Gadgets from 1992
A look back at the news pages of AutoWeek 49 of 1992 shows once again that 1992 is already quite a long time behind us. We come across some very ‘hip’ things at the time that have not all stood the test of time well.
Seat covers
Usually seat covers in a car are not a good sign. Usually it is a way to disguise the fact that the original seat cover is damaged, although there are also people who think that the covers give the car a ‘sportier’ touch. So you can say that they have not necessarily grown into a popular accessory to really make the interior more beautiful. However, that was Ten Cate’s approach exactly 30 years ago, which brought chair covers from Italy with very special prints on them.
As an example, we showed two artful copies with a kind of nervous system on the dark covers and on the other a print that is most reminiscent of cat food. If it was a bit brighter, you could go for white covers with huge strawberries on them. In this case, they partly concealed the particularly colored interior of an open Peugeot 205 Roland Garros. Shame?
Mobile car phone
Today, hardly anyone drives without a phone, but 30 years ago you were probably a sales representative or a successful businessman or woman if you had one with you. It was very expensive back then. In 1992, the fixed car telephone was already fairly well established in more luxurious models, mobile ones were just emerging. You paid much more for that than for a fixed copy. Mitsubishi launched the Pocket II in 1992 for no less than 2,795 guilders, and then you didn’t even have the phone that you could use conveniently outside the car, because it couldn’t be charged with 220 volts. The mobile that could, cost no less than 3,095 guilders. If you wanted to top up with both 12 volts and 220 volts, you lost 3,395 guilders.
Steering lock
Almost everyone knows the steering lock, but that was still different 30 years ago. Back then we presented it as a possible ideal solution against car theft. ‘The bar is extendable, grabs behind the wheel with two claws and the car is uncontrollable. Poor thieves…’. The steering rod shown was for sale at the Halfords for 79 guilders. We are curious: do you ever use a steering wheel lock?
Renault Clio Drakkar Noir
Finally, a special version of the then still quite fresh first generation Renault Clio stands out on the news pages; the Drakkar Noir. A fierce name for a car that actually looked pretty sweet. The Drakkar Noir version included a wiper with washer for the rear window, sun protection windows and a subtle roof spoiler. You could order the Clio 1.2 as Drakkar Noir and no more than 700 would come to our country. Do you still remember this performance?
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl