July 6, 2022 at 2:00 am

In 1971, General Motors Introduced One of the Worst Automotive Features of All Time

by Ashley Dreiling

All car manufacturers employ some kind of system to exhaust cabin air out while allowing fresh air in. But in 1971, General Motors‘ full-size fleet introduced one of the worst features in automotive history, the “forced air” ventilation system.

GM wisely changed the design in 1972 to a system that moved the exhaust drains from trunk louvers to the car door lock pillars, allowing for insulation from the elements. Given such seemingly obvious problems, it’s a wonder the forced air ventilation system made it to production, much less became the star of GM’s 1971 over-the-top TV ad campaign.

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twistedsifter on facebook In 1971, General Motors Introduced One of the Worst Automotive Features of All Time