1. Folded Paper Maps (Probably From AAA)
Before GPS, the glove compartment was basically a graveyard for crumpled state maps and road atlases. AAA (the American Automobile Association) was the go-to for free, updated maps if you had a membership. They were often impossible to fold back the right way, but somehow you’d keep them anyway. Long road trips involved an actual co-pilot whose job was navigating from those oversized, unwieldy sheets.
You’d get city inserts, state maps, and even highway zoom-ins, all neatly packed into a laminated folder—until they weren’t. Highways and back roads were marked in red or blue, and if you got lost, it meant pulling over at a gas station to reorient. Many families would mark their routes with a highlighter the night before a big trip. The GPS voice saying “rerouting” was still years away.
2. A Tire Pressure Gauge
Long before dash sensors told you if your tires were low, you had to check them manually. Every glovebox had a slim, metallic tire pressure gauge—cheap, mechanical, and oddly satisfying to use. You’d press it against the valve stem and the little stick would shoot out, showing your PSI. It was part of any driver’s routine, especially before a long trip.
Gas stations had air pumps, but few told you your current pressure. So that pocket gauge was your only tool to avoid over- or under-inflating. It might’ve been branded with your local dealership’s name or just a plain silver one. Either way, it was an unsung hero of roadside readiness.
3. A Gas Station Directory
Gas stations weren’t just for filling up; they were information hubs. Most cars had a glovebox brochure listing every location of big chains like Shell, Texaco, or Exxon. These directories helped you plan fuel stops along unfamiliar routes, especially before smartphones or real-time gas apps. They usually came free with a fill-up or could be requested at the counter.
They often included bonus features like travel tips or restroom ratings. Families driving cross-country would plan whole routes around stations they trusted. In remote stretches, finding the next open pump was serious business. These guides were like comfort food for your car.
4. A Flashlight (With Weak Batteries)
Every glove compartment or trunk had a flashlight, usually one that barely worked when you needed it most. It was either a bulky Maglite or a plastic one branded by some auto shop. These were for emergencies—changing a tire at night, looking under the hood, or scaring off raccoons at a campsite. Batteries were often dead because nobody remembered to check them.
Still, it was a car necessity, especially before widespread cell phone use. In those pre-LED days, the yellowish light was dim, but better than nothing. Some families even kept candles and matches for backup—yes, really. That flashlight was your original roadside safety net.
5. Roadside Emergency Triangles or Flares
Breaking down meant having to make yourself seen, especially on highways or at night. Many American cars had a kit with red reflective triangles or even flares stored in the trunk. Setting these up was taught in driver’s ed—they were essential safety tools, not just for show. Some flares were single-use and came with special strike caps like big matches.
Reflective triangles folded flat and popped up when needed, often weighted so they wouldn’t blow over. You’d space them behind your car to alert approaching drivers. They were especially critical before hazard lights became a standard feature. For rural or poorly lit roads, these tools could make a real difference.
6. A Spiral Notepad and a Pen That Didn’t Work
For jotting down directions, tracking mileage, or taking down a phone number from a For Sale sign, a notepad was a must. The pad lived in the center console or glovebox, half-used and usually coffee-stained. And there was almost always a pen nearby—though nine times out of ten, it was dried out. Still, it stayed there, a loyal if unreliable companion.
People wrote everything from emergency numbers to toll booth logs in those pages. Parents used them for car bingo games or to keep score on road trip trivia. Directions scrawled from a payphone call might take up an entire page. This was analog memory before smartphones made pens seem quaint.
7. A Road Atlas in the Back Pocket
Every serious traveler had a Rand McNally road atlas tucked behind a seat or jammed into a map pocket. It was a thick, spiral-bound book with detailed maps of every U.S. state, interstates, and major cities. This was your backup in case the glovebox maps failed you—or in case you were driving across multiple states. The atlas had a real sense of adventure about it, almost like a pre-journey ritual.
Many people would write notes in the margins or circle key exits. You could find rest stops, scenic byways, and alternate routes if traffic hit unexpectedly. The index in the back was a lifesaver, letting you look up towns alphabetically. No batteries, no signal—just pure analog reliability.
8. A Creaky Cassette Case or CD Wallet
Long drives meant good music, and before Bluetooth and Spotify, that meant cassettes or CDs. Most cars had a plastic cassette organizer or a fat zip-up CD wallet tucked under a seat. These cases were overflowing with mix tapes, greatest hits albums, or maybe a burned CD labeled “Summer Road Trip 2002.” Everyone had that one CD that never left the player.
You’d fumble through the wallet at red lights looking for just the right vibe. Cars with multi-disc changers in the trunk felt like high-tech luxury. Scratched discs and jammed tapes were just part of the experience. And if your favorite got eaten by the player, it was a mini-tragedy.
9. Fast Food Napkins (So Many Napkins)
A staple of any American car interior was a mountain of fast food napkins, usually shoved into the door pocket or console. These weren’t just for ketchup spills—they were multipurpose tools. Cleaning a windshield, blowing your nose, or mopping up mystery spills—they did it all. Some were even used as makeshift tissues or hand towels on camping trips.
Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Wendy’s—you could recognize the logos from a quick glance. People hoarded them like paper gold because you never knew when you’d run out. Pre-wet wipes and hand sanitizers, these napkins did the heavy lifting. And somehow, they multiplied on their own.
10. A Stash of Spare Change
Parking meters, toll booths, and payphones all demanded quarters. So cars had that iconic cup holder, ashtray, or plastic container brimming with coins. It was a mix of quarters, dimes, nickels—and a few useless Canadian pennies for good measure. Many people even had coin organizers with labeled slots.
You’d hear the change rattle every time the car turned sharply. Kids would fish through it for vending machine runs. Before EZ Pass and digital wallets, having exact change was a road trip requirement. It made cars sound like piggy banks on wheels.
11. A Disposable Camera or Old-School Point-and-Shoot
If a road trip didn’t have photos, did it even happen? Many glove compartments had a disposable Kodak or Fuji camera stashed away, just in case. Some families carried actual point-and-shoot cameras with film rolls and little zippered cases. You wouldn’t see the photos until weeks later, but that mystery was part of the fun.
Sunsets, goofy roadside attractions, and weird billboards got immortalized on grainy film. The cameras were durable, cheap, and didn’t mind a little heat. Even if they expired in the glovebox, people kept them there just in case. Instagram was still a distant dream.
12. The Owner’s Manual (Thick as a Phone Book)
Every car came with a chunky owner’s manual that rarely left the glovebox. It was hundreds of pages long, covering everything from fuse diagrams to how to change the clock. People only cracked it open in emergencies—or to figure out what that blinking light meant. But when you needed it, it was a treasure trove of car-specific wisdom.
It also had the car’s maintenance schedule, tire specs, and how to jump-start the engine. Most had a little sleeve for the warranty and service records. Some even had a mini flashlight or magnifier included. Today’s digital dashboards just give you a warning beep instead.
13. A Local Phone Book or Yellow Pages
In case of emergency—or just needing to find a mechanic—you’d keep a mini phone book in the car. They were often giveaways from phone companies or insurance agencies. Listings for towing services, repair shops, and roadside help were gold when you were stranded. You didn’t need cell reception—just patience and a quarter for the nearest payphone.
Many cars had smaller editions, spiral-bound and easy to stash in a seatback. Some even had state-by-state directories for road warriors. Before Siri could look anything up, these books were how you got unstuck. They smelled like ink and vinyl and felt oddly reassuring.
This post 13 Things You’d Always Find in an American Car Before GPS Took Over was first published on American Charm.
