Vintage Air Filter Housings Remind Us of Simpler Times

What’s the first thing you notice under the hood of a car? If it’s a big sheet of plastic with simulated intake runners, you’re looking at a modern car—and why are you doing that, exactly? The correct answer, at least for the classics still equipped with them, is the air-cleaner housing.

From a time when engines were carbureted, these housings served not only an important functional purpose, but one of underhood aesthetics as well. Usually round, usually painted in a bright, eye-catching color and frequently featuring interesting graphics and logos, they looked great topping old motors, and they look great today hanging on a garage wall.

Here’s a small selection we found browsing eBay, but an equally good (and definitely more fun) source would be your local junkyard.

Click the following links to see more details on the items below: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.