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Having changed considerably in the 130 years since their creation in America, cars are no longer the clunky, slow, hand-cranked machines they once were, and if time travel were a thing, 20th century Americans would likely be blown away by modern cars and how they function. With so many more cars on the market now than there were even 50 years ago, it’s become easy to list the top 50 car brands without much of a struggle. But it’s still interesting to learn exactly how cars evolved into what we know and love today, and here’s a brief history of the motor car:
Steam-powered vehicles of the 18th and 19th century Did you know that the first cars ever invented were powered by steam? But, taking a long time to start up as they did, they never really took off (literally!), and inventors of the early 18,00s moved onto buggies powered by electricity. The first electric car was constructed by William Morrison in the U.S. in 1890, and was capable of running for 20 miles an hour on batteries that had to be charged every 50 miles. With virtually no safety features, most electric cars were made to resemble carriages drawn by horses, without a roof and offering little comfort to the passenger or driver.
Mass produced vehicles in the 1890s to 1930s Receiving a patent for the very first car to be powered by gas in 1886, Karl Benz’s automobile had only 3 wheels, and resembled some sort of tricycle that could carry two people. Some years later in 1893, he went on to patent the car’s first safety feature: a double-pivot steering system. Without doors, windshields, turn signals, or a steering wheel that was round, it wasn’t until the 1908 Model T from Henry Ford was designed, that automobiles began to look anything like the cars we’re used to seeing today. Able to be mass-produced thanks to the creation of assembly lines, the Model T was powered by gas and affordable for everyday folks.
Then, in 1912, hand-crank engines were eliminated as the electric starter was invented, also considered to be an early form of safety feature, as hand-crank engines were dangerous and unpredictable. Automobiles with features from the 1930s onward As soon as cars started being produced on a much bigger scale, new features began to appear, such as windshields, speedometers, seatbelts and rearview mirrors. Turn signals were then invented by Buick in 1939, enabling drivers to communicate their moves to other drivers and pedestrians, in a safer way.
Fast forward to 1973 and the first passenger airbag was being installed in Oldsmobile’s model known as the ‘Tornado.’ Fast forward another 20 years to 1998, and dual front airbags were required for all passenger vehicles by the federal government. Keyless entry systems, electric doors and windows, CD players and sunroofs became standard features of every model of car, and over time, technology played a significant role in a cars popularity.
Modern safety features Nowadays, computer-operated safety features like tire pressure sensors, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control have enabled drivers to make faster reactions and keep better control of their cars when conditions are tough. That said, some modern inventions are capable of causing accidents, as drivers are distracted by calls made via Bluetooth, and other gadgetry within the car. The automobile has been on quite a journey since its initial inception, and while some of the best car manufacturers we have today, were there at the very beginning, many new ones have emerged, transforming the automobile industry into the exciting and fast-changing one you see today.
