Curious why 40s and early 50s American cars had such oversized steering wheels -- was it because of a lack of power steering, giving the driver more torque to steer the thing? The oversized steering wheel forces the driver to sit rigid in the driver's seat, not allowing for a relaxed pose as per modern driving arrangements.
Your guess is absolutely correct. It's not just American cars. Check out all the early Edwardian and Brass Era cars, even most prewar up to this year. Without power steering, a smaller wheel would've been either impossible to turn easily, or geared so low that you'd have to spin it 20 times lock-to-lock. Check out the lithe and sporty Jaguar XK120 for example, a postwar sports car with a huge wheel. Those Queen Mary-sized steering wheels are now part of the charm of these old land yachts!
Another 1940s beauty to admire beautiful thank you for posting it.
It's a 41
@@jasonstone1955 Sorry My mistake.
La grande époque où les États-Unis faisaient parmi les plus belle voitures au monde ...
Were the turn signals standard equipment? The sound like my grandmother's 1974 Sedan Deville's signals.
Yes, original equipment!
Curious why 40s and early 50s American cars had such oversized steering wheels -- was it because of a lack of power steering, giving the driver more torque to steer the thing? The oversized steering wheel forces the driver to sit rigid in the driver's seat, not allowing for a relaxed pose as per modern driving arrangements.
Your guess is absolutely correct. It's not just American cars. Check out all the early Edwardian and Brass Era cars, even most prewar up to this year. Without power steering, a smaller wheel would've been either impossible to turn easily, or geared so low that you'd have to spin it 20 times lock-to-lock. Check out the lithe and sporty Jaguar XK120 for example, a postwar sports car with a huge wheel. Those Queen Mary-sized steering wheels are now part of the charm of these old land yachts!
Unless you had spindly arms like Harvey Milktoast, spinning that big steering wheel was no big deal.
Engine??
Flathead V8. I have another video here of a cold start on that smooooth, torquey beast!