Modern automotive technologies that make driving safer in winter have come a long way. Technologies like anti-lock brakes and traction control have been ubiquitous for a while now, all-wheel drive is a popular feature, and snow tires are getting more advanced every year. However, in 1969, many people were still putting chains on their tires when the snow flew. GM came up with a solution in the late 1960s that was available across much of the Chevrolet lineup, including the Chevy Camaro.
The solution was option V75, the Liquid Tire Chain Traction Dispenser. It was a pair of dispensers mounted in the rear wheel wells that would spray a space-age compound on the rear wheels that claimed to improve traction on slick roads. There was a control on the dash allowing the driver to spray the Liquid Tire Chain at will. “Just spray and go on ice and snow,” the packaging said. It’s a little unclear what this magical chemical compound actually was. GM just described it as a “traction improver.”
This gimmick was predictably available on passenger cars like the Chevelle and Chevy II, but it was surprisingly available on the Chevy Camaro, on which it was a $23.20 option. The Camaro isn’t known as a year-round family car ready to tackle snowy roads, but GM gave it the option of Liquid Tire Chain for adventurous Chevy Camaro owners in snowy locales.
It’s estimated that about 2,600 units were ever equipped with the V75 Liquid Tire Chain option in 1969. That makes V75-equipped cars rare oddities. Even if you can find one, it’s even harder to find the original Liquid Tire Chain ammo that you can install in the dispensers behind the rear wheels. Even if you somehow find a car with the appropriate hardware and get your hands on a can of Liquid Tire Chain, good luck making the system work as originally advertised.
Some automotive innovations from the 1960s endured for decades, like headlight washers, rear-window defrosters, and engine block heaters. However, Liquid Tire Chain only lasted for one model year. It disappeared from the options list across the Chevy lineup in 1970. We’re grateful that snow tires have gotten so good that we no longer need to spray anything on our tires to make them suitable for snow.
Comments
A friend in high school had this. Made a difference of all you had were crappy bias tires.
In 1978 friend had this on a black Camaro RS/SS with the houndstooth seats. Everyone was afraid even to try it.
I remember I came across a kit for this in the attic of a now gone Chevrolet dealership.
Pep Boys sold a spray like this circa-1973. I bought some for our family’s ’66 Chevrolet Impala a year or so after getting my driver’s license; i was on the leading edge of technical developments at age 17 😉 The tires did ‘bite’ better in the snow when treated with the spray. I used it also on snow tires during a blizzard driving from Monticello, NY, to Langhorne, PA, in early-February 1974. That remains the hairiest extended drive in the snow I’d ever undertaken. Liquid Tire Chains i think it was called.
The can were always empty when I needed it
you replaces the can you then never needed it
For those to young studded snow tires fixed all the issues
you never got stuck
The biggest problem with studded snow tires were the studs would fly out under hwy driving and the studs would hit windshields
then they out lawed snow tires
This did work for marginal conditions but nothing like chains.
I’d just fill them with bleach and use it for burnouts.
There is a COPO Camaro here in N.Illinois with this option, possibly 1 of 1 COPO ?
Back in the day when GM was innovative.