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Modern ATVs and UTVs are incredibly capable, but there’s a decades-old design that can keep up with them—and then some. Recently listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace, this 1970 Coot has four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering, and it’s amphibious. A seller in New Jersey wants $3,800 for it.

Coot Inc. was one of host of small manufacturers building amphibious ATVs in the 1960s and 1970s. It was founded in 1964 by Carl Enos Jr., an 18-year-old mechanic, according to a page on the company put together by current ATV manufacturer Mudd-Ox. The neat thing about the Coot is its articulated hull, which is split in the middle, allowing the two halves to pivot laterally. This helps keep the wheels in contact with the ground when driving over uneven terrain.

This 1970 model has a 0.5-liter Tecumseh four-cylinder engine and high and low range for its four-wheel drive system. Conventional single-axle steering was available, but with four-wheel steering, this ATV is basically a miniature version of the U.S. military’s LARC transport. Coot itself advertised it as a replacement for everything from snowmobiles to garden tractors, and backed that up with an owner’s manual full of off-roading tips accompanied by cartoon illustrations.

According to a 1973 price sheet posted on the same history page, a base model with four-wheel drive and two-wheel steering cost $2,065 at the time. Four-wheel steering was a $110 option, and you could get a trailer for $460.

The original Coot company started out in San Francisco, but later moved to Cedar Park, Texas, before dissolving in 1985. In 2006, Columbus Industries of Fairview, Illinois, introduced a modernized take on the Coot called the Coot 2, but it wasn’t as successful as the original. Production ended after the 2008 model year, perhaps in part because fully-loaded versions cost about $20,000. You got get a nicely-equipped compact car for similar money at the time.

At its Facebook Marketplace price, this vintage model might be a good deal. It’s simpler and much more capable than an Amphicar or one-off amphibious conversions that tend to appear from time to time. This is one old Coot that sounds fun to have around.

Got a tip about something cool for sale? Send us a line at tips@thedrive.com

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Your car’s steering wheel is one of its most-seen and most-touched features, but unless you hate it, you probably don’t give it a lot of thought. Automotive engineers have, which is why there have been so many interesting, unique designs over the years. Kelley Blue Book celebrates our 100th anniversary in 2026, giving us the perfect opportunity to look back at the steering wheels that have guided automotive interior design over the past century.

Before the Steering Wheel

Some of the earliest automobiles didn’t have steering wheels. Instead, they relied on tiller-style controls. That might seem dangerous at first, but cars of the late 1800s had very modest top speeds, such as the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, which maxed out at around 10 mph. It didn’t take long for speed-hungry drivers to figure out that a wheel provides much better control. One of the earliest steering wheel fitments is credited to a racer driving a 4-horsepower Panhard.

1920s through 1930s

As fun as that history lesson was, we’re only here to talk about the last 100 years. While car steering wheels had horn buttons in the 1920s, most were otherwise very simple. A ring for grip and spokes to connect the wheel to the steering column formed the basis of automotive steering wheel design for decades, though Cadillac pushed those boundaries in the 1930s.

The 1933 Cadillac 355C V8 featured a unique control system on the steering wheel hub that allowed the driver to select one of five ride-control positions, altering the car’s suspension behavior. Buyers had to shell out $2,995 for the vehicle, or almost $76,000 in today’s dollars. Even contemporary Duesenberg cars didn’t have such luxuries. 

1940s through 1960s

The 1940s brought a bit more fun to steering wheel design, with color-matched spokes, chrome rings, and fancier grips becoming common in American cars. While they looked incredible, those innovations didn’t add functionality, and they negatively affected crash safety.

The decorative trend continued into the 1950s, though automakers’ logos became much more elaborate during the decade. Cars like the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette featured colorful enamel badges in the center of the steering wheel.

Steering wheel designs leaned into a futuristic look as the industry transitioned into the 1960s, as the Space Race hit full steam. Automakers still relied on chrome accents and pops of color, but the designs became wilder, with more intricate shapes and unique fonts in the logos. Some steering wheels, such as the Ford Mustang’s, took on a fighter jet look, with striking holes in the spokes and bold metal designs. 

1970s and 1980s

The 1970s were the decade of drab car colors, and steering wheels weren’t much more exciting. European brands such as Mercedes-Benz had steering wheels that were all business, with blocky shapes and plain, black plastics. The American automakers relied on geometric designs, with even the upscale brands and sports cars employing relatively boring steering wheels. 

Technology was a big deal in the 1980s, and every automaker wanted to show how far it could go. The steering wheels in some production cars looked like they had been ripped straight out of a concept car gallery, and concept cars took things to an entirely new level. Some cars, such as the Subaru XT, offered funky asymmetrical steering wheels, while others, like the Pontiac Grand Prix, packed in as many buttons as could fit into the center of the wheel. 

1990s and 2000s

Automakers returned to more muted designs in the 1990s, but the big story in that decade was the increasing availability of airbags. While front airbags became mandatory in late 1998, many companies began equipping them as standard or available features much earlier. 

Things didn’t change much in the early 2000s, though steering wheel control buttons for audio systems, cruise control, and other functions became more common. Some, especially sportier models, employed more ergonomic shapes, with indentations for the driver’s thumbs and fingers to assist with grip.

2010s Through Today

With the rise of touchscreens in the 2010s, some automakers brought touch-sensitive controls to steering wheels later in the decade. That trend continued into the 2020s, though backlash from owners and critics has pushed some companies to rethink that approach. Yoke-style steering wheels have also started popping up, with Tesla, Lexus, and other brands offering the unique, two-handed shape.

Concept Car Steering Wheels

Without the need to be practical, safe, or even usable, concept cars have always pushed the boundaries of design. Concept steering wheels take on wild shapes and often lack features their production-ready counterparts require, such as airbags, horn buttons, and turn signal stalks. Some look as if they were taken straight out of a video game, while others lean heavily into motorsport, with Formula 1-inspired controls and hand grips. Automakers use concept cars to test new design and technology elements, many of which don’t make it to production models, but yoke-style steering wheels discussed earlier are a great example of how forward-looking components can make their way into everyday vehicles.

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Like many important automotive innovations, power steering and power brakes were not invented in the era that saw their widespread use. These features were more common on high-end and luxury vehicles at the beginning of this decade. However, by the end of the 1950s, many mid-range cars were also fitted with this groundbreaking technology.

 

The 1950s

It started in 1951 with Chrysler’s Hydraguide hydraulic power steering system.

This system used hydraulic fluid pressurized by a belt-driven pump to push and control steering racks. Hydraguide required regular checks and maintenance to function as designed. The technology set a new standard for luxury in the early part of the decade, and despite being an expensive option at the time, it quickly became popular thanks to the greater ease of driving it offered.

The same popularity and acceptance followed the introduction of power brakes in the early ’50s. Chrysler was an early adopter of hydraulic power disc brakes, which became more commonplace than their traditional (and less effective) drum brake counterparts.

Eventually, these systems were replaced by the electronically controlled versions we know today, but at the time, these innovations made vehicles more accessible and practical for millions of drivers.






Explore automotive innovations from other decades below:

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