The first cruise control in the 1964 Ford Thunderbird
01/12/2011
For the 1964 Ford Thunderbird (and also the standard Ford), a new extra was offered, the"Speed Selector Device ", a forerunner of today's cruise control system or cruise control.
The operation of this innovative convenience function was simple and had a few interesting differences to today's cruise control systems: The speed was preselected via a selector wheel (see picture). Once activated, the speed was kept constant according to the preselection without having to use the accelerator pedal. The set speed could be "overridden" using the accelerator or brake pedal , so that overtaking and braking maneuvers were possible. As soon as the speed matched the preselected speed again after the driver intervened, the cruise control then started up again automatically! The new accessory had a direct effect on the gearbox/engine and it was claimed that the new system could save up to 20% fuel, but in particular also reduced driver fatigue and engine and brake wear.
