(VIDEO) Design flaws in the cars of 1970s that were sold in Germany and how drivers were advised to deal with them

We are often tempted to think nostalgically that cars were built more thoroughly and better before, and we often look with admiration at cars manufactured in the 70s, 80s and 90s. And, to be fair, with fewer models in each manufacturer's range, there was really a trend towards more consistent engineering, with more reserves implanted, because there was also the perception that a car should last almost a lifetime. But that doesn't mean there weren't design lapses or problematic cars.

In Germany, for example, a local automobile association regularly published videos reviewing the most annoying design flaws of current production cars, warning drivers about them, and the drivers were free to decide whether they could put up with it or not. They were advised how to avoid them, or at least pay attention to them in exploitation.

So one such film from 1979, which we include below, lists some curious design errors, a few of which we extract below.

• Renault 20 and 30 had a centralized lock, but it could not be operated from the inside, but only from the outside, so the drivers had to put their hand out the window, to lock from the outside.

• Fiat Ritmo had a too weak closing of the glove box and after some time of operation it opened permanently while driving, and the correct repair required changing the entire dashboard or improvisations less than by the book.

• The same Fiat Ritmo looked like it was designed by people who hated pedestrians, as the tailpipe was turned to the right, at curb level, and when the car passed a curb, it sent smoke from the tailpipe straight into the people on the sidewalk.

• Audi 100 GLS owners from the 1970s were constantly tearing their trousers and coats at the corners of the bumpers, which were too protruding and too sharp, and their clothes would catch on them. Sometimes these corners broke completely.

• Mercedes SL had such a quick handbrake release, connected to the brake pedal, that it would spray any mud from it onto the driver's pants when you released it.

• Several Lancia and Alfa Romeo models they had a handbrake that loosened quite quickly after purchase, and the car could go downhill when you least expected it.

See in the video below these and other problems, demonstrated in the images. You can include subtitles with automatic translation enabled in the desired language.