Automobiles: First 50 Years (112)The invention of the automobile gave humans the gift of travel. It fed both the will to explore and the need to express status. Since the fabrication of the very first car in 1885 by Carl Benz, the relationship between man and automobile has been an enduring, passionate bond.
Join us as we explore and celebrate the history of the automobile and its tremendous effect on the American way of life—from Charles Duryea's first American car, through technological innovations such as the electric starter and hydraulic brakes, to the growth in popularity of racing circuits and the streamlining of car production.
Auto History Facts:
- In the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci designed a gear-driven tricycle with tiller steering.
- In 1898, there were 50 car manufacturers in the US. Ten years later, there were only 21.
- Pneumatic tires made driving more comfortable, however they wore quickly and punctured frequently.
- In 1904, Henry Ford's "999" racer attained a speed of 91.37 miles per hour.
- The 1908 'round-the-world race from New York to Paris, sponsored by newspapers The New York Times and Le Matin, featured six entrants.
- In the early 1900s, about a third of all automobiles were electric, a third were steam-driven, and a third used internal combustion engines.
- In 1919, the first hydraulic brakes were marketed by the Lockheed Hydraulic Brake Company.
- In 1900, the average American typically traveled about 1,200 miles—primarily on foot—over the course of a lifetime. Today, the average American drives about 12,000 miles every year.
- American writer John Steinbeck called Route 66, "The Mother Road" in The Grapes of Wrath.
- Early on, entrepreneurs recognized travelers' needs for food, lodging and car maintenance.
- When Henry Ford started building cars, his bank balance was $224.
- During the Great Depression, it is estimated that more than 200,000 people migrated to California in search of a better future.
- In 1937, the Lincoln Zephyr was an instant hit—more than 25,000 were sold.
- Route 66 helped facilitate the single greatest wartime mobilization in the history of the nation.
- During WWII, Ford mass-produced the GPW—which became known as the "Jeep."
"59 Seconds" Facts:
- Dr. Ferdinand Porsche and Mercedes-Benz worked separately on the Beetle design.
- At its inception, the Beetle's retail price was comparable to that of a motorcycle.
- The Schwimmwagen, an amphibious army vehicle, could reach six miles per hour in the water.
- In 1955, the millionth Beetle was manufactured. It was made of metallic gold with brocade seat fabric.
- In 1974, the Beetle production line moved to Emden, Germany, to make room for the new Golf model.
- In 1978, the Beetle's production in Europe ended; it continued in Mexico.
Automobile Resources:
The Volkswagen Beetle (On the Road (Mankato, Minn.).)
by Linda Jean Lally
Car Mania: A Critical History of Transport
by Winfried Wolf
Museum of Automobiles
www.museumofautos.com
The Society of Automotive Historians
Vintage Volkswagen Club of America
www.vvwca.com
Vw Beetle: The Complete Story (Complete Story Series)
by Robert Davies
Henry Ford Museum Greenfield Village
(800) 835-5237, www.hfmgv.org/museum/default.asp
American Sports Car Racing in the 1950s
by Michael Lynch, William Edgar, Ron Parravano, John Parravano (Editor)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Hall of Fame Museum
Admission: Adults $3.00; Children 6-15 years old $1.00; Children under 6 FREE
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST 364 days a year. (closed Christmas Day)
MAY ONLY—9 a.m to 6 p.m.
ims.brickyard.com/museum.php
The Classic Car Club of America
www.classiccarclub.org
Route 66: The Mother Road
by Michael Wallis
National Historic Route 66 Federation
www.national66.com
Classic Jeeps: The Jeep from World War II to the Present Day
by John Carroll, Garry Stuart (Photographer)
Lincoln-Zephyrs Owners Club
www.lzoc.org
Jeep Jamboree USA
jeepjamboreeusa.com
