Vehicles that can be considered automobiles were demonstrated as early as 1769, although that date is disputed, and 1885 marked the introduction of gasoline powered internal combustion engines. Automotive history is generally divided into a number of eras based on the major design and technology shifts. Although the exact boundaries of each era can be hazy, scholarship has defined them as follows: Car redirects here. ... An era is a long period of time with different technical and colloquial meanings, and usages in language. ...

Eras of invention

Cugnot steam wagon, 1771 version

1885-built Benz Patent Motorwagen, the first car to go into production with an internal combustion engine

Steam powered self propelled vehicles were devised in the late 17th century. A Flemish priest, Ferdinand Verbiest, was thought to have demonstrated in 1678 a small steam car to the Chinese emperor,^[1][2] yet there is no evidence for it. Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot successfully demonstrated^{[citation needed]} such a vehicle on a real scale as early as 1769. Cugnot's invention initially saw little application in his native France, and the center of innovation passed to Great Britain. By 1784 William Murdoch had built a working model of a steam carriage in Redruth, and in 1801 Richard Trevithick was running a full-sized vehicle on the road in Camborne.^[3] Such vehicles were in vogue for a time, and over the next decades such innovations as hand brakes, multi-speed transmissions, and improved speed and steering were developed. Some were commercially successful in providing mass transit, until a backlash against these large speedy vehicles resulted in passing a law, the Locomotive Act, in 1865 that self-propelled vehicles on public roads in the United Kingdom must be preceded by a man on foot waving a red flag and blowing a horn. This effectively killed road auto development in the UK for most of the rest of the 19th century, as inventors and engineers shifted their efforts to improvements in railway locomotives. The law was not finally repealed until 1896 although the need for the red flag was removed in 1878. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1085x600, 51 KB) Description : Fardier de Cugnot, modèle de 1771. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1085x600, 51 KB) Description : Fardier de Cugnot, modèle de 1771. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 677 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (800 × 708 pixel, file size: 190 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Replica of the Benz Patent Motorwagen from 1886 Foto by Softeis, 3/10/2004 at/im http://de. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 677 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (800 × 708 pixel, file size: 190 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Replica of the Benz Patent Motorwagen from 1886 Foto by Softeis, 3/10/2004 at/im http://de. ... After developing a successful gas-powered two-stroke piston engine in 1873, Karl Benz focused on developing a motorized vehicle. ... For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ... Father Ferdinand Verbiest (October 9, 1623-January 28, 1688) was a Belgian Jesuit missionary in China. ... Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot (26 February 1725 – 2 October 1804) was a French inventor who is claimed by the French government to have built the first self-propelled mechanical vehicle or automobile. ... William Murdoch. ... Map sources for Redruth at grid reference SW700420 Redruth (Cornish: Rysrudh) is a town in the south-west of Cornwall, Britain. ... Richard Trevithick Richard Trevithick (April 13, 1771 – April 22, 1833) was a Cornish inventor, mining engineer and builder of the first working railway steam locomotive. ... , Not to be confused with Cambourne in Cambridgeshire. ... Steering is the term applied to the collection of components, linkages, etc. ... In the United States of America, transit describes local area common carrier passenger transportation configured to provide scheduled service on fixed routes on a non-reservation basis. ... The Locomotive Act was an act (actually a series of acts) of British parliament to organize road traffic for self-propelled machines in Britain during the second half of the 19th century. ... A public road is a road that is open to common use by the general population. ... Great Western Railway No. ...

A replica of Richard Trevithick's 1801 road locomotive 'Puffing Devill'

1870, Vienna, Austria: world's gasoline-run vehicle #1, the First Marcus Car

Second Marcus Car of 1888 (Technical Museum Vienna)

The first automobile patent in the United States was granted to Oliver Evans in 1789. In 1805, Evans demonstrated his first successful self-propelled vehicle, which not only was the first automobile in the USA but was also the first amphibious vehicle, as his steam-powered vehicle was able to travel on wheels on land and via a paddle wheel in the water. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (768 × 1024 pixel, file size: 262 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A replica of Richard Trevithicks 1801 road locomtive Puffing Devill at the National Railway Museum in York during the Rail200 Railfest in... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (768 × 1024 pixel, file size: 262 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A replica of Richard Trevithicks 1801 road locomtive Puffing Devill at the National Railway Museum in York during the Rail200 Railfest in... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 466 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (807 × 1039 pixel, file size: 206 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)First Marcus Car of 1870 This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 466 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (807 × 1039 pixel, file size: 206 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)First Marcus Car of 1870 This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a... Image File history File links Second Marcus Car of 1888 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Second Marcus Car of 1888 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... For other uses, see Patent (disambiguation). ... Oliver Evans Oliver Evans (13 September 1755 – 15 April 1819) was a United States inventor. ... An amphibious vehicle is a vehicle or craft, that is a means of transport, viable on land as well as on water - just like an amphibian. ... For other uses, see Wheel (disambiguation). ... A paddle steamer, paddleboat, or paddlewheeler is a ship driven by one or more paddle wheels driven by a steam engine. ...

There were also European efforts. In 1815, a professor at Prague Polytechnich, Josef Bozek, built an oil-fired steam car. ^[4] Walter Hancock, builder and operator of London steam buses, in 1838 built a four-seat steam phaeton.^[5] Also in 1838, Scotsman Robert Davidson built an electric locomotive that attained a speed of four miles an hour. In England a patent was granted in 1840 for the use of rails as conductors of electric current, and similar American patents were issued to Lilley and Colten in 1847. Between 1832 and 1839 (the exact year is uncertain), Robert Anderson of Scotland invented the first crude electric carriage, powered by non-rechargeable primary cells. Walter Hancock Walter Hancock (1799-1852) was a British inventor of the Victorian period. ... Autobus redirects here. ... Phaeton, Phaëton, or Phaethon may refer to many different things, all deriving ultimately from the mythological figure. ... A primary cell is any kind of electrolytic cell in which the electrochemical reaction of interest is not reversible. ...

Belgian born Etienne Lenoir made a car with an internal combustion engine around 1860, though it was driven by coal-gas. His experiment lasted for 7 miles, but it took him 3 hours. Lenoir never tried experimenting with cars again. The French claim a Deboutteville-Delamare was successful, and celebrated the 100th birthday of the car in 1984. Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir (1822-1900) was born in Mussy-la-Ville, Belgium, in 1822. ...

About 1870, in Vienna, capital of Austria (then the Austro-Hungarian Empire), inventor Siegfried Marcus put a liquid-fuelled internal combustion engine on a simple handcart which made him the first man propelling a vehicle by means of gasoline. Today, this car is well known as “The first Marcus Car”. For other uses, see Vienna (disambiguation). ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... Siegfried Marcus 1831-1898 Siegfried Samuel Marcus (born in Malchin, Mecklenburg, Germany, on 1831-09-18, died in Vienna on 1898-07-01) was a German – Austrian inventor and automobile pioneer of Jewish ancestry. ... A colorized automobile engine The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of fuel and an oxidizer (typically air) occurs in a confined space called a combustion chamber. ...

In 1883, Marcus got a German patent for a low voltage ignition of the magneto type; this was his only automotive patent. This design was used for all further engines and, of course, the four-seat “Second Marcus Car” of 1888/89. This ignition in conjunction with the “rotating brush carburetor” made the “Second Car”'s design very innovative.

It is generally acknowledged the first automobiles with gasoline powered internal combustion engines were completed almost simultaneously by several German inventors working independently: Karl Benz built his first automobile in 1885 in Mannheim. Benz was granted a patent for his automobile on January 29, 1886 and began the first production of automobiles in 1888. Soon after, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Stuttgart in 1889 designed a vehicle from scratch to be an automobile rather than a horse carriage fitted with an engine. They also were inventors of the first motor bike in 1886. One of the first four wheel petrol-driven automobiles built in Britain came in Birmingham in 1895 by Frederick William Lanchester who also patented the disc brake. Karl Benz Karl Friedrich Benz, for whom an alternate French spelling of Carl is used ocassionaly, (November 25, 1844, Karlsruhe, Germany – April 4, 1929, Ladenburg, Germany) was a German engine designer and automobile engineer, generally regarded as the inventor of the gasoline-powered automobile. ... Mannheim is a city in Germany. ... Gottlieb Daimler Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler (March 17, 1834 - March 6, 1900) was an engineer, industrial designer and industrialist, born in Schorndorf (Kingdom of Württemberg), in what is now Germany. ... Wilhelm Maybach Wilhelm Maybach (February 9, 1846 – December 29, 1929), was an early German engine designer and industrialist. ... For other uses, see Stuttgart (disambiguation). ... Gasoline, as it is known in North America, or petrol, in many Commonwealth countries (sometimes also called motor spirit) is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... This article is about the British city. ... Frederick William Lanchester (October 23, 1868 - March 8, 1946) was an English polymath and engineer who made important contributions to automotive engineering, aerodynamics and co-invented the field of operations research. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Vehicle brake. ...

Veteran Era

The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page.

In My Merry Oldsmobile songbook featuring an Oldsmobile Curved Dash automobile and period driving clothing

The first production of automobiles was by Karl Benz in 1888 in Germany and under licence to Benz, in France by Emile Roger. By 1900 mass production of automobiles had begun in France and the United States. The first company to form exclusively to build automobiles was Panhard et Levassor in France. Formed in 1889, they were quickly followed by Peugeot two years later. In the United States, brothers Charles and Frank Duryea founded the Duryea Motor Wagon Company in 1893, becoming the first American automobile manufacturing company. However, it was Oldsmobile who would dominate this era of automobile production. Its large scale production line was running in 1902. Within a year, Cadillac (formed from the Henry Ford Company), Winton, and Ford were producing cars in the thousands. Image File history File links Gnome-globe. ... Download high resolution version (797x1002, 290 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (797x1002, 290 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... In My Merry Oldsmobile songbook featuring an Oldsmobile Curved Dash automobile The Curved Dash Oldsmobile is credited as the first high-volume mass-produced automobile. ... Karl Benz Karl Friedrich Benz, for whom an alternate French spelling of Carl is used ocassionaly, (November 25, 1844, Karlsruhe, Germany – April 4, 1929, Ladenburg, Germany) was a German engine designer and automobile engineer, generally regarded as the inventor of the gasoline-powered automobile. ... A Panhard-Levassor was the first automobile to be introduced in Japan, in 1898 Panhard & Levassor X18 1912 Panhard & Levassor 1914 Panhard & Levassor X31 1921 A 1920s Panhard Dyna Panhard X 86 4-Door Sedan 1952 Panhard repair manual cover showing PL 17 A VBL of the French Army Panhard... Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën. ... Charles Edgar Duryea (December 15, 1861 – September 28, 1938) was a manufacturer of motor vehicles. ... James Frank Duryea (October 8, 1869, Washburn, Illinois - February 15, 1967, Saybrook, Connecticut), along with his brother Charles Duryea invented and built one of the first automobiles in the United States. ... Duryea was the first American automobile manufacturer, trailing the French Panhard firm by just 4 years. ... Oldsmobile is a brand of automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. ... A method of production which embodies groups of workers repeating the same procedures of production along a line over which the product is moved and gradually completed. ... Cadillac is a brand of luxury automobile, part of the General Motors corporation, produced and mostly sold in the USA; outside of North America, they have been less successful. ... The Henry Ford Company was the second company for Henry Ford, founded in 1900. ... The Winton Motor Carriage Company of Cleveland, Ohio was a pioneer United States automobile manufacturer. ... “Ford” redirects here. ...

Within a few years, a dizzying assortment of technologies were being produced by hundreds of producers all over the Western world. Steam, electricity, and gasoline-powered autos competed for decades, with gasoline internal combustion engines achieving dominance in the 1910s. Dual- and even quad-engine cars were designed, and engine displacement ranged to more than a dozen liters. Many modern advances, including gas/electric hybrids, multi-valve engines, overhead camshafts, and four-wheel drive, were attempted and discarded at this time. The 1923 Stanley Steam Car A steam car is a car (automobile) powered by a steam engine. ... For battery powered passenger automobiles, see battery electric vehicle. ... One complete cycle of a four cylinder, four stroke engine. ... Honda Insight, a hybrid gas-electric vehicle 2004 Toyota Prius, a hybrid gas-electric vehicle A hybrid vehicle uses multiple energy sources or propulsion systems to provide motive power. ... In automotive engineering, an engine is referred to as multi-valve (or multivalve) when each cylinder has more than two valves. ... Overhead cam (OHC) piston engines place the camshaft above the cylinder heads and drive the valves or lifters directly instead of using pushrods. ... This article is about the class of vehicles. ...

Innovation was rapid and rampant, with no clear standards for basic vehicle architectures, body styles, construction materials, or controls. Many veteran cars use a tiller rather than a wheel for steering, for example, and most operated at a single speed. Chain drive was dominant over the modern driveshaft, and closed bodies were extremely rare. A tiller or till is a lever attached to a rudder post (American terminology) or rudder stock (English terminology) of a boat in order to provide the leverage for the helmsman to turn the rudder. ... Single-speed mountain bike A single-speed bicycle is a type of bicycle with a single gear ratio. ... Roller chain and sprocket Mack AC delivery truck at the Petersen Automotive Museum with chain drive visible Chain drive was a popular power transmission system from the earliest days of the automobile. ... This article is about the mechanical device. ...

On November 5, 1895, George B. Selden was granted a United States patent for a two-stroke automobile engine (U.S. Patent 549,160 ). This patent did more to hinder than encourage development of autos in the USA. Selden licensed his patent to most major American auto makers, collecting a fee on every car they produced. is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... George B. Selden, born September 14, 1846 in Clarkson, New York, died January 17, 1922 in Rochester, New York, was a lawyer and inventor who was granted the first U.S. patent for an automobile, which he invented in 1877. ... The two-stroke cycle of an internal combustion engine differs from the more common four-stroke cycle by completing the same four processes (intake, compression, power, exhaust) in only two strokes of the piston rather than four. ...

Throughout the veteran car era, however, automobiles were seen as more of a novelty than a genuinely useful device. Breakdowns were frequent, fuel was difficult to obtain, and rapid innovation meant that a year-old car was nearly worthless. Major breakthroughs in proving the usefulness of the automobile came with the historic long-distance drive of Bertha Benz in 1888 when she traveled more than fifty miles (80 km) from Mannheim to Pforzheim to make people aware of the potential of the vehicles her husband, Karl Benz, manufactured, and after Horatio Nelson Jackson's successful trans-continental drive across the United States in 1903.
Bertha Benz, born Bertha Ringer (born May 3, 1849 in Pforzheim, Germany, married inventor Karl Benz on July 20, 1872, and died May 5, 1944 in Ladenburg), was the first person to drive an automobile over a long distance. ... For the toll-free telephone number see Toll-free telephone number Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Mannheim is a city in Germany. ... Pforzheim is a town of 119,000 inhabitants in the state of Baden-Württemberg, south-west Germany at the gate to the Black Forest. ... Karl Benz Karl Friedrich Benz, for whom an alternate French spelling of Carl is used ocassionaly, (November 25, 1844, Karlsruhe, Germany – April 4, 1929, Ladenburg, Germany) was a German engine designer and automobile engineer, generally regarded as the inventor of the gasoline-powered automobile. ... Horatio Nelson Jackson (1872 - January 14, 1955) was a physician who had practiced for a few years in the towns of Brattleboro, Vermont and Burlington, Vermont, who became the first person to drive an automobile, The Vermont, across the United States. ...

Brass or Edwardian era

T-model Ford car parked outside Geelong Library at its launch in Australia in 1915

Main article: Brass Era car

Named for the widespread use of brass in the United States, the Brass or Edwardian era lasted from roughly 1905 through to the beginning of World War I in 1914. 1905 was a signal year in the development of the automobile, marking the point when the majority of sales shifted from the hobbyist and enthusiast to the average user. Image File history File links TModel_launch_Geelong. ... Image File history File links TModel_launch_Geelong. ... This article is about the Victorian city; the name may also refer to City of Geelong or Geelong city centre. ... The automotive Brass Era is the first period of automotive manufacturing, named for the prominent brass fittings used during this time for such things as lights and radiators. ... Brazen redirects here. ... The Edwardian period or Edwardian era in the United Kingdom is the period 1901 to 1910, the reign of King Edward VII. It is sometimes extended to include the period to the start of World War I in 1914 or even the end of the war in 1918. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

Within the 15 years that make up the Brass or Edwardian era, the various experimental designs and alternate power systems would be marginalized. Although the modern touring car had been invented earlier, it was not until Panhard et Levassor's Système Panhard was widely licensed and adopted that recognizable and standardized automobiles were created. This system specified front-engined, rear-wheel drive internal combustion cars with a sliding gear transmission. Traditional coach-style vehicles were rapidly abandoned, and buckboard runabouts lost favor with the introduction of tonneaus and other less-expensive touring bodies. Horatio Nelson Jackson in his 2-seat Winton touring car, The Vermont, drives across America A touring car was a popular car body style in the early 20th century, being a larger alternative to the runabout. ... A Panhard-Levassor was the first automobile to be introduced in Japan, in 1898 Panhard & Levassor X18 1912 Panhard & Levassor 1914 Panhard & Levassor X31 1921 A 1920s Panhard Dyna Panhard X 86 4-Door Sedan 1952 Panhard repair manual cover showing PL 17 A VBL of the French Army Panhard... Sketch of FR layout In automobile design, an FR, or front-engine, rear wheel drive means a layout where the engine is in the front of the vehicle and drive wheels at the rear. ... Sketch of FR layout In automobile design, an FR, or front-engine, rear wheel drive means a layout where the engine is in the front of the vehicle and drive wheels at the rear. ... Rear-wheel drive (or RWD for short) is an engine/transmission layout used in automobiles. ... A colorized automobile engine The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of fuel and an oxidizer (typically air) occurs in a confined space called a combustion chamber. ... For other uses, see Coach. ... Runabouts were a popular car body style at the beginning of the 20th Century. ... 1903 Ford Model A rear-door Tonneau Tonneau is an archaic term for an open rear passenger compartment on an automobile and, by extension, a body style incorporating such a compartment. ...

Throughout this era, development of automotive technology was rapid, due in part to a huge number (hundreds) of small manufacturers all competing to gain the world's attention. Key developments included electric ignition (by Robert Bosch, 1903) and the electric self-starter (by Charles Kettering, for the Cadillac Motor Company in 1910-1911), independent suspension, and four-wheel brakes (by the [[Arrol-Johnson Company in 1909).^[6] Leaf springs were widely used for suspension, though many other systems were still in use, with angle steel taking over from armored wood as the frame material of choice. Transmissions and throttle controls were widely adopted, allowing a variety of cruising speeds, though vehicles generally still had discrete speed settings rather than the infinitely variable system familiar in cars of later eras. The ignition system of an internal-combustion engine is an important part of the overall engine system that provides for the timely burning of the fuel mixture within the engine. ... Robert Bosch at the age of 27 Robert Bosch (September 23, 1861 - March 12, 1942), German industrialist and philanthropist, born in Albeck near Ulm as the 11th child of Servatius and Margarete Bosch, themselves children of wealthy farmers. ... Charles Kettering, on a Time cover, 1933 Charles Franklin Kettering (August 29, 1876 – November 24 or November 25, 1958), also known as Boss Kettering, was born in northern Ohio, USA. He was a farmer, school teacher, mechanic, engineer, scientist, inventor and social philosopher. ... Cadillac is a brand of luxury automobile, part of the General Motors corporation, produced and mostly sold in the USA; outside of North America, they have been less successful. ... A traditional leaf spring arrangement. ... The front suspension components of a Ford Model T. Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. ... “Gearbox” redirects here. ...

Between 1907 and 1912, the high-wheel motor buggy (resembling the horse buggy of before 1900) was in its heyday, with over seventy-five makers including Holsman (Chicago), IHC (Chicago), and Sears (which sold via catalog); the high-wheeler would be killed by the Model T.^[7] Holsman may refer to: person Henry K. Holsman (1866-1963), American architect and car manufacturer Jason R. Holsman, American politician other Holsman (automobile), early American high wheeler automobile Category: ... For the song by Craig Morgan, see International Harvester (song). ... Sears Holdings Corporation NASDAQ: SHLD is the third largest retailer in the United States, behind Wal-Mart and The Home Depot. ...

Some examples of cars of the period included the following:

• 1908–1927 Ford Model T - The most widely produced and available car of the era. It used a planetary transmission and had a pedal-based control system.
• 1910 Mercer Raceabout - Regarded as one of the first sports cars, the Raceabout expressed the exuberance of the driving public, as did the similarly-conceived American Underslung and Hispano-Suiza Alphonso
• 1910–1920 Bugatti Type 13 - A notable racing and touring model with advanced engineering and design. Similar models were the Types 15, 17, 22, and 23.

The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie and the Flivver) was an automobile produced by Henry Fords Ford Motor Company from 1908 through 1927. ... Epicyclic gearing is used here to increase output speed. ... Mercer was a short-lived brand of automobile (1911-1925). ... 1963 Jaguar E-Type, a classic sports car 1963 Chevrolet Corvette was based upon European sports cars A sports car is an automobile designed for performance driving. ... 1911 American Underslung in the Petersen Automotive Museum The American Underslung was an American automobile, the brainchild of Harry Stutz; it was manufactured in Indianapolis from 1905 to 1914. ... Hispano-Suiza is a Spanish engineering firm best known for their engine and weapon designs in the pre-World War II period, work that developed out of their earliest work in luxury automobile design. ... 1910 Bugatti Type 13 The Type 13 was the first real Bugatti car. ...

Vintage era

1926 Austin 7 Box saloon

Lineup of Ford Model As

Main article: Vintage car

The vintage era lasted from the end of World War I (1919) through the stock market crash at the end of 1929. During this period, the front-engined car came to dominate, with closed bodies and standardized controls becoming the norm. Development of the internal combustion engine continued at a rapid pace, with multi-valve and overhead cam engines produced at the high end, and V8, V12, and even V16 engines conceived for the ultra-rich. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (847x641, 51 KB)1926 Austin Seven box saloon photographed by Malcolm Asquith. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (847x641, 51 KB)1926 Austin Seven box saloon photographed by Malcolm Asquith. ... File links The following pages link to this file: List of Ford vehicles Ford Model A Template:Fordgallery ... File links The following pages link to this file: List of Ford vehicles Ford Model A Template:Fordgallery ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A vintage car is commonly defined as a car built between the start of 1919 and the end of 1930. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Black Thursday can mean February 6, 1851, when fires severely burnt Victoria, Australia and reports of the temperature reaching 117°F (or 47°C) in the capital of Melbourne, but since the Bureau of Meteorology had not been established, this has never been verified or considered official. ... Sketch of FR layout In automobile design, an FR, or front-engine, rear wheel drive means a layout where the engine is in the front of the vehicle and drive wheels at the rear. ... A colorized automobile engine The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of fuel and an oxidizer (typically air) occurs in a confined space called a combustion chamber. ... In automotive engineering, an engine is referred to as multi-valve (or multivalve) when each cylinder has more than two valves. ... Overhead cam (OHC) piston engines place the camshaft above the cylinder heads and drive the valves or lifters directly instead of using pushrods. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... A V12 is an internal combustion engine with 12 cylinders in V configuration. ... A V16 is an internal combustion engine in V configuration, having 16 cylinders. ...

Exemplary vintage vehicles:

• 1922–1939 Austin 7 — The Austin Seven was one of the most widely copied vehicles ever serving as a template for cars around the world, from BMW to Nissan.
• 1924–1929 Bugatti Type 35 — The Type 35 was one of the most successful racing cars of all time, with over 1,000 victories in five years.
• 1927–1931 Ford Model A — After keeping the brass era Model T in production for too long, Ford broke from the past by restarting its model series with the 1927 Model A. More than 4 million were produced, making it the best-selling model of the era.
• 1930 Cadillac V-16 — Developed at the height of the vintage era, the V16-powered Cadillac would join Bugatti's Royale as the most legendary ultra-luxury cars of the era.

The Austin 7 was a vintage car produced from 1922 through to 1939 in the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see BMW (disambiguation). ... Nissan Motor Co. ... Bugatti Type 35B The Type 35 was the most successful of the Bugatti racing models. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie and the Flivver) was an automobile produced by Henry Fords Ford Motor Company from 1908 through 1927. ... “Ford” redirects here. ... Lineup of Ford Model As GAZ-A photographed outside the GAZ plant in 1951. ... The Cadillac V-16 was Cadillacs top-of-the-line car from its January 1930 launch until production ceased in 1940 as the war in Europe killed sales. ... A V16 is an internal combustion engine in V configuration, having 16 cylinders. ... Cadillac is a brand of luxury automobile, part of the General Motors corporation, produced and mostly sold in the USA; outside of North America, they have been less successful. ... For other uses, see Bugatti (disambiguation). ... Jean Bugatti and his 1932 Royale built for Armand Esders. ...

Pre-War era

Citroën Traction Avant

Main article: Classic car

The pre-war part of the classic era began with the Great Depression in 1930 and ended with the recovery after World War II, commonly placed at 1948. It was in this period that integrated fenders and fully-closed bodies began to dominate sales, with the new sedan body style even incorporating a trunk at the rear for storage. The old open-top runabouts, phaetons, and touring cars were phased out by the end of the classic era as wings, running boards, and headlights were gradually integrated with the body of the car. Download high resolution version (1200x780, 207 KB)A Citroën Traction Avant. ... Download high resolution version (1200x780, 207 KB)A Citroën Traction Avant. ... Ford Model A Four-door 1948 Buick Eight convertible 1959 Chevrolet Impala A yank tank or maquina in Havana, Cuba Another yank tank in Havana 1967 Ford Mustang Coupe Classic car is a term frequently used to describe an older car, but the exact meaning is subject to differences in... For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... This article is about the type of car. ... Trunk may be: Look up trunk in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

By the 1930s most of the mechanical technology used in today's automobiles had been invented although some things were later "re-invented", and credited to someone else. For example, front-wheel drive was re-introduced by Andre Citroën with the launch of the Traction Avant in 1934, though it appeared several years earlier in road cars made by Alvis and Cord, and in racing cars by Miller (and may have appeared as early as 1897). Front-wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... Citroën is a French automobile manufacturer, founded in 1919 by André Citroën. ... Traction Avant rear Traction Avant rears. ... Alvis (All-Wise) in Norse mythology was a dwarf. ... A 1929 Cord L-29 Phaeton on display at the 2005 United States Grand Prix Cord L-29. ...

After 1930, the number of auto manufacturers declined sharply as the industry consolidated and matured.

Exemplary pre-war automobiles:

• 1932-1948 Ford V-8 - Ford introduced their powerful Flathead V8 in their mainstream model, creating a now-legendary car that dominated the world market much as the Model T and Model A had done in previous eras.
• 1934–1940 Bugatti Type 57 — A high-tech and refined automobile for the remaining rich of the time, the Type 57SC has become the singular classic car.
• 1934–1956 Citroën Traction Avant — The first mass-produced front-wheel drive car, built with monocoque techniques, was a technology masterpiece.
• 1936–1955 MG T series — This sports car for the masses came to represent the European motoring experience, especially for American soldiers fighting in the war.
• 1938–2003 Volkswagen Beetle — Perhaps the most-famous automobile of all time, it was a pre-war design that lasted through the modern era.
• 1940–1997 Oldsmobile — General Motors introduced the first fully automatic transmission, Hydra-Matic, with the 1940 Olds. This option was an instant hit, and within ten years, virtually all American automobile manufacturers offered automatics, which soon would become almost universal among buyers. Oldsmobile, along with Cadillac, also offered the first modern high-compression, overhead-valve V8 engine starting with the 1948 models.

The Model B was a new Ford automobile produced in model year 1932. ... Supercharged Flathead V8 Engine block of a Flathead V8 showing the location of the valve ports (the holes above the large cylinder bores) Ford flathead V8 engine, modified for power, on cover of Hot Rod magazine. ... 1938 Type 57SC Atlantic from the Ralph Lauren collection 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Gangloff Drop Head Coupe from the Ralph Lauren collection 1938 Type 57SC Atlantic engine from the Ralph Lauren collection Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Category:Bugatti Type 57 The Bugatti Type 57 and later variants (including... Traction Avant rear Traction Avant rears. ... Front-wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... Monocoque (French for single shell) is a construction technique that uses the external skin of an object to support some or most of the load on the structure. ... The MG T series of cars (including the TA, TB, TC, TD, and TF) was a basic body-on-frame sports car produced from 1936 through to 1955. ... This article is about the original Volkswagen Beetle. ... Oldsmobile is a brand of automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission (commonly abbreviated as AT) is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad... Hydramatic (also known as Hydra-Matic) is an automatic transmission developed by General Motors Oldsmobile division in 1939/1940. ... For other uses, see Cadillac (disambiguation). ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration, although modern automotive versions use a 90 degree block angle. ...

Post-War era

1953 Morris Minor Series II

A 1950s Oldsmobile 88, with its high-compression Rocket V8

Jaguar E-type coupe

1985 Mini

Main article: Antique car

Automobile design finally emerged from the shadow of World War II in 1949, the year that in the United States saw the introduction of high-compression V8 engines and modern bodies from General Motors' Oldsmobile and Cadillac brands. The unibody/strut-suspended 1951 Ford Consul joined the 1948 Morris Minor and 1949 Rover P4 in waking up the automobile market in the United Kingdom. In Italy, Enzo Ferrari was beginning his 250 series just as Lancia introduced their revolutionary V6-powered Aurelia. 1953 Morris Minor Series 2, at a Classics Rally, Bristol, England, in October 2003. ... 1953 Morris Minor Series 2, at a Classics Rally, Bristol, England, in October 2003. ... Later Morris Minor Van with aftermarket rear side windows Morris Minor Traveller (estate) Morris Minor Rally The revolutionary Morris Minor (the prototype was called Mosquito) was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show on 20 September, 1948. ... an Oldsmobile Rocket 88, still running in August, 2003, in downtown New Orleans. ... an Oldsmobile Rocket 88, still running in August, 2003, in downtown New Orleans. ... The Oldsmobile 88 (a. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... Jaguar E-type (closed body). ... Jaguar E-type (closed body). ... A 1963 Series 1 3. ... 1985 Mini, by Rick Dikeman. ... 1985 Mini, by Rick Dikeman. ... For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ... An antique car is generally defined as a car over 25 years of age, this being the definition used by the Antique Automobile Club of America and many other organisations worldwide. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), also known as GM, is an American automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Vauxhall. ... Oldsmobile is a brand of automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. ... Cadillac is a brand of luxury automobile, part of the General Motors corporation, produced and mostly sold in the USA; outside of North America, they have been less successful. ... Monocoque (French for single shell) or unibody is a construction technique that uses the external skin of an object to support some or most of the load on the structure. ... A simple MacPherson strut suspension on the left front wheel of a rear-wheel drive vehicle. ... Categories: Automobile stubs | Ford vehicles ... Later Morris Minor Van with aftermarket rear side windows Morris Minor Traveller (estate) Morris Minor Rally The revolutionary Morris Minor (the prototype was called Mosquito) was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show on 20 September, 1948. ... The Rover P4 series was a group of saloon automobiles produced from 1949 through 1964. ... For the automobile named after this man, see Enzo Ferrari (car). ... The Ferrari 250 is a series of sports cars from the 1950s and early 1960s. ... Lancia (pronounced Lan-cha) is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... The Lancia Aurelia is considered by many to be the first true Gran Turismo automobile. ...

Throughout the 1950s, engine power and vehicle speeds rose, designs became more integrated and artful, and cars spread across the world. Alec Issigonis' Mini and Fiat's 500 mini cars swept Europe, while the similar keicar class put Japan on wheels for the first time. The legendary VW Beetle survived Hitler's Germany to shake up the small car market in the Americas. Ultra luxury, exemplified in America by the Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, reappeared after a long absence, and GT cars, like the Ferrari Americas, swept across Europe. The machine factory (shown here in a company letter of 1910) founded by Demosthenis Issigonis, Alecs grandfather, was one of the thriving Greek businesses in Smyrna (now Izmir). ... For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ... For other uses, see Fiat (disambiguation). ... The Fiat 500 (the cinquecento from the Italian word for 500) is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975 (the Fiat 500 K alone was produced until 1977). ... Example: Daihatsu Copen Example: Daihatsu Cuore Example: Suzuki Cappuccino Example: Subaru R1 Keicar (K-car), also called keijidōsha (in Japanese: 軽自動車 light motor vehicle), is a Japanese category of small automobiles, including passenger cars and also vans and pick-up trucks for commercial use. ... The Volkswagen Beetle or Bug is a small family car, the best known car of Volkswagen, of Germany, and almost certainly the world. ... Hitler redirects here. ... The Eldorado model was part of the Cadillac line from 1953 to 2002. ... Gran Turismo is Italian for grand touring or grand tourisme. These terms are used to describe long distance or endurance races like 24 hours of Le Mans, Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Carrera Panamericana and the high-powered sportscars which compete there. ... See also the 340 F1 and 375 F1 Formula 1 racers Ferraris highest-end models in the 1950s and 1960s were the Americas. ...

The market changed somewhat in the 1960s, as Detroit began to worry about foreign competition, the European makers adopted ever-higher technology, and Japan appeared as a serious car-producing nation. General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford tried radical small cars, like the GM A-bodies, but had little success. Captive imports and badge engineering swept through the U.S. and UK as conglomerates like the British Motor Corporation consolidated the market. Eventually, this trend reached Italy as niche makers like Maserati, Ferrari, and Lancia were acquired by larger companies. By the end of the decade, the automobile manufacturing world was much smaller. General Motors Corporation, also known as GM, an American multinational corporation, is the worlds largest auto company by production volume for the first 9 months of 2007, and by sales volume for 76 consecutive years. ... The Chrysler Corporation was a United States-based automobile manufacturer that existed independently from 1925–1998. ... “Ford” redirects here. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into List of GM platforms. ... Captive import is an automobile marketing term denoting a foreign-built vehicle which is sold and serviced by a domestic manufacturer through its own dealer body. ... Badge engineering is a term that describes the rebadging of one model of car as another. ... BMC rosette logo old BMC share A preserved BMC ambulance. ... A 1957 Maserati 200SI at the Scarsdale Concours Maserati Birdcage 1959 Maserati 5000 GT Coupe Maserati Sebring This article is about the automobile manufacturer. ... For other uses, see Ferrari (disambiguation). ... Lancia (pronounced Lan-cha) is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. ...

In America, performance was the hot sell of the 1960s, with pony cars and muscle cars propping up the domestic industry. In 1964 the Ford mustang hit the markets. The Mustang was the hot ticket and was one of the most popular car of the early 1960s. In 1967 Chevrolet released the Camaro to compete with the Ford Mustang. In 1967 Chevy came out with the Camaro Z28, so in 1969 Fords competitiveness went into gear and they came out with the Mustang Boss 302 and the Mustang Boss 429. But everything changed in the 1970s as the 1973 oil crisis, automobile emissions control rules, Japanese and European imports, and stagnant innovation wreaked havoc on the American industry. Throughout the decade, small imported cars outperformed large American ones, and the domestic auto industry began to fail. Small performance cars from BMW, Toyota, and Nissan took the place of big-engined cars from America and Italy. A pony car is a class of automobile. ... The Pontiac GTO is a classic example of the muscle car. ... “Ford” redirects here. ... For other Ford Mustang models and concepts, see Ford Mustang Variants. ... Modified 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... The Chevrolet Camaro is a pony car made in North America by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors. ... The 1973 oil crisis began in earnest on October 17, 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC, consisting of the Arab members of OPEC plus Egypt and Syria) announced, as a result of the ongoing Yom Kippur War, that they would no longer ship petroleum... Vehicle emissions inspection station Automobile emissions control covers all the technologies that are employed to reduce the air pollution-causing emissions produced by automobiles. ... For other uses, see BMW (disambiguation). ... This article is about the automaker. ... Nissan Motor Co. ... One complete cycle of a four cylinder, four stroke engine. ...

On the technology front, the biggest developments of the era were the widespread use of independent suspensions, wider application of fuel injection, and an increasing focus on safety in the design of automobiles. The hottest technologies of the 1960s were NSU's Wankel engine, the gas turbine, and the turbocharger. Of these, only the last, pioneered by General Motors but popularized by BMW and Saab, was to see widespread use. Little Mazda had much success with their "Rotary" engines, but was critically affected by its reputation as a polluting gas-guzzler. Other Wankel licensees, including Mercedes-Benz and General Motors, never put their designs into production. Rover and Chrysler both produced experimental turbine cars to no effect. Independent suspension is broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically (i. ... // Multi Port Fuel injection is a means of metering fuel into an internal combustion engine. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Wankel Engine in Deutsches Museum Munich, Germany The Wankel rotary engine is a type of internal combustion engine, invented by German engineer Felix Wankel, which uses a rotor instead of reciprocating pistons. ... This machine has a single-stage centrifugal compressor and turbine, a recuperator, and foil bearings. ... Air foil bearing-supported turbocharger cutaway made by Mohawk Innovative Technology Inc. ... General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), also known as GM, is an American automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Vauxhall. ... For other uses, see BMW (disambiguation). ... Saab Automobile AB is automobile manufacturing company in Sweden, and is currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of the General Motors Corporation. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... 12A redirects here. ... This page is about the Mercedes-Benz brand of automobiles and trucks from the DaimlerChrysler automobile manufacturer. ... General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), also known as GM, is an American automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Vauxhall. ... // Rover was a British automobile manufacturer and later a marque based at the former Austin Longbridge plant in Birmingham. ... The Chrysler Corporation was a United States-based automobile manufacturer that existed independently from 1925–1998. ...

A so-called yank tank in Havana, Cuba.

Cuba is famous for its pre-1959 cars, known as yank tanks or maquinas, because before the Cuban revolution many rich US citizens lived there, but after the revolution the influx of cars stopped due to the US boycot, so people made sure to keep the cars they had in good condition. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1136x852, 121 KB) A so-called yank tank or maquina in Havana, Cuba. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1136x852, 121 KB) A so-called yank tank or maquina in Havana, Cuba. ... Yank tank or máquina are the words used to describe classic cars in Cuba. ... This article is about the capital of Cuba. ... Yank tank or máquina are the words used to describe classic cars in Cuba. ... The Cuban Revolution refers to the revolution that led to the overthrow of General Fulgencio Batistas regime on January 1, 1959 by the 26th of July Movement and other revolutionary elements within the country. ... The United States embargo against Cuba (described in Cuba as el bloqueo, Spanish for the blockade) is an economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed on Cuba on February 7, 1962. ...

1968 (left) and 1969 (right) Oldsmobile 442s. Post-war American muscle cars with V8 engines.

Exemplary post-war cars: Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 255 KB) 1968 and 1969 Oldsmobile 442 Source: Photographed at the Bay State Antique Automobile Clubs July 10, 2005 show at the Endicott Estate in Dedham, MA by User:Sfoskett File links The following pages link to this file... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 255 KB) 1968 and 1969 Oldsmobile 442 Source: Photographed at the Bay State Antique Automobile Clubs July 10, 2005 show at the Endicott Estate in Dedham, MA by User:Sfoskett File links The following pages link to this file... 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 The Oldsmobile 442 (pronounced four-four-two) was a muscle car produced by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. ...

• 1948–1971 Morris Minor – A popular and typical post-war car exported around the world.
• 1949–1968 Oldsmobile 88 — This model introduced the high-compression mass-produced V8 engine to the masses, ushering in the power wars that led to the muscle car era.

• 1958-1967 Chevrolet Impala- An automobile that changed through the times, with incarnations as everything from lowriders to super street machines.
• 1959–2000 Mini — This quintessential small car lasted for four decades and is one of the most famous cars of all time.
• 1961–1975 Jaguar E-type —The E-type saved Jaguar on the track and in the showroom and was a standard for design and innovation in the 1960s.
• 1962–1977 BMC ADO16 — This front wheel drive car dominated sales in the United Kingdom, but excessive badge engineering doomed the brands of the British Motor Corporation.
• 1962–1964 Ferrari 250 GTO — The first supercar, the GTO was dominant in auto racing in the early 1960s.
• 1966-1972 Dodge Charger star of the TV show Dukes of Hazzard and true a MOPAR car that evolved into one of the most powerful and desirable muscle cars ever, the 1969 Dodge Charger 500.
• 1964–1970 Ford Mustang — The pony car that became one of the best-selling and most-collected cars of the era.
• 1964–1974 Pontiac GTO — The archetypal muscle car went from being an option package to a high-performance model and back in just 10 years. A race car turned loose.
• 1969-1980 Pontiac Trans Am- a muscle car that appealed to the masses and gave GM something to compete with Ford's Mustang. From about 1975 to 1980 they got an estimated around 18 miles to the gallon. The 1977 Pontiac Trans Am was the co star of Smokey and the Bandit next to Burt Reynolds
• 1954-present Chevrolet Corvette — Born in the post-war era, the 'Vette is an American icon of automotive engineering.
• 1969 Datsun 240Z — One of the first Japanese sports cars to be a smash hit with the North American public, it paved the way for future decades of Japanese strength in the automotive industry. It was affordable, well-built, and had great success both on the track and in the showroom.
• 1975–1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five — One of the largest cars ever made. With the largest, least-efficient engine in modern times, it came to exemplify the American automobile industry's problems in the 1970s.

Later Morris Minor Van with aftermarket rear side windows Morris Minor Traveller (estate) Morris Minor Rally The revolutionary Morris Minor (the prototype was called Mosquito) was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show on 20 September, 1948. ... The Oldsmobile 88 (a. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... The Pontiac GTO is a classic example of the muscle car. ... 1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible 1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible The Chevrolet Impala is an automobile built for the Chevrolet division by General Motors. ... For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ... A 1963 Series 1 3. ... ADO16 was the codename for the development of what became the Morris 1100, a small family car built by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and, later, British Leyland. ... Badge engineering is a term that describes the rebadging of one model of car as another. ... BMC rosette logo old BMC share A preserved BMC ambulance. ... The Ferrari 250 GTO was a supercar and auto racing car made by Ferrari in the early 1960s. ... For other uses, see Supercar (disambiguation). ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969. ... Dodge is a North American brand of automobiles and light to heavy-duty trucks from Chrysler, sold globally. ... Place setting with red charger. ... The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that originally aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985. ... Mopar (short for MOtor PARts) is the automobile parts and service arm of Chrysler Group. ... The Dodge Charger 500 is a NASCAR Nextel Cup stock car race held at the Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. ... For other Ford Mustang models and concepts, see Ford Mustang Variants. ... A pony car is a class of automobile. ... 1965 Pontiac GTO convertible The Pontiac GTO was an automobile built by Pontiac from 1964 to 1974, and by General Motors Holden in Australia from 2004 to 2006. ... The Pontiac GTO is a classic example of the muscle car. ... The Pontiac Trans Am was an automobile produced by Pontiac, a division of General Motors (GM), to appeal to the growing muscle car population. ... Smokey and the Bandit is a 1977 movie starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, and Mike Henry. ... Burton Leon Reynolds, Jr. ... The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car that has been manufactured by Chevrolet since 1953. ... The S30 Nissan/Datsun 240Z (known in Japan as the Fairlady Z and later in other markets as the 260Z and 280Z) are sports cars from Nissan of the 1970s. ... The Fleetwood name was used on the top of the Cadillac line since 1927. ...

Modern era

1986 VW Golf Mk.2

1993 Ford Escort Wagon

1994 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Royale

ZJ Jeep Grand Cherokee

The modern era is normally defined as the 25 years preceding the current year. However, there are some technical and design aspects that differentiate modern cars from antiques. Without considering the future of the car, the modern era has been one of increasing standardization, platform sharing, and computer-aided design. 1986 US model Volkswagen Golf. ... 1986 US model Volkswagen Golf. ... VW Golf Mk. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Cars_008. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Cars_008. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Ford Escort (European). ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 679 KB) Summary (C) 2004 Matthew Bowen Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Oldsmobile 88 ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 679 KB) Summary (C) 2004 Matthew Bowen Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Oldsmobile 88 ... A 1950s Olds Rocket 88, still running in 2003 The Oldsmobile 88 is a fullsize car from General Motors produced from 1949 until 1999. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a mid-size sport utility vehicle produced by the Jeep division of DaimlerChrysler. ... The future of the automobile is a controversial topic, with some advocates arguing that the car has no future, and others that the car will in the future supplant most other forms of transport. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... CADD and CAD redirect here. ...

Some particularly notable advances in modern times are the wide spread of front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, the adoption of the V6 engine configuration, and the ubiquity of fuel injection. While all of these advances were first attempted in earlier eras, they so dominate the market today that it is easy to overlook their significance. Nearly all modern passenger cars are front wheel drive unibody designs with transversely-mounted engines, but this design was considered radical just 20 years earlier. Front-wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... Four wheel drive or 4x4, is a type of four wheeled vehicle drivetrain configuration that enables all four wheels to receive power from the engine simultaneously in order to provide maximum traction. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... // Multi Port Fuel injection is a means of metering fuel into an internal combustion engine. ... Front wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... Monocoque (French for single shell) or unibody is a construction technique that uses the external skin of an object to support some or most of the load on the structure. ... A transverse engine is an engine in which the crankshaft is oriented side-to-side relative to the wheels of the vehicle. ...

Body styles have changed as well in the modern era. Three types, the hatchback, minivan, and sport utility vehicle, dominate today's market yet are relatively recent concepts. All originally emphasized practicality but have mutated into today's high-powered luxury crossover SUV and sports wagon. The rise of pickup trucks in the United States and SUVs worldwide has changed the face of motoring, with these "trucks" coming to command more than half of the world automobile market. Renault Megane hatchback, a proper hatchback which has shown huge success in Europe Peugeot 306 hatchback, with the hatch lifted and the parcel shelf tilted for access Hatchback is a term designating an automobile design, containing a passenger cabin with an integrated cargo space, accessed from behind the vehicle by... It has been suggested that Mini MPV be merged into this article or section. ... A fourth-generation (2006-) Ford Explorer, the best-selling mid-size SUV in the United States. ... A concept is an abstract, universal psychical entity that serves to designate a category or class of entities, events or relations. ... A crossover SUV (also called CUV for Crossover Utility Vehicle) or XUV (not to be confused with GMCs Envoy XUV) is an automobile with a sport utility vehicle appearance but is built upon a more economical and fuel-efficient unibody construction. ... The best selling North American pickup truck, the Ford F-Series. ...

The modern era has also seen rapidly rising fuel efficiency and engine output. Once the automobile emissions concerns of 1970s were conquered with computerized engine management systems, power began to rise rapidly. In the 1980s, a powerful sports car might have produced 200 hp (150 kW)—just 20 years later, average passenger cars have engines that powerful, and some performance models offer three times as much power. Fuel efficiency, in its basic sense, is the same as thermal efficiency, meaning the efficiency of a process that converts energy contained in a carrier fuel into energy or work. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... This article is about a unit of measurement. ... For other uses, see Watt (disambiguation). ...

Exemplary modern cars:

• 1974–present VW Golf — The exemplary modern compact car, with a square hatchback body, transverse straight-4 engine, and room for five passengers.
• 1977–present Honda Accord sedan — This Japanese sedan became the most popular car in the United States in the 1990s, pushing the Ford Taurus aside, and setting the stage for today's upscale Asian sedans.
• 1948-1999 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight — A classic example of the "traditional", full size, American sedan.
• 1983–present Chrysler minivans — The two-box minivan design nearly pushed the station wagon out of the market and presaged today's crossover SUVs.
• 1986–present Ford Taurus — This mid-sized front wheel drive sedan with modern Computer Assisted Design dominated the American market in the late 1980s and created a design revolution in North America.
• 1992-2005 Chrysler Concorde, Dodge Intrepid, Eagle Vision- These evolutionary styled cars shaped the future of passenger cars in the 90's. Chrysler introduced Cab forward styling on these cars 15 years ago. Even now car makers still use cab forward designs, especially on small cars like the Toyota Echo
• 1975-present BMW 3-Series - A compact car that is the world's best selling sport sedan. It provides luxury and performance at prices that are not totally out of reach. These cars are very profitable.
• 1993–present Jeep Grand Cherokee — The archetypal upscale SUV with four-wheel drive, V8 power, and a luxurious interior at a price reachable for the masses.
• 1966-present Toyota Corolla — A simple small Japanese sedan that has come to be the best selling car of all time.

VW Golf Mk. ... The Rambler American introduced in the late 1950s was an early compact car. ... Renault Megane hatchback, a proper hatchback which has shown huge success in Europe Peugeot 306 hatchback, with the hatch lifted and the parcel shelf tilted for access Hatchback is a term designating an automobile design, containing a passenger cabin with an integrated cargo space, accessed from behind the vehicle by... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... The Honda Accord is an automobile manufactured by Honda since 1976, debuting as a compact hatchback and evolving into a intermediate vehicle. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... A 1950s Olds Rocket 88, still running in 2003 The Oldsmobile 88 is a fullsize car from General Motors produced from 1949 until 1999. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into articles entitled Dodge Caravan and Dodge Grand Caravan, accessible from a disambiguation page. ... It has been suggested that Mini MPV be merged into this article or section. ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... A crossover SUV (also called CUV for Crossover Utility Vehicle) or XUV (not to be confused with GMCs Envoy XUV) is an automobile with a sport utility vehicle appearance but is built upon a more economical and fuel-efficient unibody construction. ... The Ford Taurus is a mid-size, front wheel drive car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in North America. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... The Chrysler Concorde was a large four-door, full-size, front wheel drive sedan produced by Chrysler from 1993 to 2004. ... The Dodge Intrepid was a large four-door, full-size, front-wheel drive sedan. ... The Eagle Vision was a large four-door, full-size, front-wheel drive sedan. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... The Toyota Vitz and Platz are Toyotas current model of subcompact car, with the Vitz name used for hatchbacks and Platz for sedans in Japan. ... The BMW 3-Series is a line of compact sedans manufactured by BMW since May, 1975. ... The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a mid-size sport utility vehicle produced by the Jeep division of DaimlerChrysler. ... A fourth-generation (2006-) Ford Explorer, the best-selling mid-size SUV in the United States. ... This article is about the class of vehicles. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... The Toyota Corolla is a compact car produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. ...

Future directions

Main article: Future of the car

The future of the automobile is a controversial topic, with some advocates arguing that the car has no future, and others that the car will in the future supplant most other forms of transport. ...

References

1. ^ SA MOTORING HISTORY - TIMELINE. Government of South Australia.
2. ^ Setright, L. J. K. (2004). Drive On!: A Social History of the Motor Car. Granta Books. ISBN 1-86207-698-7. 
3. ^ C.D. Buchanan (1958). "1", Mixed Blessing: The Motor in Britain. Leonard Hill. 
4. ^ Georgano, G.N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985).
5. ^ Georgano, G.N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985).
6. ^ Georgano, G. N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985)
7. ^ Georgano.

External links

• Old Classic Car - A large website containing articles, an extensive photograph archive, and free downloads for enthusiasts of classic and vintage cars. 10,000+ pages, updated daily.
• Photographic overview of collections and vintage cars contained in automobile museums around the USA & the world.
• Italian Motorcycles and Cars (Wheels Of Italy)
• University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections – Transportation Photographs An ongoing digital collection of photographs depicting various modes of transportation (including automobiles) in the Pacific Northwest region and Western United States during the first half of the 20th century.
• Automotive History - An ongoing photographic History of the Automobile.
• Taking the Wheel, Manufacturers' Catalogs from the First Decade of American Automobiles