Car Safety Design Features Timeline By dannyc65 Jan 1, 1921 The first head rest was invented by Benjamin Katz Jan 1, 1940 The first three-point seat belt was invented by Nash-Kelvinator Jan 1, 1948 The first padded dashboard was invented by Preston Tucker Jan 1, 1948 The first dashboard was seen in Preston Tucker's car called the Tucker Sedan (nicknamed Torpedo). May 17, 1952 The first crumple zone was invented by Bela Barenyi a Mercedes Engineer Jan 1, 1958 ABS was first invented by a Mercedes engineer. Jan 1, 1959 The first crumple zone was seen in a Mercedes Heckflosse. Jan 1, 1959 The first seatbelt was seen in a Volvo PV544 Jan 1, 1968 The first air bag was invented by Allen Breed Jan 1, 1968 The first head rest was seen in Volvo. Jan 1, 1978 ABS was first seen in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Jan 1, 1981 The first air bag was seen in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class Jan 1, 1989 Electronic stability control was first invented by BMW May 17, 1995 ESC was first seen in a Mercedes-Benz.
