I stumbled across this a few months back. This is from the Sept 1958 issue of popular science.



I can't help but to laugh at the idea of abandoning the wheel and curling up into a ball. I guess it was the best option at the time. Thankfully vehicle safety has improved since then.

If you are interested in what the other tips were, you can read the issue here: https://books.google.com/books?id=ZC...issues_r&cad=1

 

That's comical looking through those old magazines...lol

 

That's funny. If it's that late, you will have no time to curl in a ball in the seat, let alone kill the ignition before doing so.
In looking for the rest of the article, I found this. I though folk my enjoy this letter to the editor on those newfangled automatic transmissions.

 

That advice about leaning over and curling up in a ball is as bad as the advice they gave school kids in the event of a nuclear or atom bomb attack. They said to duck and cover under your desk. The joke is to put your head between your knees and kiss your butt goodbye!

 

That is funny too. I have seen articles in Ford Truck Clues about how the automatic transmission is more economical for delivery men and it climbs hills better. I'll see if I can copy it and post it later.

 

I used to work with a Pakistani gent whose wife grew up never having seen a car, let alone driven one. He got a call at work one day that she went out driving, pulled partway out into traffic, and saw immediately that she shouldn't have. She did exactly what the OP says -- curled up in a ball down on the floorboards! Waited for the crash, which came quickly. She was unhurt, so maybe it's not such a bad idea?!

 

A comedian ( who is now out of favor ) had a routine that included him not understanding why his mom always told him to wear clean underware in case he was in an accident . He said when you see the truck coming first you say it , then you do it , no more clean underware .

 

Keep in mind this was before crumple zones or padded dash, and featuring a solid one-piece hardened steel steering column and wheel.

That's probably damn good advice for the time.

 

They are uniformly excellent, in my opinion. Even the advertisements.

 

I found the article in Ford Truck Clues told you about. Here is the article.



I found another article on how overdrive saves gas.

 

Well now I need a lesson on Overdrive. I thought it was just for the highest gear. So it impacts gearing in the lower gears? Or do they get to 4th faster and use that before they get to stops....

The automatic drive test is a great selling point. I like how they mention it makes average drivers better. Clutch work can be an art. Especially now when most people aren't exposed to it.

 

A vehicle built with OD usually had a higher numeric rear end ratio. This of course worked as a distinct advantage in a pickup in getting a heavy load moving or moving in tight areas and backing. The real advantage of OD was that engine speed was reduced a considerable amount at open road speeds. For many of us who grew up when OD was an option, we made some wiring changes that gave us six speeds foreward.

 

Here is another Ford Truck Clues article I found touting the steady power of the Ford-a-matic. This time in a tug of war with a circus elephant.



I don't think one would be allowed to do this today!

 

Here's another great tip from Popular Science:

 

We used to put it in the drive way to keep dust down. I don't know which method is better.... Either one is not legal today.