Glove compartments are so named because they were originally built to actually hold gloves. When they were first invented, cars were open to the weather. Much like when you’re driving a motorcycle, it was necessary to wear gloves to prevent the wind from numbing your hands. A compartment was added as a great place to keep those all important gloves. Although the need for driving gloves has long since passed, the name has stuck. Through the years, the handy box has held all sorts of things that we needed to keep on hand. Some of us are old enough to remember keeping paper maps, breath mints, and/or bank deposit slips in the handy holder.
Fun Fact: Some glove compartments used to have indentations for cups, useful for when you were at a drive in. They were the precursors to today’s cup holders.
Keeping a pair of gloves in your glove compartment is optional nowadays, but there are other things that you absolutely should keep inside:
- Car registration.
- Insurance information.
- Owner’s manual.
- AAA card or information.
- Pen.
- Other ideas:
- Pain reliever.
- A little bit of cash, including coins.
- Tissues and wipes.
- Face Mask.
- Oil change/repair log.
Of course the most important thing to keep in your glove box is the telephone number of your favorite garage – Norris Automotive!