Innovation in steering wheel design, that never went into production... the "Wrist Twist" from Mercury

At Mercury, engineer Bob Rumm produced this one-off 1965 Mercury Park Lane convertible with so-called "wrist-twist" steering controls. The standard steering wheel has been replaced by two 5-inch, wrist-operated dials, that the promo claims frees up knee room, improves visibility and makes parking easier.

Skip the first 45 seconds and the male chauvenist attitude, they are both useless

Found on http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-were-they-thinking-mercurys-wrist.html

More unusual stuff from the HAMB thread "Vintage shots from days gone by"

Annette on a scooter

Amelia Earhart with the scooter

General Eisenhower chats with Omar Bradley leaning against his '41 Clipper staff car

The outback mailman, on an enormous rig http://aso.gov.au/titles/documentaries/last-mail-birdsville/clip1/

Aerodynamic trucks and trailers

looks like a street car getting relocated

Sept 1949 Popular mechanics

Not sure what the above vehicle is

Kaiser factory that made aircraft

Ever see any racing Hudson Terraplanes before

What a great steering wheel, look slike it'a at a car show (from the I.D. board in the window)

a great looking steering wheel

Not very good taste in floor mats though. If you look at cool steering wheels, and think, wow, they used to design them really well!

Then look at this gallery: http://carrosantigos.wordpress.com/2008/09/25/volantes-antigos/

The Rollaway Motor Company made the Lokwel "fat man" or "more room" steering wheel

Made around 1921 - 1922

You learn something new every day... I've never come across anything like this before. But to read more about them, and see other examples of it: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/131964.html?1269713249

The Six Shooter; cool paint, cool custom touches in the engine bay, but best of all is the awesome steering wheel

Cool steering wheel centers that grabbed my attention, the photos turned out well I think

The above turned out best, my favorite among the bunch

breaking the paradigm of what a hot rod dash looks like

Cool steering wheel (it says Studebaker on the center button), cool shifter knob, nice grill under the gauges... this is a well thought out and finished look!

What a cool custom, I've never seen anyone make a steering wheel out of a rim! Great key, and, have you ever seen a B&M shifter on a firewall?

Cool business card too.

Cool tailgate handles