With closed bodywork generally available, did the question of comfort present itself differently?
To aerate and de-mist, the idea of ventilation and, by extension, heating became indispensable very quickly. On early closed cars, the engine heat was naturally transferred through the dashboard to the cabin, so passengers always had warm legs. Rear-seated passengers however, had no heat source and were subjected to drafts. It was Peugeot who installed the first heating systems in cars with their 402 series of 1935. These early systems were derived from the engine cooling circuit, with a small radiator located under the dashboard, in front of a switch-powered ventilating fan. There was even a rheostat to control the speed of the fan, and ducting to direct the air toward the floor, the windshield (for de-misting), or the faces of the passengers. “In France, left hand drive wasnt mandatory until 1955!” As for ergonomics: How did the controls come to be where they are now? At first, the brake and the gear change lever were often placed outside the bodywork, and the driver would reach out
Related Questions
- If timber lintels are present over doors, should they be replaced with concrete, or be treated before being closed in behind a vapour barrier?
- When will Air Force civilians have to move or have their employment terminated from their present duty location if the base is closed?
- When will DoD civilians move or have their employment terminated from their present duty location if the base is closed?
