This glove compartment door is from a 1962 Ford Falcon Sprint Futura automobile. The shallow wells on the inside indicate that the door, when open to ninety degrees, created a flat surface suitable for supporting a glass or bottle. This design was effective in a stationary vehicle and was widely used by motorists parked at drive-in restaurants or movie theaters. Around 1980, with the rise of fast-food drive-thrus, long commutes, and more eating on-the-go lifestyles, automobile manufacturers designed the in-car cup holder, which became an important feature in new automobiles. Since then, designers have created a variety of cup holder models, placing them in convenient locations like the center console and the door arm rests.
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