Humor in the car operating instructions
06/18/2023
When we published the historical driving report on the NSU Wankel Spiderfrom 1964, we also came across the car's owner's manual. As usual, it is extremely compact, but still 62 pages thick.
As many as 18 pages explain the technology, which makes sense for such an innovative car with a new type of engine. The booklet also included chronological tables with important developments since 1588 (!).
Four pages were sufficient for explanations on driving, but the technical innards were documented on eight pages.
A further eight pages laid the foundations for maintenance and care, while the remaining nine pages explained the most important steps and interventions in the event of a breakdown. And yes, there was also an index. So far, everything was normal and not out of line with the standards of the time.
But if you look (and read) a little more closely, you will notice the titles, which were obviously written with a fine sense of humor. For example, the roof and doors are explained under the title "Roof organization". The technical data of the engine can be found under "Power plant inspection", and the mass and weights under "Strict measures". The instruction makers chose "Good connection" as the title for the wiring diagram, while "Drinks menu" is the heading for the chapter on fuel and oil.
Further back is "The three for the filling station", where the battery, air filter and tires are documented. Under the heading "Exchange rate", the car owner learns how to change a wheel. Eye candy" in the explanation of the dashboard (picture above) also fits into this sequence. And so on and so forth ...
Take a look at the instructions yourself ( Premium).
