By 1979 , the cable car system had become unsafe , and it needed to be closed for seven months for urgently needed repairs . A subsequent engineering evaluation concluded that it needed comprehensive rebuilding at a cost of $ 60 million . Mayor Dianne Feinstein took charge of the effort , and helped win federal funding for the bulk of the rebuilding job . In 1982 the cable car system was closed again for a complete rebuild . This involved the complete replacement of 69 city blocks ' worth of tracks and cable channels , the complete rebuilding of the car barn and powerhouse within the original outer brick walls , new propulsion equipment , and the repair or rebuild of 37 cable cars . The system reopened on June 21 , 1984 , in time to benefit from the publicity that accompanied San Francisco 's hosting of that year 's Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
1984 Democratic National Convention
San Francisco cable car system