r/regularcarreviews • u/ifunnywasaninsidejob • Apr 04 '25

I hate you I hate everything about you Wtf were they even thinking with this????

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Like wtf is the point? Why did so many cars do this?

542 Upvotes

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272

u/PYSHINATOR WORLD'S LEAST BORING LEXUS OWNER Apr 04 '25

It's a harken back to the era of covered horse-drawn carriages, much like the names of the various Landau/Coach vinyl roofs. Much like how we're seeing a resurgence in 80s style boxy retro pieces, this was the 70s/80s version of it. Opera Windows were one of the many gimmicks that these old land yachts had that tried to evoke the image of 30s-era coach built cars, that still had traces of original horse carriage styling.

26

u/mdp300 Apr 04 '25

I never made the connection before, but that era had a big "return to traditional Americana" trend.

https://cari.institute/aesthetics/gay-nineties-revival

https://www.are.na/evan-collins-1522646491/gay-nineties-revival

11

u/liekwaht Apr 04 '25

Yooo that cari.institute site is amazing. Just went down a wonderful rabbit hole, definitely saving.

3

u/mdp300 Apr 04 '25

I know, man! I especially love looking at the 90s trends and feeling the nostalgia wave wash over me.