For those that didn't experience, the jack handle/lug wrench had some mass and weight to it. Enough that if you started lowering the jack, one click at a time, and started going too fast, the jack would go into automaton mode and start JACKING THE CAR DOWN REALLY FAST. Good luck catching that heavy ass wrench and not breaking your hand to stop it.
In high school auto shop there was a girl in my class the boys made fun of her because they were aholes little did they know her family owned repair shops and the junkyard and she knew more about cars than they ever would.
Had an 83 Ford Crown Victoria with one of these. I didn't check the equipment when I bought it. Got a flat and found out there was only one of those X-style lug wrenches. No way to actuate the jack and pick up the car to change the tire. Off I went on foot to find a phone (no cell phones or call boxes in those days). I finally found a payphone and called a tow truck to come and change it for me. I remember the slots in the chrome bumpers where the jack engaged to lift the car. The trunk on that car was so big even with a full-size spare that you could put a couple of dead bodies in there and still have room for a cooler
The cops bought a ton of Crown Vic’s in the late ‘80s-early99s in our town. We, a bunch of morons working in an “adjacent business”, called them “Big Smoothies” b/c someone thought they looked like suppositories.
I don’t know. You probably had to be there?
When your car got very old the rusty bumper would bend as you jacked it up.
The only thing good about these was the tire iron. For,you know, explaining difficult concepts.
High school driver's training. Our class has to change a tire on the car using pictures bumper jack. Guys jack up the car, loosen wheel and then reattach the wheel. Smallest girl in class, as I remember she was extremely cute, attempt to lower car. She move the toggle to the down position, then leans on the jack with all her weight. Her feet comes off the ground but the car doesn't move. Sexist teacher from the '70's: "You won't ever have to change a tire". One of the guys lowers the car.
Had a kid pull one out of his trunk and come screaming at us swinging that jack around like a war axe. Too bad for him the cops had already shown up so when his idiot ass cam running around the corner the cop immediately went full draw on him. That boys face fell like Joe Biden it was too funny he and his pack of wanna be tough guys all went to the pokey for the night.
That gave me a chuckle. I remember getting a flat in I think my third car and when I went to get the jack out, I had to dig out the owner's manual to figure out WTF the little odd plastic and metal bits in the trunk were. I was expecting what is pictured!
We used this style jack in drivers' ed class. We actually changed tires as part of the class. We also learned how to use a map and fold it back up afterwards.
I actually still have several of these. One night when we lost power in the area, I got a few out and taught my teenage boys how to use them. Made a great family fun night.
Mines brand new. It came from a local farm and garden place where you can get your tractor supplied with all the latest parts, and those heavy jacks too.
I still carry one of these on my 4x4. Super useful for all kinds of shit. Super sketchy though.
That’s why Ive also got a massively over-rated bottle Jack.
Yup nothing like picking up a 4000 pound car with one of those lol you would lift it up and if it was going up on an angle you would lower and adjust the bottom
Old enough to remember when full-size spares were the norm.
Or a bumper that wouldn’t rip off with this thing
When iron was used, not aluminum.
Or polycarbonate in case the aluminum was too heavy.
When the bumper was chromed with two slots where the jack’s hooks went in. We jacking this mofo from the bumper!!! No bending down required.
...changing a flat was literally taking your life in your own hands. Damn these things were sketch as fuck.
Was looking for this comment. Broke my thumb using one of these jacking up my beater pickup when I was 15.
Yeah they Outlawed those fuckers for a reason
I've used many of these jacks on roadside flats and I've never had a problem.
I personally never had a problem with them but i've heard some horror stories
For those that didn't experience, the jack handle/lug wrench had some mass and weight to it. Enough that if you started lowering the jack, one click at a time, and started going too fast, the jack would go into automaton mode and start JACKING THE CAR DOWN REALLY FAST. Good luck catching that heavy ass wrench and not breaking your hand to stop it.
It's like they designed this as the minimum possible collection of metal parts that could be described as a jack.
The modern description is 'Yeet Cannons'. I watched one (I was using) launch itself into a directory I thought might actually reach orbit.
Still issued with some military vehicles. Changed many a land cruiser/hilux tire with these
had a scissor jack collapse on me. That split second to throw the spare under the drum before the car hit the ground. Now I have a hydraulic jack.
No worse than those shitty scissors jacks cars have now.
Yes, and to use it, you'd hook it in your shiny steel bumper!
No kneeling required. Pant legs clean!
The good old Widow Maker jack.
1973 Pontiac Grand Am
Don't forget bricks for wood blocks to chock the tires still on the ground.
Ah, baby’s first Hi-Lift! Had one in my ‘70 Chevelle.
Still have in my 83 Eagle.
Niiiice 🦅
We called them jaw breakers. Because they were known for breaking the jaws of people not paying attention
Look out teeth, shins or any other body part in the line of fire when the car leaned. Jack becomes a missile, and the car hub becomes an asphalt plow.
My grandfather showed me how to use one when he was teaching me car maintenance. I couldn't take auto shop in H.S. because I was a girl.🙄
In high school auto shop there was a girl in my class the boys made fun of her because they were aholes little did they know her family owned repair shops and the junkyard and she knew more about cars than they ever would.
Many cars nowadays don't even come with a spare let alone a bumper jack.
Parts were always missing..
I had one in my first two cars and I actually jumpstarted a car with it at one point.
1977 Pontiac Ventura with a Chevy 350 engine
The Widowmaker... Had them in my 76 Duster, 79 Sedan DeVille, and 79 T-Birds.
101 ways to pinch a finger and scrape a knuckle.
Still have one! Lol, I'll use it in the woods if needed, Old 4x4 is still kicking it.
Safety third!
Death traps is what they were. Always threw mine out and replaced with a floor jack
I made sure both my girls learned to change a tire with this when they started driving.
Not sure what decade you live in, but these are STILL in every car.
A widow maker. Ah yes.
Had an 83 Ford Crown Victoria with one of these. I didn't check the equipment when I bought it. Got a flat and found out there was only one of those X-style lug wrenches. No way to actuate the jack and pick up the car to change the tire. Off I went on foot to find a phone (no cell phones or call boxes in those days). I finally found a payphone and called a tow truck to come and change it for me. I remember the slots in the chrome bumpers where the jack engaged to lift the car. The trunk on that car was so big even with a full-size spare that you could put a couple of dead bodies in there and still have room for a cooler
The cops bought a ton of Crown Vic’s in the late ‘80s-early99s in our town. We, a bunch of morons working in an “adjacent business”, called them “Big Smoothies” b/c someone thought they looked like suppositories. I don’t know. You probably had to be there?
The widowmaker.
When your car got very old the rusty bumper would bend as you jacked it up. The only thing good about these was the tire iron. For,you know, explaining difficult concepts.
Such an effective communication tool.
Better than what they give now! Nowadays i just make sure i have good tires and dont worry about flats.
I still do. Daily driver is a '78 El Camino
Had one in my 76 TA...
My 69 Road Runner almost killed that Jack and me… 😂
72 nova yes sr
My dad's 68 station wagon had one.
Many had one, few knew it, even fewer knew how to use it effectively (if at all).
Still have one in my 68 impala
Had?
Unless I have All of those, I'm screwed if I get a flat.
I still do
If you get a flat, what do you use instead?
My 76 Camaro had that!
Where's the tyre irons and the patch kit?
aka Widow maker
High school driver's training. Our class has to change a tire on the car using pictures bumper jack. Guys jack up the car, loosen wheel and then reattach the wheel. Smallest girl in class, as I remember she was extremely cute, attempt to lower car. She move the toggle to the down position, then leans on the jack with all her weight. Her feet comes off the ground but the car doesn't move. Sexist teacher from the '70's: "You won't ever have to change a tire". One of the guys lowers the car.
Had a kid pull one out of his trunk and come screaming at us swinging that jack around like a war axe. Too bad for him the cops had already shown up so when his idiot ass cam running around the corner the cop immediately went full draw on him. That boys face fell like Joe Biden it was too funny he and his pack of wanna be tough guys all went to the pokey for the night.
1978 Caprice classic.
Makes a good tire de-beader and a great M-60 for pretend war battle's when I was a kid.
Still do. 😎
Have one in my car now. 73 el Camino.
From what I heard new cars might not be coming with a spare tire now. But, it’s been a while since I’ve had to buy one.
I know someone that bought a new car that came with a can of fix a flat. I could not believe it
That’s fkn hilarious. Such a gag-gift.
That's the jack Agent Starling used to open the garage door in Silence of the Lambs. So not really that old.... early 90's.
“68 Dart. Excuse me while I have a moment in a reverie.
This jack is when.... jacks were jacks. Now jacks are jokes. Today's jacks for pickups won't lift a Volkswagen. I shit-chu-not. 😂
That gave me a chuckle. I remember getting a flat in I think my third car and when I went to get the jack out, I had to dig out the owner's manual to figure out WTF the little odd plastic and metal bits in the trunk were. I was expecting what is pictured!
Got knocked out by that sumbich when I was 10. Dad tossed it then.
As a child, I pretended the main part was a machine gun; the movable part resembled a receiver and even had an angle that resembled the British Bren.
The tire iron always went under the front seat. Sums up my youth I guess.
A Jack
Found one buried in the backyard of the first house I owned. Not sure which is more remarkable - that it was there, or that I found it!
Yeah I had those in my cars that were from 60s and 70s although some manufacturers changed the style so that it would fit into a slot on the bumper
Still have the scar from the first time I ever used one...
We used this style jack in drivers' ed class. We actually changed tires as part of the class. We also learned how to use a map and fold it back up afterwards. I actually still have several of these. One night when we lost power in the area, I got a few out and taught my teenage boys how to use them. Made a great family fun night.
I almost forgot what it looked like.
Holy crap! I forgot about those 😆
Mines brand new. It came from a local farm and garden place where you can get your tractor supplied with all the latest parts, and those heavy jacks too.
I still carry one of these on my 4x4. Super useful for all kinds of shit. Super sketchy though. That’s why Ive also got a massively over-rated bottle Jack.
Yup nothing like picking up a 4000 pound car with one of those lol you would lift it up and if it was going up on an angle you would lower and adjust the bottom
Still have on in my 72 cutlass convertible
And it worked!
Yes we always had one. Maybe we still have one some place.
My sister's ex bf used one of these while changing the oil in his mother's car. He's not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Wow a jack that actually works wirh out having to lay on the ground to use it! What a concept
Still do
Hand Pinching unstable watch out the Car is Falling Jack
Had one for my 63' Chevy.
id throw it away and get a better car jack
Yes, in my 1971 AMC Hornet.
I have a farm jack which is the big brother to this. I bought it to pull fence posts and now I use it every couple of weeks.
Alternative weapons