard.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. Impalamino Avatar
      Impalamino

      a.k.a. "semaphores"

      Reply
  10. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    With child car seats now in use up to what seems like almost driving age and rear seat video entertainment systems, the kids fighting over "shotgun" might be going away soon.
    <img src="http://www.imfdb.org/images/thumb/4/41/Stagecoach-shotgun.jpg/450px-Stagecoach-shotgun.jpg"width=400&gt;

    Reply
    1. topdeadcentre Avatar
      topdeadcentre

      High-school age kids will keep the tradition alive…

      Reply
  11. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    I'm quite fond of OverDrive, but in the age of baker's dozen-speed gearboxes, it's not the most common term anymore.

    Reply
  12. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    Manual Transmission. How quaint.

    Reply
    1. citroen67 Avatar
      citroen67

      It is actually quite amazing that the manual trans has made such an interesting transformation. I never thought I'd see the day when a rattly little late model econo-box comes standard with an auto trans, and a high-end luxury coupe would be the one to have the now coveted third pedal. Total mind-asplode!

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        And the manual costs the same as the automatic and maybe in a couple of cases the manual has cost MORE than the automatic (some years C5 Corvettes)

        Reply
    2. smalleyxb122 Avatar
      smalleyxb122

      The term manual transmission isn't antiquated, but referring to them as "standard" transmissions might soon be, if it isn't already.

      Reply
  13. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    With six, seven, eight, and nine speed automatics the term "overdrive" seems to be going away. I know it is a technical term, but I still remember the first car we had with a 4-speed automatic. I believe it had 1 2 D and D with a circle around it.
    For that matter, Three- speed, Four-speed, and Five-speed seem to be going away. I don't think there is a car sold in the US with a 5-speed manual and maybe only a couple of trucks. Three-speeds and Four-Speeds have been gone for years. Wonder when the last 3 speed and 4 speeds were?

    Reply
    1. austinminiman Avatar
      austinminiman

      Fiat 500 has a 5-speed. The European model has a 6, but due to the space necessitated by a US crumple zone, they couldn't fit in the 6th gear for the US.

      Reply
      1. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
        BlackIce_GTS

        That is some killer minutia. I am going to bring that up every time I see one.

        Reply
    2. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      I think that plenty of the cars at the low end of the market still pack 5-speeds into their manuals, even if their automatic counterparts have moved onto 6 speeds.
      Some quick googling indicates at least the following well-known, volume cars:
      – Ford Focus and Fiesta (non-ST versions)
      – Chevy Sonic (1.8L only) and Chevy Spark
      – Honda Civic (all but Si) and Fit

      Reply
      1. Synchromesh Avatar
        Synchromesh

        Subaru still makes 5-speeds. My '12 WRX has a 5-speed while STi has a 6-speed. Base Impreza has a 5-speed as well.

        Reply
        1. I Think Not Avatar
          I Think Not

          Funny you're called synchromesh and mention WRXes.
          My 2002 WRX, with its 5-speed milled from a solid block of 3-month old, pre-chewed Bubble-Yum, had no synchros left on first and second gear when I sold it with ~130k.

          Reply
        2. JayP2112 Avatar
          JayP2112

          Is the 5 speed faster to 60 because of the longer gears?
          I think you have to shift in the 6 speed before getting to 60.

          Reply
    3. jeepjeff Avatar
      jeepjeff

      Jeeps were getting 3 speeds into the 21st Century. I know TJs came with them until 2002. That 3 speed auto got replaced with a 4 speed that only got retired a couple years ago. (Looks like it was used until 2012 in the Dodge Ram.)

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        I was referring to the stick shift versions mainly. There was a time 4-speed and later 5-speed was synonymous with manual transmission.

        Reply
    4. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      The first-gen Nissan Versa came with a 6-speed if you opted for the manual. Inexplicably, the current gen is back to a 5-speed.

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        Maybe they are taking their cue from Oldsmobile. I know in the late 1970s the Cutlass went from a 5-speed stick to a 4-speed stick.

        Reply
  14. desolit Avatar
    desolit

    rumble seat.

    Reply
  15. austinminiman Avatar
    austinminiman

    Bias-Ply: Someone who is unreasonably opinionated regarding toilet paper.

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      Hey! When did you show up here?

      Reply
      1. pj134 Avatar
        pj134

        He ducks in and out sometimes.

        Reply
  16. TurboBrick Avatar
    TurboBrick

    Flame trap, also known as "temporary repair bill inflation / resale value deflation device".

    Reply
  17. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    <img src="http://clunkbucket.com/wp-content/gallery/1980-kv-mini-1/img_6618.jpg"&gt;
    Grindstone drive is more than just a suburban address.

    Reply
    1. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      A version of that is alive and well on mobile railcar movers!
      http://trackmobile.com/

      Reply
    2. topdeadcentre Avatar
      topdeadcentre

      Yabba-dabba-doo!
      <img src="http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2008/10_cars/flintstones.jpg&quot; width=200>

      Reply
      1. OA5599 Avatar
        OA5599

        That's Flintstone, not grindstone.

        Reply
    3. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      Closely related – "innertube" and "tube patch".

      Reply
    4. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
      BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

      I do like the spring loaded diferencial.

      Reply
      1. mdharrell Avatar
        mdharrell

        That's for forcing together the two sides of the driven split pulley of the CVT. The only differential action is from tire slippage.

        Reply
  18. rennsport964 Avatar
    rennsport964

    Three on the tree, four on the floor.

    Reply
    1. Batshitbox Avatar
      Batshitbox

      Gear selector.

      Reply
  19. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    Retreads (or recaps).

    Reply
    1. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      Nope. Got a set on my pickup:
      http://www.treadwright.com
      They're a fantastic value and very good offroad.

      Reply
  20. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    Front bench seat. Is there a 6-passenger car, not SUV/CUV/3-row contraption, still sold in the US? The Crown Vic/Grand Ma is the last one I can think of, unless one of the earlier Maibus or Impalas had them. A front bench is available on most full size trucks, but bucket seats are more common.

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      The Impala was the last one in the US, after the Panthers went away.

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        I think the new Impala did away with the front bench.

        Reply
        1. dukeisduke Avatar
          dukeisduke

          That's true. The '13 was the last.

          Reply
          1. Stu_Rock Avatar
            Stu_Rock

            It hangs on for one more year as the '14 Impala Limited.

          2. P161911 Avatar
            P161911

            Limited, until we run out of all the old parts.

          3. P161911 Avatar
            P161911

            And according to the GM Fleet website a front bench is a $195 OPTION!

    2. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      On that note, I miss "bucket seats", and they only called them that when there were bench seats to juxtapose against.

      Reply
  21. krazykarguy Avatar
    krazykarguy

    I still use the term "tune up" to describe what I do when I perform a 30/60/90k service on a car today, although there is nothing to 'tune' on a stock version of a modern automobile any longer. You remove old parts, and replace it with newer versions of the same parts.

    Reply
  22. Modeleccentric Avatar
    Modeleccentric

    Eight track and Cassette tape players. Floor mounted Hi/Lo beam switches.

    Reply
  23. topdeadcentre Avatar
    topdeadcentre

    "Service station"

    Reply
  24. dropgate Avatar
    dropgate

    My uncle Jack always referred to the accelerator pedal as the "foot feed".

    Reply
    1. Dr. Fine Avatar
      Dr. Fine

      My grandad did too. The "foot feed" itself was an innovation, as early cars controlled the throttle with dash mounted levers.

      Reply
  25. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
    Irishzombieman☆

    Double pumper carburetor.
    <img src="http://www.holley.com/data/products/pictures/large0-76750RD.jpg&quot; width=400>

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      Also, wind wings.
      <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/classiccars/1/0/0/A/-/-/windwing.jpg&quot; width=400>

      Reply
  26. MVEilenstein Avatar
    MVEilenstein

    The oldest automotive terms can usually be found under the HOOD, just in front of the COWL and above the FIREWALL.

    Reply
    1. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      You mean the generator, or perhaps the magneto?

      Reply
    2. ptschett Avatar
      ptschett

      Or: Dashboard. Originally the vertical part of a carriage or buggy located in front of the seat to keep hoof-propelled debris out of the passenger compartment.

      Reply
      1. MVEilenstein Avatar
        MVEilenstein

        Nice one. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

        Reply
  27. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    "Road Head"
    Maybe thats's just obsolete to those of us who have been married more than 10 years.
    More seriously "crash box".

    Reply
    1. $kaycog Avatar
      $kaycog

      I think you mean "dead head"………………you know, an empty load.

      Reply
      1. Alff Avatar
        Alff

        I don't think the issue is an empty load. Maybe you mean wide load.

        Reply
  28. Stu_Rock Avatar
    Stu_Rock

    Column shifter. Even when there's not a console, designers of new vehicles seem to avoid them at all costs.
    <img src="http://image.trucktrend.com/f/41471210+w750+st0/2014-Ford-Transit-shifter.jpg&quot; width=480>

    Reply
    1. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      That's fine with me. It means when I finally get around to swapping a manual trans into my Odyssey, there's already a spot for it on the dash!

      Reply
    2. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      Sie Deutsche seem to have less of a problem with it.
      <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/cars/1/0/j/5/2/ag_10e350s_shifter.JPG&quot; width=500 /img>

      Reply
  29. joshwebster84 Avatar
    joshwebster84

    "Four on the floor" is awesome. Now only used to describe drumming.

    Reply
    1. danleym Avatar
      danleym

      It was also frequently used by my mom when I was little and leaning back in my chair. So I'm sure the phrase lives on in that regard, too.

      Reply
  30. joshwebster84 Avatar
    joshwebster84

    And T-TOPS!!! WTF happened to those???

    Reply
    1. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      Convertibles.

      Reply
    2. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      And also bigass glass roofs (panorama roofs, if you prefer).
      The Jeep Wrangler's also not far off – two removable panels, although no centre support.
      <img src="http://asset0.cbsistatic.com/cnwk.1d/sc/32108329-2-440-DT3.jpg&quot; width=500 /img>

      Reply
  31. MVEilenstein Avatar
    MVEilenstein

    I still see really old cars with Washington plates that say "Horseless Carriage" on them. Talk about antiquated; still, I like it.

    Reply
  32. Slow_Joe_Crow Avatar
    Slow_Joe_Crow

    Breaker points, plus the associated dwell meter (used to measure dwell angle) and the timing light. Also hand cranks for starting, the last example I can think of other than something mdharrell owns is a Series III Landrover which had a crank in the tool kit for emergencies.

    Reply
  33. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    I miss when everything power would have "O-Matic" shoved at the end.

    Reply
  34. Newport Pagnell Avatar
    Newport Pagnell

    In your pic…"suicide knob".

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Or "necker knob".

      Reply
  35. amhou Avatar
    amhou

    I'm a big fan of "Prop Shaft" !

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      I make a special effort to use that as much as possible, despite the confusion it evokes.

      Reply
  36. zsvdkhnorc Avatar
    zsvdkhnorc

    "Motivating" as in "motivating down the road."
    "Foot feed," too, though somebody else said it first.

    Reply
  37. NotJustDucky Avatar
    NotJustDucky

    Setting points is a pain, but "dwell meter" at least sounds cool.

    Reply
    1. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
      C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

      Yeah, I don't miss the days of setting points by 'ear' or 'feel'.
      I have both a timing light and meter in the garage, for when I get an old beast, but it was a pain if you waited too long, then it didn't want to idle worth a damn.
      A thin matchbook cover works well enough as a substitute feeler gauge, but I don't smoke, so that was a problem.
      Carried a small Allen wrench in the ashtray of my '73 Coupe de Ville, as it had an issue with the points needing adjustment every couple of months…seemingly at the worst times. At least GM gave you a metal sliding door on the distributor to access it.

      Reply
  38. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    "Glove Box" has just about everything but gloves in it.
    "Passing Lane" seems to have passed away.
    "Roll your window down" really a pre-Y2K thing.
    "Blowout" hardly happens anymore, hell, even flats are rare.

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      I still keep work gloves in the glove box of my truck, keeps the Glock from sliding around.
      Same truck has roll down windows.

      Reply
  39. Cy Nuppnow Avatar
    Cy Nuppnow

    'Hill Holder' by Studebaker.

    Reply
  40. hwyengr Avatar
    hwyengr

    Can we pick fictional antiquated terms?
    "I'm sure the manual will indicate which lever is the velocitator and which is the deceleratrix."

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      Coffee's already made. I stomped the beans myself.

      Reply
  41. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar
    Rust-MyEnemy

    To "wind the windows down" will be a defunct passtime before long.
    Long live keep fit windows!

    Reply
    1. MVEilenstein Avatar
      MVEilenstein

      As long as window crank replacements are $10 at O'Reilly, there will be at least one of us still rolling the window down.

      Reply
    2. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Still standard on base model full-size GM pickups. My 2011 Silverado has them. People look at me really strange when they come up to the passenger side and I can't roll down the window.

      Reply
  42. Bsphill Avatar
    Bsphill

    "Vacuum actuated motor/servo"

    Reply
  43. Corvette_Poncho Avatar
    Corvette_Poncho

    Postless
    Low-backs (as in seats)
    Fan belt
    Generator
    Drums
    White walls
    Wide Whites (sometimes called super 60s)

    Reply
  44. monkey_tennis Avatar
    monkey_tennis

    I love that, amongst the tedious acronyms and neologisms that litter any discussion of modern car design (DRG, DLO, flame surfaces & bone lines), the inset and slope of the glass and bodywork above a car's waistline is still called 'tumblehome'.
    Each time I read that word, it reminds me of Edwardian steam launcheas and teak-decked yachts…

    Reply
  45. Ate Up With Motor Avatar
    Ate Up With Motor

    I'm a fan of the old "Trafficator" semaphore-style turn signals — it's fun to say and a real conversation piece at car shows.

    Reply
  46. Pidgeonsplatz Avatar
    Pidgeonsplatz

    Stock car racing.

    Reply
  47. Tim Odell Avatar
    Tim Odell

    "High test" gas
    Implies that "those boys in the lab" are hard at work on The Fuels of Tomorrow.

    Reply
    1. mdharrell Avatar
      mdharrell

      Fill 'er up with Ethyl.

      Reply
      1. Alcology Avatar
        Alcology

        Expired diethyl for me please. I really need to motivate my ride on down the road.

        Reply
  48. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Over here, in NSW, all the busses / coaches have MO prefix licence plates.
    That means Motorised Omnibus

    Reply
    1. dr zero Avatar
      dr zero

      I've never actually noticed that.

      Reply
  49. Synchromesh Avatar
    Synchromesh

    Hardtop sedan and hardtop coupe.

    Reply
  50. Harry Avatar
    Harry

    Six-pack and dual-quad carbs.

    Reply
  51. Vairship Avatar
    Vairship

    Unipack Power Team (engine and transaxle form one unit), Super Turbo Air 6 cylinder engine (which doesn't have a turbo by the way), Unistrut body, Ball-Race steering, Quadri-flex independent suspension, self-adjusting Safety-Master brakes, Positraction rear axle, Magic Mirror acrylic lacquer paint (available in 15 solid colors or 11 two-tones), Full-transistor radio, 4-speed Syncro-Mesh transmission, High Level ventilation, Direct Air heater and SoftRay tinted windshield were all fitted in my Corvair at the factory. Not bad for an econobox, eh?
    But being a convertible, it doesn;t have the back seat where the back seat folds down, where according to the Chevy brochure: "In fact many Corvair owners use the fold-down rear seat as a bed for little stow-aways".

    Reply
  52. Dr. Fine Avatar
    Dr. Fine

    White gas from Amoco, motorists motoring through town, replacing king pins on the front end. We still say lug nuts even though we haven't had lugs since wooden spoke days.

    Reply
  53. Felis_Concolor Avatar
    Felis_Concolor

    Babbit.

    Reply
  54. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
    C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

    Hardtop (coupe or sedan)
    Ethyl
    Armstrong steering
    Optical horn
    Vent window
    Riding the hump (rear seat middle passenger)
    Passing gear

    Reply
  55. PushrodRWD Avatar
    PushrodRWD

    Calling the manual transmission a "standard". It has been a while since they were standard on anything (cool) in the US, except maybe a Corvette and Viper. I still use that term occasionally though..

    Reply
  56. Mister X Avatar
    Mister X

    Ah, this one from the age of steam…
    "Lay the wood to 'er!", which translates to floor the gas pedal!
    Of course, there is another more randy colloquialism for that phrase, but this is a family blog, right?

    Reply