View Full Version : The GM "Special" Vent


lnx64
09-12-2020, 06:22 PM
On a lot of old Chevrolet cars, they have a vent under the steering wheel that aims right at your.........well.......crotch.

https://i.imgur.com/dcloP8E.png

Was this vent actually for cooling between your legs, or was there supposed to be another function for this vents placement and direction in which it blows air?

My fathers old 80's Cavalier had it, his 90's Chevy pickup has it, but my 94 Caprice does NOT have it. I would assume if it was some kind of weird luxury item, my Caprice would have had it, but alas it does not, only the cheaper vehicles have it.

mr_rye89
09-12-2020, 11:21 PM
It seemed like my '91 Supra had a crotch vent but I don't remember.......

I ought to see if my grandparents '03 buick has one :scratch2:

dishdude
09-13-2020, 01:18 AM
They really need to bring this back. The next best thing are ventilated seats.

MadMan
09-13-2020, 02:38 AM
Ahh, the 'crotch cooler.' tbh, I'm not sure of their intended purpose. Funny thing too, it seems like it was often only the driver that got one.

Maybe it was to cool off or warm up the seat, assuming you were not in the car, but warming it up before driving? idk

zeno
09-13-2020, 10:42 AM
Part of the Astro Ventilation system. There were also exhaust
vents in the door jams on mine. Had a 69 Caprice & 73 Impala
with it. Neither had AC. Kept the car quite cool......
Also had a 67 Impala wagon with comfortron AC. IIRC it did not
have Asrto but used ball vents & lap coolers.

73 Zeno:smoke:
LFOD !

Eric H
09-13-2020, 08:02 PM
They probably worked best with a Kool Kushion.

lnx64
09-14-2020, 07:27 AM
I have no idea how I managed to put this under the ground sub forum group, I thought I put this under the one for cars.

crt89
09-19-2020, 01:21 PM
My 2001 Chevrolet Malibu had one. I wondered what it was for. Honestly I usually never thought about it since it wasn't noticeable being hidden by the steering wheel. Don't remember anything being mentioned about it in the manual, it did rotate up and down at least on mine.

I did not realize other GM vehicles had that.