Car safety that never caught on

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OLearyFenderCompany.jpg


The feature: pedestrian cow-catcher

The company: O'Leary Fender Company (1908)
The fail: New Yorker John O'Leary had a simple solution to pedestrian traffic accidents: install on the front of cars a mesh cradle or "fender" that would spring forward and safely scoop up a pedestrian when the vehicle struck him. People didn't buy it not because it was crazy, but because it didn't look good on a car. Other inventors pursued similar, better-looking devices into the 1920s.
 
Offsetseats.jpg


The feature: offset seating

The car: 1905 Darracq 200HP
The fail: The French Darracq paired a 25-litre V8 with a chassis and some chairs. For added safety, the seats were staggered with the driver slightly ahead—so the passenger could hold on to his shoulders during violent cornering. This feature became obsolete with the invention of, um, car bodies.
 
I wonder how these tires effect gas mileage?

VacuumCuoTires.jpg


The feature: vacuum-cup tires

The company: Pennsylvania Rubber Company (1917)
The fail: Most drivers know they should reduce their speed when driving through heavy rain, but if you had these tires you probably wouldn't have to. The Pennsylvania Rubber Company boasted superior grip with these anti-skid octopus-esque tires
 
Bi-fold doors???

Bi-folddoors.jpg


The features: bi-fold doors (also, handlebars)

The car: 1957 Liberty Mutual-Cornell Survival Car
The fail: Doors opening in a crash was a problem in the 1950s, one Liberty Mutual-Cornell (yes, the insurance company and university, respectively) worked around with their Survival Car project. They used closet-like folding doors, gave the centrally seated driver handlebars instead of a wheel, and locked a piece of the dashboard around him. You're not seeing double: there were four windshield wipers.
 
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