In the United States, a no-frills automobile model typically has a minimum of convenience equipment, a less powerful engine and spartan trim. Frequently, these models represent the lowest-priced version of a larger selection of more lavishly equipped and trimmed models of that same car. Often, the less-expensive models are sold with a
manual transmission and have a shorter options list. Early 1950s American examples include the
Chevrolet 150 and
Kaiser-Frazer Henry J. These were larger cars than those produced in the US in the 1940s gasoline rationing period by
Crosley, who shut down in 1952. One of the more famous no-frills cars was the
Studebaker Scotsman, which was on sale from 1957 to 1959. These cars came with a low-grade cloth-trimmed front seat and contained only a driver's side sun visor, minimal soundproofing, no door armrests and painted trim (in lieu of chrome trim); even routine convenience items, such as a
cigarette lighter and
dome light were not present. Buyers were allowed to buy only a low-cost
heater and a few other trim and convenience items from a short options list; a
radio was not offered as an option on this model (unlike
Studebaker's more expensive models). During the 1960s and early 1970s, American automakers offered several trim levels of full-sized models (each having a different name), with a price-leading no-frills versions. Examples included the
Chevrolet Biscayne,
Ford Custom 500, and
Plymouth Fury I. While ostensibly targeted toward fleet buyers and business customers where luxury is not a concern, these cars were also available to private customers. While many of these cars were typically sold with the standard six-cylinder or basic V-8 engine with the standard three-speed manual transmission, many of these price-leading models were also available with the full range of engines and transmissions, including those that were performance-oriented, unlike the later no-frills models that had restricted performance options. By the late 1960s, a vast majority of all price-leading models were built and sold with V-8 engines and automatic transmission, as consumer needs were changing, and were even being built and sold with luxury comfort and convenience features once seen only on the higher-priced model lines, including air conditioning and power steering. Only a small handful of base model vehicles were sold with the basic six-cylinder/three-speed manual transmission powertrain, without optional extra, or relegated them completely to fleet sales only. During the gasoline crisis of the 1970s, many American automakers began offering no-frills models on their compact lines of cars (such as the
Ford Pinto MPG, and
Plymouth Duster "Feather Duster"). As before, these models usually had spartan trim (vinyl seats with rubber floor covering); fewer convenience items than the more expensive models (e.g., no cigarette lighter); lighter-weight components (such as
aluminum on various engine, body and suspension components); and a manual transmission. Most no-frills cars are sold to fleet buyers, such as taxi companies or police departments. However, these models are generally available to cost-conscious private customers whose primary concerns were price, fuel economy and basic low-cost transportation. The concept of a no-frills car in the European market was common in the 1950s with cars such as the
Ford Abeille or the
Citroën ID Normale. The
Dacia Logan is an example of a recent no-frills car in Europe. Another example is
Fiat Albea. In Argentina and Brazil, the no-frills category takes a considerable share of the new car market. Examples of cost cuts in base versions include: • very little or no
soundproofing • low quality plastics • substitution of rubber on the dashboard to cheaper (rough) plastic • spring-based instead of acceleration-based seatbelt retraction mechanisms • no seatbelt height or seat height adjustment • no
anti-lock braking systems or
airbags, except where required by law • no steering wheel adjustments • cheaper paint processes •
facelifted models instead of new
generations such as
Volkswagen Santana,
Fiat Palio,
Fiat Uno,
Volkswagen Kombi,
Volkswagen Citi Golf,
Chevrolet Corsa •
cast iron cylinder heads and
engine blocks • no
lambda sensor • retrofitting old generation components (older, less efficient engines, platforms, dashboard components) on a European designed vehicle:
Ford Fiesta,
Fiat Idea,
Fiat Punto,
Vauxhall Meriva,
Volkswagen Polo • no lamps on the lateral direction lights or remotion of the lateral direction lights at all (meaningless) • single-piece plastic bumpers; any grills are designed by placing indentations on the plastic • low-quality springs on the suspension, compensated by a taller and harder adjustment • less maintenance on the tools used to build the vehicles • smaller and more restrictive
catalytic converters In some markets, often in the developing world, very aggressive forms of no-frills cars may be available. For example, the
supermini and
city cars sold in the
Mercosur markets, such as the
Chevrolet Celta,
Chevrolet Corsa,
Fiat Uno,
Fiat Palio,
Ford Ka and
Volkswagen Gol tend to be noisy and feature cost cuttings like: ==Filling stations==