Extinct Car Features Only Boomers Remember

Before transponders and microchips turned car keys into digital fingerprints, keys were surprisingly generic. Many vehicles shared similar cuts, and in the right circumstances, someone else’s key might start your car—or vice versa. Stories circulated of honest mix-ups in parking lots or would-be thieves exploiting the simplicity.

For most, it wasn’t a serious issue, just one of the quirks of older cars. But it does make modern security look wildly advanced by comparison. Today, your key talks to your ignition electronically.