JC Whitney's top 10 oddest auto accessories

Tire Business staff

LASALLE, Ill. (Feb. 27, 2015) — Any automotive buff knows a JC Whitney catalog conjures visions of lake pipes, carbs, fenders and hard-to-get parts and accessories.

The company that bills itself as having “one of the most comprehensive selections of auto parts and accessories in the world” has built its business since 1915 by offering “everything automotive” to DIYers, auto enthusiasts and anyone looking to personalize their rides. As the LaSalle-based firm celebrates its 100th anniversary, it has collected a treasure trove of strange and colorful items for sale over the years through its famous JC Whitney catalogs.

“As we celebrate our centennial anniversary, it's only natural to look back at some of the classics found in our catalog,” said JC Whitney President Shane Evangelist. “We found more than a few crazy accessories from the past — especially around the 1960s turn signal stuffed animals and record players — things that make you shake your head and laugh.

“But we also found a few hidden gems that were ahead of their time, precursors to today's in-car gizmos.”

Combing through past catalogs of the 1950s and 1960s and talking with auto enthusiasts, Whitney's staff produced the following 10 creative, unusual and just plain bizarre items that it once had for sale:

1. Door Re Me Door Chime

A music box that plays a song melody when the car door opened, this accessory offered an easy way to class up your ride — and surprise that special someone, Whitney said. It was available in four different versions, including “Ave Maria,” “Let Me call you Sweetheart,” the “Anniversary Waltz” and “I Love You Truly.” One wonders: would a modern day version of the Do Re Me Chime include “Shake it Up?”

Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $4.98 per selection.

2. Fuzzy Car Muffs

Why? “Because cold weather makes people loopy enough to put fuzzy warmers on their cars,” the company said. “What was promoted as a ‘countrywide rage' featured wrapped fuzzy white fur over mirrors, horn rings, visors and car club plaques. It's like driving a polar bear!”

Today's Boston version would undoubtedly include a snow shovel. Vintage sale price in the 1960s: 79 cents to $1.50.

3. Dashboard Record Player

Was this an early version of the aux port? The integrated mp3? No — but it was an interesting idea: hook up a portable record player to the car radio. It played 45s with the claim that it “Performs smoothly even over rough roads, rough curves, even during fast starting and stopping.” Whitney said it also marketed full-size record players available for travel trailers during the 40s and 50s.Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $59.95.

4. Actual Race Recordings/Sports Car Recordings

Want a classic precursor to audiobooks? How about a spoken word biography of Carroll Shelby, or race driver Sir Sterling Moss? “You could get it in the JC Whitney catalog and, of course, play them on your on-dash record player,” the company said. Recordings of famous races at Le Mans, Monaco or Silverstone were included. Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $5 to $5.95.

 

5. Automotive Radio Phone & Accessories

Demonstrating it was on the cutting edge of in-car electronics and accessories, JC Whitney said that well before the cellular revolution arrived, “it took specialized equipment to turn your car, truck or boat into a low-power radio station to conduct business and stay in touch with family.”

Its catalogs contained “everything you needed, including the transmitter/receiver and antenna, to give you a range of up to 10 miles. Unintended benefits included looking like a business mogul or law enforcement officer to passers-by.” Vintage sale price in the 1960s for multiple components from 65 cents to $169.

6. Gyroscopic Stabilizers

Anything that has the word “Gyroscope” in the title is sure to get car fanatics dreaming about the scientific possibilities of whizzing widgets, according to the marketer. These stabilizers claimed to increase tire life, automatically balance wheels, iron out bumps, improve handling and do your laundry.Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $19.95 for a set of two.

7. Foot Operated Radio Selection Switch

Serious drivers want to know: Why move your hands from the wheel to tune the radio when you can do it with the tap of your foot? And, Whitney asked, what's the difference between this and today's advanced head's up display telematics? Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $2.95.

8. Deluxe Left Foot Accelerator

Ad copy boasted that this gizmo could give the right foot a rest from all that tiring accelerator movement, with benefits like “Rest the right foot” and “easily install on any make or model car — with or without a clutch.” It probably could also have been a popular modification for drummers who wanted to practice their footwork while driving.Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $3.98.

9. In the Car Coffee Maker Kit

This brilliant product never made it to the big time although the idea came around long before Starbucks was on every corner. The Whitney  kit served four cups of coffee. For the price of a few tall lattes you received all of the items to percolate, pour and organize your cream and sugar — all while securing the coffee maker while you rushed to work. The perfect accessory for your ride's multitudinous cupholders. Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $17.

10. Winky and Friends

Whatever happened to Duchess and Mac? Just like a musical super group, Whitney said “these plush characters enjoyed some success in the JC Whitney catalog until Duchess and Mac left to pursue solo careers in the automotive turn signal and brake light industry. A reunion has been discussed.”

Winky was sold in the catalog until around 1987. Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $6.95 each.

The company is inviting anyone who has a particular memory from the catalogs to visit JC Whitney's special centennial website and share memories.

JC Whitney said it is the largest direct marketer of name-brand automotive parts and accessories, “providing ‘everything automotive' — with more than 6 million automotive applications from the latest model year back to the 1920s, and over 1.2 million parts for over 25 million different vehicles.”

The company's products are for virtually any vehicle — automobiles, trucks, jeeps, modern muscle, motorcycles, and more.

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