Let’s go back to a time when driver-assistance systems were science fiction and winter tires were a luxury. John Morris was on the road in his 1969 Chevrolet Nova, he told CNN. A fantastic summer cruiser, but in a Missouri snowstorm, a V8 with a light rear end turns into an unguided missile.
When the weather shifted, things spiraled instantly. The rear broke loose, counter-steering didn’t help, and the Nova slid helplessly backwards into a deep ditch. John escaped unharmed, but the car was wedged tight. The engine still ran, but with no traction and temperatures plummeting below freezing, the situation became dangerous fast. No roadside app, no reception, no passing traffic.