Have you noticed how fast cars are changing these days? If it’s been a few years since you last shopped for a new car, you might be surprised at all the latest features. Things like rear-view cameras, big digital screens, and parking sensors are now everywhere. These were once found only in luxury cars or concept vehicles.

According to Darren Palmer, Ford’s global product development director for electric vehicles, “Car design evolves constantly to match what customers want. These days, your phone acts like your car key, map, music player, and even a tool for roadside help. This allows companies like Ford to completely rethink car interiors.”

With new tech rolling in, many old-school car features are slowly vanishing. Let’s take a ride down memory lane and check out 13 car features that are disappearing—and why.

1️⃣Cassette Players and CD Changers

Remember the joy of making a mixtape and popping it into your car’s cassette player? Or the fun of loading up six CDS into the changer before a long trip? Sadly, those days are over. Now, streaming music apps and Bluetooth have taken over. New cars barely have CD slots anymore. Instead, you’ll find USB ports for endless playlists and podcasts.

Even though these old systems feel nostalgic, the ease of digital music is unbeatable. Plus, younger generations have no idea what it’s like to rewind a cassette!

2️⃣ Front Bench Seats

In the 1980s, bench seats were everywhere in family cars. These wide seats could fit three people in the front row. Cars like the Chevrolet Impala kept this option alive into the early 2000s. While the middle seat was often cramped, it had its moments—like giving couples an excuse to sit closer on a date night.

Today, center consoles and bucket seats have replaced bench seats for better comfort and safety.

3️⃣ Wind-Up Windows

Manual windows used to be standard. If it started raining suddenly, you had to crank up the window using a handle—and fast! Power windows were once a luxury, but now they’re a standard feature in almost every car. Just press a button and the window rolls up or down—no more stretching across the seat to close windows during a downpour.

Honestly, no one really misses the struggle of manual windows!

4️⃣ Rear-Hinged Doors (Suicide Doors)

Rear-hinged doors were once the mark of luxury, making it easy for passengers to step out gracefully. But they had a dark side—these doors could pop open during an accident, making them risky. That’s why they earned the nickname “suicide doors.”

Today, you’ll rarely see them. A few luxury cars like the 2019 Lincoln Continental tried a safer version, but overall, these doors are a thing of the past.

5️⃣ Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighters

There was a time when almost everyone smoked, and cars were designed for it. Every car had ashtrays and cigarette lighters. But as smoking declined and health awareness grew, these features started disappearing. Today, cigarette lighter sockets are mainly used as power outlets to charge phones and other gadgets.

Smokers can still get optional ashtray and lighter kits, but they are no longer standard.

6️⃣ Spare Tires

Flat tires used to be a common headache. But with better tire technology and run-flat tires, the need for spare tires has reduced. Many modern cars now come with just a can of sealant and a small air compressor instead of a full-size spare.

This also helps make cars lighter, improving fuel efficiency. Even if your car doesn’t have a spare, it’s smart to know how to change a tire—just in case.

7️⃣ Traditional Car Keys

Old-school keys are slowly vanishing. Many cars today use proximity keys, which allow you to unlock and start your car without even taking the key out of your bag or pocket. While basic cars and rental vehicles still use regular keys, proximity keys are fast becoming the new norm.

One downside? Thieves can sometimes hack the signal. But there are simple ways to prevent that, like using signal-blocking pouches.

8️⃣ Parking Brake Handles

The traditional parking brake lever is disappearing too. In most new cars, it’s replaced by a small button that activates the parking brake electronically. This frees up space in the car’s interior for other things, like extra cupholders or wireless phone chargers.

One great feature of electronic brakes is that many engage automatically when you park, which is helpful when you’re on a hill.

9️⃣ Power Antennas

Power antennas—those metal rods that rose up when you switched on the radio—were once super cool. But they were also known to break easily, especially in cold weather when they’d freeze up. Today’s cars use compact “shark-fin” antennas or even hidden antennas built into the glass, which are more reliable and look better too.

🔟 Vent Windows

Before air conditioning became standard, cars had small triangle-shaped “vent windows” near the mirrors. These allowed fresh air to blow directly onto your face on a hot day. They were also handy if you ever locked your keys in the car—you could sometimes wiggle the window open to get back inside!

With AC in almost every car now, vent windows are no longer needed.

11️⃣ Manual Door Locks

Remember pushing down each door lock one by one? Manual locks were everywhere before power locks came along. Now, a simple press of a button locks or unlocks all the doors at once. It’s much safer and more convenient.

12️⃣ Column Shifters

In older cars, the gear shifter was often mounted on the steering column. This design saved space but wasn’t very sporty. Modern cars usually have floor-mounted shifters, which offer a better driving feel and more style.

13️⃣ Pop-Up Headlights

Pop-up headlights were a signature style for sports cars in the 80s and 90s. They looked awesome but weren’t very practical. Safety laws and new LED technology made them obsolete. Today’s fixed headlights offer better visibility and are much safer.

Why These Features Are Disappearing

Car designs are changing fast because of safety laws, new technology, and customer demands. Some old features were charming but aren’t practical anymore. Others have been replaced by smarter, safer, and more efficient alternatives.

While it’s fun to remember the good old days, today’s cars are more comfortable, safer, and high-tech than ever before. Who knows what car features we’ll say goodbye to next?