What stevenb said is very true. Roughly 50 years ago designers didn’t have to worry about rules and standards concerning the environment and the safety of passengers and fellow motorists.
All the materials used were allowed at all times, no matter if the passenger would crack their skull on the dashboard in a minor accident. Oak just looked so suave…
Nowadays everything is plastic and soft.
Remember the Austin from Bond or Austin powers It had wings on the axle, bond used it to take other cars apart. It’s actually part of the car but forbidden by law to drive with them nowadays. So much for your original vintage car…