Back seat cigarette lighters

When I first started looking for a 1965 to 1970 Electra 225 two years ago. I did notice a few here and there with cigarette lighters on the back sides of the front seat.

I never really paid much attention to them and it wasn’t in any way a criteria for the Electra I’d one day own. In fact, I hadn’t really noticed them at all in the car I eventually purchased until it arrived at the house.

My main concern was a rust free, bondo free car.

That having been said, I’ve noticed that not even some Limiteds have them. In fact, quite a few Electra 225s I’ve seen don’t have them. So I’m guessing they were an option. Out of curiosity, just how common was that option? Anyone have any idea?

Doubtful that’s a statistic that was kept track of. Thought I’d ask anyway just in case.

I find it an odd option, but hey, that was the ‘60s and ‘70s. Didn’t the ad campaigns of the time go something like 3 out of 5 doctors recommend cigarette brand x or something like that way back when? Silly times indeed.

Thanks in advance.

Paul

 

Back then clearly it was normal for the kids to smoke......cause they used to give you metal ash trays for the second row.........now new cars don't even have them and we count cup holders and usb plugs. Lol

 

I’d bet that seatback lighters were on cars with standard interiors and deluxe interior cars got rear armrest lighters. I’ve had two Cadillacs that had rear trays with lighters in the armrests, one a coupe, one a sedan.
Patrick

 

Back in the day, even snowmobiles had cigarette lighters, right next to the open carburetor.

 

My 1968 suicide door lincoln had five factory cigarette lighters

Mad Men series prop.

 

My 1969 Wildcat had them on the side of the front seat in chrome bezels. Always thought they were pretty cool.

 

My Electra has one in each of the back seat ashtrays, and my Wildcat has one mounted on each rear door pillar. Both cars have the more deluxe "Custom" interior package, and not the basic one. I'm not sure if the base interiors had them, I'm sure someone can correct me on that.
Finding the proper circuit breaker/fuse for those things is more of a challenge. I've never found new ones, I just maintain a stock 0f "gently used" ones I've liberated from wrecker's yards.

 

Post a picture of the circuit breaker; I may be able to cone up with a number.
Patrick

 

Cigarette lighter on a snowmobile! Well, we sure loved our smokes back then!

I do like ‘em, the cigarette lighters in my car. Certainly gets a conversation going while showing off the car!

 

Fun fact. Made up on the spur of the moment but likley true

Before 'cigarette' lighters found their way into mainstream cars they were only found in luxury vehicles and they were called 'Cigar lighters' This explains the size of the heating element which was designed to accommodate the larger diameter of a cigar.

Bob