I only remember one cassette deck that recorded in the car. I don't remember at all WHO made the thing, but if you liked whatever was on the radio, apparently you could just hit a single button and start recording it.
It seemed like a valid idea at the time, but I guess you would have to have a blank cassette sitting somewhere, and sitting RIGHT at where you wanted to start recording at all times.
I think the ONLY 8-track recorder I ever played with was some '70s "all-in'one" stereo system (Electro...or somesuch). I used it to record my STYX albums to 8-tracks at the time
I wish I still had those tapes around. I would get an 8-track for the Vega.