SHEEPSKIN SEAT COVERS
1 Very fashionable in the home as a seductive, suggestive rug, they are still available for cars, but the boom time was during the 1970s when virtually every seat was covered in hot sticky vinyl. Predominantly in white, of course, sheepskin covers were super cool in every sense. The best came from specialists such as Westmorland Sheepskins (as seen in the picture)
WING MIRRORS
2 There was a big debate going on in the 1970s over the infiltration of door mirrors from the Continental carmakers. Previously the UK motorist preferred wing mirrors because they looked good in chrome, came in many styles – and weren’t standard fitting so it was left to the owner anyway. But by the mid-70s door mirrors were being fitted by British Leyland, Ford and Vauxhall albeit on the driver’s door. Wing mirrors have their merits, the chief one being that they (if only for aesthetics) were fitted in pairs and are constantly in the driver’s field of vision unlike door mirrors which necessitate moving your head. But as the easy to clean, easy to readjust (never more so once they became powered) door type became a standard fit, having all four would look silly and besides would block the wing mirror’s vision. The nail in the coffin was modern car wing tops being designed so slim that fitting them is now impossible and would devalue the vehicle if you insisted. where the thick skins come with straps and look great in any period classic. But as such quality was beyond the budget of your average Cortina Mk2 owner, slip-on elasticated simulated ones had to do – at least you could put them in the washing machine after getting them grubby with your mechanics’ overalls.
MUD FLAPS
3 Perhaps it’s due to the big, moulded bumpers that are de rigueur on
