- The first anti-lock braking system (ABS) was developed for use on aircraft in 1929 by French inventor Gabriel Voisin.
- In 1913, gasoline soldifor 27 cents per gallon, the quivalent of $5,98 in today’s dollars.
- Radios were first offered in automobiles in 1927.
- Early automobiles were referred to as “horseless carriages.”
- The first drive-in facility custom-built to provide gasoline to motorists opened in Pittsburgh in 1913.
- The first cars did not feature steering wheels. Instead, drivers steered with a lever, similar to a boat’s tiller.
- In 1924, a new Ford automobile cost $290.
- Some early automobiles were steam-powered, and had a range of only 20-40 miles.
- In 1914, the first electric traffic signal was installed in Cleveland, Ohio.
- While employed by Lohner and Company, Ferdinand Porsche developed a gasoline-electric hybrid in 1901.
- The average yearly cost of owning and operating a typical four-door sedan driven 15,000 miles per year is $8,095, including the depreciation of the vehicle’s value.
- Headlights were called headlamps because in the late 1880s, headlamps were fueled by acetylene or oil. Acetylene lamps were popular because the flame was resistant to wind and rain.
Cars are parked 95% of the time:
Research indicates that the average car spends a significant amount of time parked, highlighting the potential for overconsumption and the cost of owning a vehicle.
80% of a car is recyclable:
A large portion of a car’s materials, including steel, aluminum, plastic, and tires, can be recycled, making it an eco-friendly process.
The first speeding ticket was issued in 1902:
A taxi driver was issued a $1 fine for going 12 mph in a 5 mph zone, marking the beginning of speeding tickets.
The first electric vehicle was built in 1832:
Electric vehicles have been around for a long time, predating the internal combustion engine.
The Ford Model T was a sales phenomenon:
Introduced in 1908, the Model T brought affordable motoring to the masses and pioneered the idea of the production line.
Brake lights were invented in 1905:
Before brake lights, drivers relied on hand signals to communicate their intentions, which was difficult at night.
The first car equipped with a radio was a 1922 Chevrolet:
The radio took up nearly the entire trunk of the car.
The average vehicle has more than 30,000 parts:
A car is a complex machine with a vast number of components.
Windshield wipers were not always standard:
Early cars didn’t have windshield wipers, and drivers had to stop and wipe their windshields manually in bad weather.
Roads were originally built for cyclists:
Before cars, roads were primarily used by cyclists, and the development of smooth roads was driven by the needs of cyclists.
Volkswagen has many subsidiaries:
The Volkswagen Group owns several iconic car brands, including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, and Skoda.