Who Invented the Car? A Brief history of the Automobile

The first credible development in the history of automobiles dates back to the 17^th century. One of the first significant contributions to automobile development was the steam powered vehicle of Ferdinand Verbiest invented in 1672. 

After almost a century, a Russian peasant by the name Leonty Shamshurenkov created a contraption in 1752 consisting of a four wheeled carriage which was self-propelling. Later, odometers to his self propelled carriage were proposed. He also built a self propelling sledge based on the same principles.

In 1769, another advanced self-propelled vehicle was designed by the French inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot. Within a decade, the self-propelled vehicle had additional components such as transmission, bearings, brake, and flywheel, all of them invented by Ivan Kulibin, a Russain inventor. It was followed up by electricity propelled vehicles, invented by Gustave Trouve in 1881. 

In 1885, another major breakthrough came in the form of the four stroke cycle gasoline engine developed by Karl Benz. The first true automobile was sold in 1892 by the Daimler Motor Company. The company was formed in 1890 by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach. Using the same Daimler engines, Frenchman Armand Peugeot and Emile Levassor began selling automobiles, thereby helping to kick start the automobile industry in France.

In the United States, similar developments in automotive engineering were evident. In 1877, New Yorker George Selden designed a gasoline combustion engine but the design took almost seventeen years to get patented. After it was patented in 1895, it paved the way for the creation of the first mass produced two stroke engines. 

Around the same time in Germany, the revolutionary New Rational Combustion Engine was built by engineer Rudolf Diesel, and it was granted a patent. His engine laid the foundation for his subsequent invention of the diesel engine in 1897.

A number of essential safety features were developed in the early part of the 20^th century. Some of them included the four-wheel brakes (1909), the safety glass (1905), and all-steel bodies (1914) by Dodge. The first use of the automobile in cars was during World War I. Most auto manufacturers halted civilian vehicle production and diverted their resources in manufacturing motors and vehicle for the military. 

With the increasing popularity of automobiles, the roadways around Europe and the US began to develop. In 1824, asphalt was first used to build roads. Some of the first asphalt roads were in Champs-Élysées, Paris, Fifth Avenue in New York, and Washington D.C.’s Pennsylvania Avenue. 

The American culture was also greatly affected by automobile industry. Several massive car parking spaces were created throughout the United States. Sidewalks began to diminish, making it dangerous for people to walk for short trips. Consequently, most Americans started using cars for traveling short distances. 

With the improvement of automobile technology, customers became more demanding and speed was an important criterion for car selection. Hence, racing cars for speed enthusiasts were produced along family and functional cars. Some of the early racing cars included the 1910 Mercer Raceabout, Hispano-Suiza Alphonso, and the Bugatti Types 13, 15, 17, 22, and 23 (manufactured from 1910 to 1920).

In the early half of the 20^th century, engines powered by electricity, steam, and gasoline were developed, but gasoline powered internal combustion engines gradually dominated the market because they were more functional and efficient. Ransom Olds was another automobile pioneer who belonged to the US. He successfully built steam and gasoline cars in 1894 and 1896 respectively. 

In 1897, he established the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in Michigan. The factory started manufacturing the first mass produced American vehicle, the Curved Dash Oldsmobile. However, it was not until 1908 that Henry Ford completely revolutionized the automobile industry with his assembly line manufactured Model T line of cars. 

The affordability of the Model T helped it to become one of the most successful models in the history of the automotive industry. The Model T also transformed the automobile industry worldwide. 

• Automotive History: A look at the history of automobiles.
• Automotive Overview: An overview of the automobiles of the past.
• Car Heritage: The Center for the Study of Automotive Heritage.
• Early Cars: A fact sheet of early cars for children by the Smithsonian.
• Car Evolution: The evolution of the U.S. automobile industry and Detroit as its capital.
• Car Highways: A bibliography of highway history.
• Automobile Milestones: Important milestones in automotive history.
• Who Invented the Automobile?: Focuses on the achievements of Karl Benz, with links to more information.
• Motor Racing Research Center: A prime source of historical documents and motor racing.
• Detroit Automotive History: Detroit Public Library National Automotive History Collection, the nation's premier public car archive.
• Motor Racing Archive: An archive and research facility located in England.
• Pre-War Cars: Numerous links to historical galleries and car clubs.
• Vintage Cars: A vintage car site for pre-war car enthusiasts.
• The First Car: A history of the automobile meant for young people.
• Motoring History: History, timeline, and early photos of motor cars.
• Car Lovers: Provides information on classic cars and their history.
• Car Drawings: Paintings of abandoned vintage cars and trucks.
• US Auto: Automobile and the environment in American history.
• Women in Transportation: More about the women and their contribution in auto transport.
• The Diesel Engine: A look at the invention of Rudolf Diesel.
• Selden’s Automobile: A brief look at his invention and patent.
• Auto Showroom: The showroom of automotive history.
• Auto Society: The society of automotive historians.
• Automobile Motors: Offers a history of automobile engines.
• San Francisco: Automobile History of San Francisco.
• Automobile Timeline: Concise timeline of automobile history.
• Artwork and Automobilia: The Museum of Automobile Art and Design.
• Early Auto History: History of the automobile from the late 1880s
• Henry Ford: Provides a detailed biography of the man.
• Automobile History Collections: Contains several automotive correspondences of the past.
• History of Transportation: Discusses the history of transportation technology.
• French Automobiles: Offers information on the history of French automobiles.
• The Electric Vehicle: The history of electric vehicles.
• Rental Cars: Brief history of buses and rental cars in the U.S.
• Dodge Motors: Provides the history of Dodge.
• Indiana Automobiles: Contains the history of family owned automobile businesses in Indianapolis Industry.
• Top Ten Automobiles: Top 10 most important automobiles in history.
• Ransom E. Olds: Brief biography of the man.
• Idaho Automobiles: Provides information on Idaho's motor vehicle history.