That was very captivating, of course I remember these big washes well and always looked forward to going with Dad. We had a number of them in Toronto but they are all pretty much gone now. We'd go to one north of Egllnton off Bayview in Leaside and another on the Danforth east of Woodbine. 

I remember the first automated car wash in Hamilton, it was at the Beaver station at 156 Dundurn St.

 

In the clip they mention that employees drive the cars through the wash. It seems like an unnecessary step, but many drivers can't line their cars up, and once I even witnessed a collision in line at a car wash in Oakville. Somebody rear-ended the car in front that had just got on the belt.

 

Today if you select the right options you get stuff like this on your car:

 

It almost looks like the solar system.

One of my earliest memories is watching my aunts 1970 Barracuda converitble go through the carwash while we walked beside it on the other side of the glass.