Car

The History of Cars

By Rachel Russell
  • Guido da Vigevano designs the first wind driven vehicle.
    Jan 1, 1335

    Guido da Vigevano designs the first wind driven vehicle.

    Several Italians recorded designs for wind driven vehicles. The first was Guido da Vigevano in 1335. It was a windmill type drive to gears and thus to wheels.
  • Father Ferdinand Verbiest built the first steam powered vehicle

    Father Ferdinand Verbiest built the first steam powered vehicle

    A Catholic priest named Father Ferdinand Verbiest has been said to have built a steam powered vehicle for the Chinese Emperor Chien Lung in about 1678.
  • Thomas Newcomen builds first steam engine

    Thomas Newcomen builds first steam engine

    He combined the ideas of Thomas Savery and Denis Papin. Savery had devised a "fire engine", a kind of thermic syphon, in which steam was admitted to an empty container and then condensed. The vacuum thus created was used to suck water from the sump at the bottom of the mine. The "fire engine" was not very effective and could not work beyond a limited depth of around thirty feet.
  • James Watt develops the first pressurized steam engine.

    James Watt develops the first pressurized steam engine.

    the first type of steam engine to make use of steam at a pressure just above atmospheric. Watt's two most important improvements were the separate condenser and rotary motion.The separate condenser, located external to the cylinder, condensed steam without cooling the piston and cylinder walls as did the internal spray in Newcomen's engine, more than doubling Watt's engine's efficiency. Rotary motion was more suitable for industrial power than the oscillating beam of Newcomen's engine.
  • European engineers began tinkering with motor powered vehicles.

    European engineers began tinkering with motor powered vehicles.

    (Starting in the late 1700's)
  • Americans dominated the automobile industry.

    Americans dominated the automobile industry.

    (In the first half of the 20th century)
  • The blueprint for the modern automobile was perfected in Germany and France.

    The blueprint for the modern automobile was perfected in Germany and France.

    (In the late 1800's)
  • Wilhelm Maybach designs the first modern motorcar, a Mercedes, for Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft

    Wilhelm Maybach designs the first modern motorcar, a Mercedes, for Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft

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  • Period: to

    Automatic shifting was introduced by the Reo Car Co.

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  • The most integrated automobile factory in Europe, Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, employed some seventeen hundred workers to produce fewer than a thousand cars per year.

    The most integrated automobile factory in Europe, Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, employed some seventeen hundred workers to produce fewer than a thousand cars per year.

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  • The Doctor's Coupe, an enclosed style of Ford, was first introduced.

    The Doctor's Coupe, an enclosed style of Ford, was first introduced.

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  • There were some 450 automotive and auto parts makers in the US by the end of this year

    There were some 450 automotive and auto parts makers in the US by the end of this year

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  • The steam-driven automobile started to lose popularity.

    The steam-driven automobile started to lose popularity.

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  • Ford, General Motors and Chrysler emerging as the “Big Three” auto companies.

    Ford, General Motors and Chrysler emerging as the “Big Three” auto companies.

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  • Ford’s car production comprised nearly 56% of the total output.

    Ford’s car production comprised nearly 56% of the total output.

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  • Nearly 2,000 people died on California highways

    Nearly 2,000 people died on California highways

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  • Ford Motor Co. publicly unveiled its V-8 engine

    Ford Motor Co. publicly unveiled its V-8 engine

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  • Driving tests were introduced in Britain.

    Driving tests were introduced in Britain.

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  • Mercedes- Benz developed an all-wheel-drive car, largely for military purposes.

    Mercedes- Benz developed an all-wheel-drive car, largely for military purposes.

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  • Autoworkers at the General Motors Fisher Body No. 1 plant in Flint, Michigan, occupy the factory and begin a sit-down strike that lasts 44 days.

    Autoworkers at the General Motors Fisher Body No. 1 plant in Flint, Michigan, occupy the factory and begin a sit-down strike that lasts 44 days.

    https://todayinlaborhistory.wordpress.com/tag/uaw/
  • Sit-Down strike against General Motors ended in success.

    Sit-Down strike against General Motors ended in success.

    In Flint, Mich., a sit-down strike against General Motors ended after 44 days, with the company agreeing to recognize the United Automobile Workers Union. The UAW was victorious in a strike against GM. GM recognized the union and agreed to a contract.
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  • Packard introduced the first auto air-conditioning system.

    Packard introduced the first auto air-conditioning system.

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  • 1st automatic street light was in New Milford, CT.

    1st automatic street light was in New Milford, CT.

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  • 1st sun-powered automobile demonstrated, Chicago, Ill.

    1st sun-powered automobile demonstrated, Chicago, Ill.

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  • NYC ended trolley car service.

    NYC ended trolley car service.

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  • The 3-point seat belt, invented by Nils Bohlin (d.2002 at 82), was introduced by Volvo.

    The 3-point seat belt, invented by Nils Bohlin (d.2002 at 82), was introduced by Volvo.

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  • 1st London minicabs were introduced.

    1st London minicabs were introduced.

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  • LA ended streetcar service after 90 years.

    LA ended streetcar service after 90 years.

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  • Robert Kearns (1928-2005) patented automobile intermittent windshield wipers.

    Robert Kearns (1928-2005) patented automobile intermittent windshield wipers.

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  • Sweden’s Saab become the first car to have heated seating.

    Sweden’s Saab become the first car to have heated seating.

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  • The US government set strict federal safety standards for the auto industry that included passive restraints.

    The US government set strict federal safety standards for the auto industry that included passive restraints.

    i.e. air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) delayed a passive-restraint mandate until 1976 after Henry Ford II and Ford President Lee Iacocca lobbied President Nixon. http://www.timelines.ws/subjects/Cars.HTML
  • Ford became the first company to equip vehicles with air bags.

    Ford became the first company to equip vehicles with air bags.

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  • The US stopped importation of the German Volkswagen Beetle because it did not meet safety and emissions standards.

    The US stopped importation of the German Volkswagen Beetle because it did not meet safety and emissions standards.

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  • It was reported that the global car industry had an annual excess capacity of some 24 million vehicles.

    It was reported that the global car industry had an annual excess capacity of some 24 million vehicles.

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