What was "that new car smell" in 1930?

[roccaas]

I just picked up a new Taurus, and it has "that new car smell" (very plasticky).

Looking at the New Car Delivery Videos below (a real treat), what did a new A Model smell like when you pulled away from the dealer for the first time?

I'd assume paint, since the steel inside of the car is painted, and what was the fragrance of virgin mohair, especially when the stuffing was Spanish Moss!

Oil residue and paint burning off the manifold? The headliner? The steering wheel? I'm thinking that someone said the "tiller" was some sort of bakelite, and my 1947 Rotary Dial Western Electric bakelite phone still has a unique smell.

82 years on, mine smells like warm wool, engine oil, gasoline (slight), and Labrador Retreiver (as it is her car).

If you answer this post, we will know how old you are! So congratulations!

[tbirdtbird]

I'm not old enuf to give a direct answer. You are right, tho, the plastic smell in a new car is just that, plasticizers such as phthalates. They outgas and that is what the faint white coating is that gets on the inside of your windshield.

Some of the leather interiors (Deluxe Phaeton, etc) would have an obvious aroma.

Interesting question for thought.

[allen]

When we built Dads car with new paint and wood staining and new upholstery it too has a new smell after a few hundred miles starting to fade. but its a smell you don't forget

[Barry B./ Ma.]

The newest car I remember was our new 49 Ford tudor. I remember it smelled good, mostly the aroma of new rubber in the floor mats, window and door seals and the smell of new cloth upholstery. No plasticiziser smell in that car.

[ken ct]

Originally Posted by Barry B./ Ma.

The newest car I remember was our new 49 Ford tudor. I remember it smelled good, mostly the aroma of new rubber in the floor mats, window and door seals and the smell of new cloth upholstery. No plasticiziser smell in that car.

You going to powder mill tomorrow?? ken ct.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by ken ct

You going to powder mill tomorrow?? ken ct.

Hi Ken, yes I'll be there around 7am., Hope to see you and Flamingo there.

Barry

[ratamahata]

Wish I could feel that new smell in a Model "A", maybe something metallic and greasy on the nose...

[roccaas]

Originally Posted by ratamahata

Wish I could feel that new smell in a Model "A", maybe something metallic and greasy on the nose...

ea'u de Model A:

600 Wt+Marvel Mystery Oil+thinner+lava soap.


Dab under fingernails.

Drive on!

[socalplanedoc]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

the plastic smell in a new car is just that, plasticizers such as phthalates.

I cant even say phthala...pfftthe..pahhitthssss... fitlilahdeedah..

[Dal's Dream Car]

I would suggest that we patent and sell a, "warm wool, engine oil, gasoline (slight), and Labrador Retreiver" Air Freshener specifically for Model A's. I Like that smell. Mine would be Germen Shepard scented however.

[Sumfuncomet]

I can comment on a late fifties, early sixties VW bug, if I was placed in one blindfolded I'd know where I was, a unique smell. My 39 Buick had the wool, mohair smell in it.."good stuff!

[Dave Mc]

I'd bet the smell of the nitro cellulose paint was dominant back then,but I don't know either, when I built my 33 the upholstery is all leather and that was the New Car Smell in it.reminded me of a new baseball glove.

[Tudortomnz]

When I got my Tudor in 1969 it had a particular smell of old cloth & kapok stuffing of the decaying original upholstery.
It still has that smell although the coverings & headlining have been changed since the early '80's.

[[email protected]]

When I bought my Barn Fresh 30 Coupe it was from a pig farmer who stored the car in one of his pig sheds. It had no interior and had vinyl covered seats but it took years for the smell of pig stuff to finally leave the car. The pig smell must have been absorbed into the wood. Maybe I should have washed it down with Marvel Mystery Oil. That was my new car smell and I am not wanting to relive it..