When did we go metric

[The Veg]

Here in USA I don't think we've had another official push for going metric since the 1970s. Overtly, we seem to hate it. But under the skin, it's been working its way in. Many of our cars use a lot of metric stuff, mostly due to the bits becoming more and more shared across the globe- but ten years ago I was shocked to find metric fasteners in the dashboard of a Chevy commercial van, a real V8 Yank-tank of a vehicle which shares hardly a thing a with the rest of the world.

I'm lucky in a way though, as my father preferred imported cars, which means that I grew up with metric spanners in hand much more than any other type. This has been an asset in my professional life, as I'm a service-engineer type and I've worked for both Asian and European companies and during the hiring interview I've stressed complete familiarity with metric fasteners and tools and that always seems to impress whoever I'm dealing with.