C/D 60th Anniversary: Looking Back at Our Tests of Four Breakthrough Gadgets - Car and Driver (blog)
The progress that’s taken place over our 60-year history hasn’t spared the gadget, and we’ve occasionally been there to chronicle in-car technology’s relentless march forward (or backward). J3AD Breathalyzer, March 1978. What It Is: Electronic breathalyzer. Although at $795 in 1978 dollars, this two-pound brick, which was used in our first drunk-driving test, wasn’t exactly attainable. For a modern equivalent, see our most recent breathalyzer test. Smoking Out Old Smokey Radar-Detector Test, February 1979. The Test: Our first truly comprehensive radar-detector roundup. and apparently enough people are sufficiently opposed to this impediment to progress to turn the manufacture of radar detectors into one of the most tumultuous growth industries in America. How It Worked: We zeroed in on 12 detectors, testing their ability to pick up X- and K-band radar signals by positioning real police radar equipment in various settings along real roads. What We Say Now: While the technology has progressed, the mission of radar detectors. Source: blog.caranddriver.com
