why did older cars have such long antennae when newer cars either don’t have one at all or a tiny nub?

Question

why did older cars have such long antennae when newer cars either don’t have one at all or a tiny nub?

In: 568

Answer 1

My favorite antenna design came in the late 80s when VW and some other European car companies started using the roof mounted Fuba Beta Flex antenna. Here in America I think we first saw it on VW’s 87 Scirocco 16 Valve and the GTI 16 Valve. Some referred it’s style as bee sting style antenna.

Some Japanese car brands started offering similar antennas on certain models of theirs in later years. Not sure if they were Fuba brand though.