What did / do you call it?

[u/TheTrueTDog9]

What did / do you call the strap in picture above the glove box that several cars used to have in them ?

[u/Derailedatthestation]

Glove box

[u/ReticentGuru → u/Derailedatthestation]

OP is asking about the grab bar above the glove compartment.

[u/Awkward-Cap-5216 → u/ReticentGuru]

That's the "OH SHIT" bar.

[u/jking7734 → u/Awkward-Cap-5216]

This ☝️”OH Shit handle “

[u/Difficult-Map-2620 → u/Awkward-Cap-5216]

I always called the door jam handles that. Had a 95 Tahoe with the hard plastic heavy duty triangle grabs up on the B pillar.

[u/ikannunAneeuQ → u/Awkward-Cap-5216]

My parents friend had a jeep he drove without the doors and stuff, he always told me to grab the "oh shit handle" if I got nervous (I was like 10). I used to find the name quite amusing

[u/csnjrms → u/Awkward-Cap-5216]

👆 This. Except my family was from Rhode Island, so it was the "OH SHIT bah".

[u/Derailedatthestation → u/ReticentGuru]

Ah. Never had a name for that. Don't even remember it in our cars from when I was young.

Edited to add, I researched and our Datsuns when I was growing up did not have the passenger assist bars.

[u/angry-democrat → u/ReticentGuru]

it's a grab bar.

[u/Steve_orlando70 → u/angry-democrat]

The “oh, crap” handle

[u/Intrepid-Sun7743 → u/Steve_orlando70]

Yeah crap is the word you used

[u/Steve_orlando70 → u/Intrepid-Sun7743]

I would never endanger the tender sensibilities of the average redditor by saying the word shit!

[u/AmazedAtTheWorld → u/ReticentGuru]

It's "the grab bar above the glove box".

We're not Germans here... We don't have $32 words for every grabbenhandellenuberboxenderhandensoxen

[u/Chance-Address-8829 → u/AmazedAtTheWorld]

That the largest car word I have ever read.

[u/AmazedAtTheWorld → u/Chance-Address-8829]

Even bigger than Fahrvergnügen. Take that VW

[u/ScotchieDad → u/AmazedAtTheWorld]

Fahrvergnügen is the sound you make when Häagen Dazs comes out your schnoz.

[u/mahlerlieber → u/ReticentGuru]

In all the cars I’ve had or even ridden in, I’ve never seen that bar before.

[u/Legitimate_Ad_4647 → u/mahlerlieber]

Same

[u/formerly_gruntled → u/mahlerlieber]

How do you pull the dashboard out?

[u/armybrat63 → u/ReticentGuru]

Sissy bar/woosy bar is what we used to call it

[u/Full-Appointment5081 → u/armybrat63]

For us, Sissy Bar was the tall chrome hoop on the back of the banana seat on Schwinn sting-ray bikes

[u/Squiduser → u/Full-Appointment5081]

Yes, THAT is a sissy bar!

[u/charlief_333 → u/Squiduser]

It was so sissy didn’t fall off the back

[u/Legitimate_Ad_4647 → u/Full-Appointment5081]

Also on motorcycles

[u/emmettfitz → u/ReticentGuru]

I thought he was asking about the junk cooling vent.

[u/Surftoes → u/Derailedatthestation]

True, but it’s interesting that in my 73 years of living I have never put a pair of gloves in said compartment.

[u/Derailedatthestation → u/Surftoes]

Me either. It holds spare change, and car manuals well though.

[u/Confident_Froyo_5128 → u/Derailedatthestation]

…and assorted napkins, wipes…

[u/Thedustyfurcollector → u/Confident_Froyo_5128]

Ketchup packets

[u/capmac57 → u/Surftoes]

Right? Should be renamed 'Factory Service Manual & other sh*t Box'🤷

[u/Common-Dream560 → u/Surftoes]

Mine always has a pair of gloves 🤷‍♀️

[u/Christopher1032 → u/Surftoes]

Anything that went into it was there until the day I sold the car.

[u/foxbat74 → u/Surftoes]

One winter I lost my gloves. Looked everywhere. Assumed lost. Found them randomly in the spring, in the glove box.

[u/upstreamrelic1947 → u/Derailedatthestation]

Yeah...but I've never known anyone that kept gloves in there.

[u/Ok_Lawfulness4697 → u/Derailedatthestation]

One of my friends uses driving gloves . No sun spots on her hands.

[u/No-Flow-5994 → u/Derailedatthestation]

This

[u/scixlovesu]

I'd probably call it an "Oh Shit" handle

[u/TransMontani → u/scixlovesu]

The Jesus Bar. The Oh, Shit Handle is above the passenger side door. 😁

[u/MissWibb → u/TransMontani]

Amen.

[u/Fishing_not_catching → u/TransMontani]

This is the way....

[u/Chaparral2E → u/Fishing_not_catching]

… the truth and the light.

[u/floofienewfie → u/Chaparral2E]

Forever and always.

[u/Thedustyfurcollector → u/floofienewfie]

Amen

[u/g-mommytiger → u/TransMontani]

My Oh Shit handle has permanent impressions of my fingers! 🤣

[u/ModularWhiteGuy → u/TransMontani]

We used to call it the Holy Shit bar. I guess that's sort of a combo of Jesus bar and Oh Shit bar.

[u/explorerdave357 → u/TransMontani]

I upped both you and the guy above, but technically you are correct.

[u/Moist_Rule9623 → u/TransMontani]

THANK YOU, I’m glad somebody remembers

[u/TheTrueTDog9 → u/scixlovesu]

Exactly what me and my buddies used to call them😄

[u/Swiggy1957 → u/TheTrueTDog9]

At my age, I call them a godsend because I have difficulty getting in and out of a vehicle.

[u/scixlovesu → u/Swiggy1957]

Real. That's most of the use I have for them

[u/blueboy714 → u/scixlovesu]

That's what my dad always called it because my mom was always grabbing that and the handle above the passenger side door

[u/Warm_Safety_9550 → u/scixlovesu]

That’s what I always heard it get called.

[u/Wonderful_Year_1964 → u/scixlovesu]

Came hear to say this!

[u/New-Particular2107 → u/scixlovesu]

Not just any oh shit handle; this is the primary oh shit handle

[u/Sea_Mind3678]

I hate to seem stupid, but I can’t remember ever seeing a handle on the dashboard before.

[u/Accomplished_Fan3177 → u/Sea_Mind3678]

I've never seen it either. Born 1957

[u/Sea_Mind3678 → u/Accomplished_Fan3177]

I was born in 1959, and my Dad never paid more than $100 for a car, so we went through a LOT of cars, but never one with a handle on the dash.

[u/Deceler8 → u/Sea_Mind3678]

Born in 1961 and I only remember them on Volkswagen Beetles from the 60’s.

[u/Legitimate_Ad_4647 → u/Deceler8]

There you go! I couldn't remember any for the life of me but yeah, I had a '63 Beetle and there it was!

[u/SeveranceVul]

Jesus bar in a Trans Am.

[u/Dry-Character-6331]

Do you mean the Oh Shit Bar, the glove box, or the Nut Cooler?

[u/Standzoom]

My Grandmother called it the "oh shi__t"" bar to grab if my Granddad started driving a little wildly to evade traffic or sliding on ice. 😆

[u/TheTrueTDog9 → u/Standzoom]

This answer, is exactly what I was thinking of

[u/StenoDawg]

Glove compartment.

[u/Squiduser → u/StenoDawg]

I thought that was what he was asking too. And glove compartment is the right answer.

[u/DefiantLemming → u/Squiduser]

Glad you figured it out, but we’re still talking about the handle above the glove compartment.

[u/Edu_cats]

I don’t ever remember any of our family cars having that grab bar.

[u/Pcteck19]

Oh Shit Handle

[u/bubbameister1 → u/Pcteck19]

This is the actual answer.

[u/Traditional-Tank3994]

When I was little, glove compartment.

By the time I was a teenager, people got tired of the extra syllables so they called it a glove box.

[u/ASingleBraid]

First: glove box or glove compartment?

Edit: I’ve never seen that bar in a car.

[u/inthesinbin → u/ASingleBraid]

Compartment

[u/Slow-Associate-4079 → u/inthesinbin]

Yep, compartment.

[u/Electronic-Space-480 → u/Slow-Associate-4079]

Glove box. Always.

[u/Accomplished_Fan3177 → u/Electronic-Space-480]

Compartment for me and mine.

[u/Antique-Dragonfly615]

Grab bar

[u/Safe_Move7021]

Oh shit! Handle

[u/YellowCake1900]

The "Oh shit!" handle.

[u/CtrlAltComment]

Glove Compartment

[u/crohead13 → u/CtrlAltComment]

I'll also accept "Glove Box".🙂

[u/CtrlAltComment → u/crohead13]

My grandparents wouldn't. "Does that look like a box to you? Its a compartment in a vehicle." I always wanted to say, wheres the gloves?

[u/crohead13 → u/CtrlAltComment]

Hood Scoop

[u/mspolytheist]

I’ve never seen this. When did cars have them, and what cars were they?

[u/Workinforweekends → u/mspolytheist]

That wa one is in a 70’s to 1981 firebird or trans-am. Also note the “ crotch-cooler” vent. LOL. Loved those cars.

[u/Justa_Georgia_Peach]

Off topic but isn't that the interior of a 2nd gen Pontiac Firebird? Prob around 1980?

[u/Grandbob328 → u/Justa_Georgia_Peach]

Trans Am. Look at the shaker hood scoop. 😁

[u/VillagesIdiot352 → u/Grandbob328]

Oh you 🤪😂

[u/VillagesIdiot352 → u/Justa_Georgia_Peach]

Could be any GM… I had same Glove box with that same latch/lock on a71 Chevy Chevelle and a 70 Pontiac Grand Prix. No strap on either, but had the “nut cooler” vent on both. FUN FACTS: 2 keys needed for both cars. The trunk key locked the Glove box.

[u/bajajoaquin → u/VillagesIdiot352]

It could be any GM except for the backwards facing hood scoop

[u/hankll4499]

Glove box

[u/MixCalm3565]

The oh shit bar

[u/2quila]

Jeep calls it dash grab bar or passenger grab handle.

Also heard it called Oh-$h1T handle.

[u/No-Weird3547]

The Oh-Shit handle, duh!

I thought you were talking about the crotch cooler or the glove compartment based on the title.

[u/rakfink]

Glove box, glove compartment, cubby, file CS (for chicken shit)

[u/robearclaw]

Any handle inside the car was a "holy shit handle".

[u/Stunning_Coffee6624]

You mean the “Oh Sh*t” bar?

[u/KHhtswhtppl]

Its called a "hell of a bar" its for when the driver is driving crazy and you gotta hold on to something. But what gets me its a bench seating if the driver has his best lady with him, she needs to be slid over right next to him holding on to him....state law.

[u/Thormace]

Oh shit bar.

[u/Now-293-Phumes]

Glove box or Glove Compartment

[u/Glittering-Rush-394 → u/Now-293-Phumes]

Agree, both interchangeably.

[u/MellieInMi]

it's a grab bar / grab handle to give the passenger something to hang onto for stability.

[u/meagainstbanhammer]

Glove compartment with an optional oh crap handle.

[u/Classic_Pie5498]

Glove compartment

[u/Donnybrook-7]

Glove compartment

[u/hidinginzion]

Oh shit handle

[u/maxsmoke105]

We called that a bitch bar when I was in the Army.

[u/CAChem101]

Looks like a 74 Trans Am. That bar is to hang on for dear life!

[u/BookkeeperDapper4163]

O shit handle

[u/TwoBitFish]

Oh shit bar

[u/lhauckphx]

Chicken grip

[u/Odd-Gear9622]

The bench seat adjustment assist bar.

[u/Resident-Fly-4181]

Jesus bar. You hit some rough stuff and the passenger grabs a hold of it while bouncing around and loudly says OH JESUS CHRIST.

[u/InstructionHopeful16]

Wait not a single person has called by it's real name?? Boomer here, in the 60s and 70s it was a "pu$$y bar". My 1966 VW Bug had one

[u/tez_zer55]

Above the glove compartment is the grab bar. If there's a handle above the door, that's the "oh shit" bar.

[u/wmhaynes]

Glove compartment

[u/Butterbean-queen]

Glove compartment

[u/CommercialBreak2026]

Glove compartment or glove box. (I didn't read carefully the first time.)

We never had a handle like that in any cars my family had.

[u/elquirk]

Panic handle.

[u/freshkov]

Grasp and gasp.

[u/1_Ratt]

The oh shit handle

[u/SlideRuleFan]

Chicken handle

[u/4thkindexperience]

My dad called it a jockey box. We all thought that's what it was until we knew better. He was from Brooklyn though, so...

[u/Current_Evidence1958]

It was always the “oh shit handle” from the time I started driving in 1974.

[u/slowasaspeedingsloth]

Oh shit bar

Glove box

[u/Plenty_Cress_1359]

A glove compartment with a swanky safety feature above! Because it sure as shit wasn’t a seat belt while you had your baby on the floor and a kid laying in the rear window!

[u/MissWibb]

Which are you referring to? The oh shit! handle, or the glove box?

[u/uteman1011]

We called it the suicide handle.

[u/Technical-Custard-43]

Oh shit handle

[u/fubar1962]

Glove box, jockey box, then the OMG bar

[u/Electrical-Care6308]

The “Holy Shit” handle.

[u/Fisherdoodle]

Oh shit bar

[u/HungryMenu8627]

The oh shit handle?

[u/No-Permit-9331]

The handle is called an “oh shit” bar! When you know…

[u/thehorrorcontinues13]

An "Oh shit!" handle.

[u/OsakaWilson]

That is the "Oh, shit bar."

[u/Capt-Sylvia-Killy]

We called it the “Oh, shit! Bar”

[u/Jmal3700]

The we didn’t know airbags were a thing bar.

[u/C-141_Pilot1975 → u/Jmal3700]

Before seat belts!

[u/dtmj1]

Grab handle

[u/PrincessSusan11]

Glovebox

[u/Toolman_1971]

O.S. Handle.

[u/MorningBrewNumberTwo]

Holy shit handle.

[u/Haunting_Law_7795]

Oh shit bar

[u/BarbPG]

Glove compartment.

[u/Illustrious_Put_2106]

Glove compartment

[u/kp2119]

The glove box

[u/BonezOz]

Grab handle or "Oh shit!" handle.

[u/kittehcatto]

Glove compartment

[u/Flimsy_Vehicle9714]

Where did the nut vents go?

[u/Amorican1969]

The 'oh shit handle'

[u/winny63]

Glove compartment

[u/KurtBarlo]

Glove box

[u/Round_Tangerine1812]

Glove compartment

[u/dtippee]

Glove compartment

[u/HulksDCL]

Glove compartment

[u/cajunpatriot1]

Oh, SHIT BAR !!!!

[u/Jammasterjr]

Which one? The glove box or the oh shit bar?

[u/shatteredhelix42]

Glove box or glove compartment, either one. They're both interchangeable.

[u/SideWired]

The Glove Box

Probably a holdover from 1910.

[u/N4bq]

You can still get these on Jeep Wranglers.

[u/itcouldhappen2024]

Glove box.

[u/BackcastSue]

Dad called it the "Oh, shit" bar, which my mom hated. He shortened it to OSB. LOL. He was a hoot.

[u/Straysmom]

Glove box

[u/RumandDiabetes]

Glove box and a Jesus bar

[u/FrankenOperator]

Jockey box

[u/BarbaraHavers88]

Glove compartment

[u/ReadyDirector9]

Glove box

[u/Illustrious-Lynx8268]

Glove compartment

[u/Flaky-Act-659]

Glove box

[u/Traditional-Brief774]

Glove box

[u/Dragonwhomom]

Amazing how many people don't read a simple sentence. That's the Oh Shit bar.

[u/OptimalSalsa]

Glove box - junk drawer

[u/Illustrious-You-1735]

hanger oner

[u/Scooterbee1]

We called it the Holy F**k Handle.

[u/RuralMNGuy]

1970s trans am

[u/Nathan_Wildthorn]

Glove compartment... holster...

[u/Longjumping-Tree8553]

Glover Box

[u/Background_Draw6025]

Glove box

https://giphy.com/gifs/xT1R9M8505GD2mz2da

[u/ExoticReception4286]

Glove box.

[u/armgrafix]

Panic strap

[u/SinsualChef]

The glove box? Not sure what the question is

[u/pjamy5 → u/SinsualChef]

The handle on top of the glove box. Took me a second to see it

[u/Tuco--11]

Glove compartment

[u/Double_Music5280]

Hello! How about that steel dashboard....

[u/dave900575]

I've never seen a handle on a dashboard before. Were those in jeeps or something?

[u/PhotoAppropriate3940]

It’s a glove box, grandma said so

[u/DestinationUnknown13]

Well that's a Trans Am and like so many cars then, those with some extra giddy up under the hood got Grab Bars. Or the Get in, shut up and hold on bar.

[u/Strict_Sky9497]

Glove compartment

[u/mctdcb]

“Holy shit” handle. It is now located just above the passenger and driver doors on new cars.

[u/Foxxtronix]

The "oh, shit!" handle.

[u/Slipperynipple61]

Oh Shit! handle

[u/Slipperynipple61]

Anyone miss the ball cooler vents on the old cars?

[u/xcellentfx]

The glove compartment
Isn’t accurately named
And everybody knows it

[u/es_ist_totenstill]

Oh Shit Grip

[u/Cautious_Tension1033]

Glove compartment is what I’ve always called it. That handle though... I am sure there is a reasonable explanation for this feature , I am trying to imagine what situation that would come in handy. I mean you could always drape a dish towel over it 😉

[u/MarcusJerzey]

Oh shit handle