Ford Wrist-Twist: A Steering Fiasco That Makes Tesla's Yoke Seem Sensible

In the ceaseless endeavor to revolutionize the automotive world, sometimes manufacturers steer away from the conventional, quite literally. While Tesla made headlines with its yoke steering control, a dig into the annals reveals a far more whimsical steering attempt by Ford in the 1960s, dubbed the 'wrist-twist.'

A Twist in The Tale of Steering

The mid-60s saw Ford flirting with futuristic steering mechanisms. Entrusted to Robert J. Rumpf, who had a hand in designing the U.S. national missile defense system, the task was to envision automotive steering from an extraterrestrial perspective. The result was something truly out of this world - the 'wrist-twist' control, birthed and tested for Mercury.

Replacing the conventional wheel, the wrist-twist showcased twin 5-inch dials on a standard steering column, synchronized to turn in unison. Ford boasted a less bulky, more spacious interior courtesy of this quirky mechanism. In a 1965 promo reel, Ford, with a tint of the era's sexism, claimed the system would ease parking woes for women, purportedly finding it the most taxing part of driving.

A Jerky Ride to Obscurity

However, reality didn't twist in favor of Ford’s innovative steering. A test by Popular Mechanics in 1965 described the driving experience akin to a 'kangaroo with hiccups,' with every turn of the dials resulting in a jerky motion. Despite the tester growing fond of the system's peculiar charm over time, the wrist-twist never maneuvered its way to production.

Steering Through Time: From Yokes to Squares

Unconventional steering attempts didn't end with Ford. Tesla's yoke stirred the waters in recent times, albeit with a choice to revert to traditional steering. Tracing back, the Chevrolet Corvair Testudo concept car of 1963 previewed a square-shaped steering, a stark departure from the familiar circular design. Various other imaginative steering mechanisms emerged through the decades, from Maserati’s Boomerang to the 1985 Mazda MX-03 concept featuring an airliner-type yoke. However, none could dethrone the traditional round steering wheel.

A Wheel-y Good Design

While the automotive domain cherishes innovation, the tale of Ford's wrist-twist and other steering novelties accentuates that some age-old designs like the round steering wheel endure for a reason. They amalgamate simplicity, efficiency, and a tactile connection between the driver and the road, steering clear of complications that fanciful designs might entangle.