Extinct Car Features Only Boomers Remember

Smoking wasn’t just permitted in cars—it was expected. Almost every vehicle came equipped with ashtrays, often more than one. The dashboard had one. Rear doors had their own. Some even featured built-in cigarette lighters for every row of seating.

These weren’t just token additions—they were styled, chromed, and sometimes illuminated. You didn’t have to smoke to notice them; they were simply part of the car’s interior DNA. As smoking habits declined and safety regulations tightened, ashtrays faded into obscurity.