Good call! The top photo looks like a 1960s Mustang?
Actually all cars had them. I preferred them over the modern steering wheel all purpose lever. It was easier to use, as long as they didn't get too rusty...
Pretty soon you won't even need a steering wheel!!
I loved those old Brit phone boxes. Still do. Much classier than what we had here in the States. Sometimes a guy would get the number off of a stolen phone credit number, then you could use it until it was cancelled to make long distance calls-- without being traced. There was also a way for awhile to use a paper clip or something to short out the phone to get a dial tone. That way you'd save 10 cents!
Growing up my grandparents near Athens, Ohio still were on a party line. So you could pick up the receiver and listen to your neighbor's conversations. Once in awhile you'd have to announce to them that they'd been on the phone too long, and that you had to make a call.
Their phone was like one you see in 1930s-40s movies. It was fixed on the wall with the mouth piece pointed down. The receiver was on a hook on the right side, which you'd pick up to get a dial tone (or eavesdrop) and to hear. As a kid I used to have to stand on a stool to talk on the phone! And long distance calls were a luxury, reserved only for special occasions. You'd call the operator, give her the name and number, then wait until she called back to say that you'd been connected. Had kind of a charm to it.
I'll never forget when area codes came in around 1960. It was amazing to be able to direct dial long distance without having an operator do it for you! I thought it was remarkable that you had to dial 10 numbers...