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From the time of creation of automobiles, there had been consecutive effort to invent new designs
and technologies. This led to many events resulting in important chapters of the history of the automobile industry by launching
new cars even in India. Here are some of such car facts which comprises of discoveries, creative designs and technologies
which became stepping stones in the making of today's cars. In the year 1782, the first engine crank was built. The credit of this revolutionary invention goes to James Watt whose improvements in the steam engine where
fundamental to the changes brought by Industrial revolution in the Great Britain and the rest of the world. The first toll
roads in U.S where opened in Pennsylvania and Connecticut in the year 1792. This introduced quality high speed roads to existence.
Other major outbreaks which created a sensation in the automobile engines was of the spark plug and internal combustion
engines. Jean Joseph Lenoir invented a two stroke internal combustion engine fueled by coal gas and triggered by an electric
spark-ignition n 1858. Modern tyres are derived from the invention by Charles Goodyear, the vulcanized rubber in 1844. In
1895, Andre Michelin designed and fitted the first air filled tire to the motor car.
At the turn of the century, restrictive Victorian ideas prevailed and women were
viewed as too timid and fragile to deal with public affairs, participate in strenuous activity, or operate complex . These
same arguments were used to deny women a higher education and the right to vote. However, some bold and courageous women refused
to fit into the mold that society dictated for them. For other women, the automobile provided opportunities for work, inventions,
and independence. Here are a few examples of women who made automotive history – and possibly steered the course for
who we are today: 1902 Mary Anderson invented the first windshield wiper after riding a New York City Street car. Before that,
people smeared a mixture of onions and carrots on windshields to repel water. June 6, 1909 Mrs. Alice H. Ramsey was 22 years
old when she boarded a 30 HP Maxwell and began a 3,800 mile trip from New York to San Francisco, making her the first woman
in history to
cross the United States in an automobile. Her
husband, a New Jersey c ongressman, never learned to drive but regularly purchased new Maxwells for Alice. He is quoted as
saying “Alice, how the heck do you stop this thing!” The museum has a 1910 red Maxwell on display similar to the
one Alice owned. By 1910, 5% of licensed drivers were woman.
The 1912 invention of Charles Kettering's self-starter did away with the necessity of crank starting a car. This
arduous and often dangerous task had deterred many women (and no doubt, numerous men) from driving. Actress Florence Lawrence
invented the first turn signal or "auto signaling arm" which attached to the car’s rear fender. She is quoted
as saying "A car to me is something that is almost human, something that responds to kindness, understanding and care,
just as people do."
Her prowess behind the wheel
is evident in many of her silent movies, which helped to encourage women drivers. The women’s fight for suffrage and
the right to vote took a new tactic with a series of auto tours which criss-crossed the nation with their message. Women rented
automobiles much like the ones on display at the Museum. They draped the cars with large banners and made speeches from the
roomy back seats, with the tops down. The spectacle attracted large groups of men. In 1916 Alice Burke and Nell Richardson
traveled for seven months and 10,700 miles carrying the women’s suffrage and right to vote message and demonstrating
women’s equality at the wheel. Several early open cars on display are typical of the type these women would
have driven, or toured with a hired chauffer.
1914
(early WWI) Women began driving for the French and British branches of the Red Cross. American women, including famous art
patron Gertrude Stein, were recruited to drive for them. Overseas drivers had to furnish their own cars and were also expected
to maintain them, including making minor repairs. Ms. Stein sent to her aunt in New York to "ship a Model T. In 1915
Wilma Russey became the first woman to work as a taxi driver in New York and was an expert garage mechanic. 1916 The Girl
Scouts initiated a "Automobling Badge" for which girls had to demonstrate driving skill, auto mechanics, and first
aid skills. In the 1920s women educated in home economics criss-crossed the country visiting women on farms and giving home
canning demonstrations. For the isolated farm women, these visits were referred to as "a little bit of heaven come down
in a Tin Lizzie." (Ford Model T).
In 1922 Henry Ford opened his Phoenix Factory employing women to do assembly and
welding work. Workers at this plant were either single or widowed, as Mr. Ford did not approve of married women working outside
the home. He said "I consider women only a temporary factor in industry. Their real job in life is to get married, have
a home and raise a family. I pay our women the same as men so they can dress attractively and get married." Beginning
in the 1920’s and 1930’s many major automobile manufacturers recognized the growing trend of women driving for
fun and necessity. They began to gear their print ad campaigns to women, hire women in design and sales positions, and recognize
women in many other ways.
Color options, vanity cases, plush
upholstery, decorative door handles, and even interior mounted sterling silver bud vases! Interpretive visual labels also
reinforce this story.
During
World War II, American auto manufacturers stopped making cars and converted their assembly lines and factories over to war
production. The supply of new automobiles dried up. After the war, reverting to peacetime production took a while: American
factories produced fewer cars in 1945 (dealers sold just under 70,000 cars) than they had in 1909, before the advent of mass
production. The prevailing motto of the day was "Do the job he left behind" as women pumped gas and did other jobs
traditionally done by men.
Cars have been a part of American life since circa 1914 because of one man; Henry Ford. He revolutionized
the production process of motor vehicles that was created by Ransom Olds, the owner of the Oldsmobile factory, which was debuted
in 1902. The Ford production line was the predecessor to all other large-scale production lines that shell out different products
such as airplanes, ships, trains and all types of electronics.
The Ford assembly line was so successful that it produced vehicles
at a record pace; one car came off of the line every 15 minutes. This is in 1914, when developments in technology were still
being discovered and tested across not only the United States however also the world. The only thing that was holding Ford
back in production was waiting for the variety or diversity of colors to dry. So, he noticed that the black paint they were
using dried quicker than the variety or diversity of other colors. Ford made an executive decision to use only black paint
from that moment forward, hence the reason why all of the vehicles in the country at the onset of vehicular travel were black
in colour.
Ford's
first car was the Model T and it cost an assembly line worker only four months of pay to purchase the vehicle in 1914. Ford
also instituted ground breaking safety features and ground breaking management strategies. Ford assigned each assembly line
worker to a specific position so there would be less wandering throughout the line which would result in fewer injuries to
his workers. If he had as many healthy workers as possible then the production work would be completed faster and faster.
The
history of Land Rover goes back to 1860 and it was initiated by J.K Starley. Mr. Starley set up his business of manufacturing
sewing machines in Coventry which is a city in West Midlands, in England. Starley founded a comapny 'Starley and Sutton
Company' with William Sutton. In 1884, he expanded his business by introducing safety cycles followed by 'Rover Safety
Cycles' and soon established 'Rover Cycle Company Limited'. By then 'Rover' (which means a bike in polish)
was an established brand name. Starley died in 1901; he is still known as the inventor of the modern bicycle.
Starley
was succeeded by Harry Smyth and in 1904, Rover started to build his first car. In 1906, 'Rover Cycle Company Limited'
was changed to 'Rover Company Limited' and it started to specialize in manufacturing cars. Rover had built a good
name for itself and was growing successfully until it was struck with the depression of 1930s. Rover suffered a lot during
this phase; it was struggling to survive. This struggle lasted until Spencer Wilks became the Managing director in
1933. Wilks specialized the production of cars to prestige cars and he introduced various modern operations and management
systems and made the business process efficient. Most of the best Land Rover models were and still are its SUV's.
Land Rover - A Beginning
Series I, 1948-1957 After the World War
II, Rover had created a good name and a market for itself in the local regions but it had not had the exposure to exports.
They realized that now they can't get enough steel sheets to keep their production going. Using the abundant aircraft
aluminum left after the world war II, Maurice and Spencer designed the Land Rover in 1947, inspired from the 'Willys Jeep'
used in the World War II. The Unique selling price of the Land Rover was that it was constructed from 'Brimabright aluminum'
and 'magnesium proprietary alloy', which was lightweight rust-proof. This solved their problem of export efficiency
and scarcity of steel. All the early versions of the Land Rover had a centrally-mounted steering wheel and had a steel box
section chassis. This was basically to save coats involved in making left-hand and right-hand drives for export. This marks
the birth of the Land Rover.
After this the second body option 'Station Wagon' was introduced.
Series II, 1958-1961 In 1958, the centrally mounted steering wheels were scrapped and changes were
made in the old design and new engineering refinements were adapted. It was now larger in structure, had a more powerful engine,
longer wheelbase, improved stability, and a more responsive ride because of the tighter turning radius. It was now, that Land
Rover emerged as a strong contender in the 4-wheeler market.
Features
Size:
88 inches and 109 inches
Petrol Engine: 2.25 liter
10 Seater Layout + 12 seater option on the top.
Category:
Minibus.
Series II A, 1962-1970 There were minor
changes in the series II and Series II A. Body configuration were now made available from the factory. Land Rover had started
to sell about 60,000 pieces a year.
Features
2.25
liter Diesel Engine
2.6 Liter Straight Six Petrol Engine
Standard-fit Serve-assisted brakes
Series
II A FC, 1962 In 1962, Series II A Forward Control was launched. It was based on the Series II A structure but
this time the cab was positioned over the engine to give a better load space.
Features
Tires: 900x16
Deep Dish Wheel rims
Series II B FC, 1966 In 1966, Series II B Forward Control was launched.
It was again similar to the Series II A FC, but this one had an added 2.25lt diesel engine. The production of this vehicle
ended in 1974.
Features
Heavy Duty Wide-track Axles
Front Anti-roll Bar
Revised rear
springs above the axle
110 inch wheelbase
Series
III, 1971-1985 Series III's body and engine were same as the II A's. The headlights were shifted to
the wings. The metal grille was replaced with the plastic ones. The engine compression was increased from 7:1 to 8:1. It was
the first model to have featured the synchromesh on all four gears. The instrument cluster was shifted to the driver's
side and five-bearing crankshafts were added to the engines.
The British have an atypical view of
the automobile. In fact, you can almost call it a national admiration for automobiles, especially vintage cars. With their
attitude towards autos, it’s not hard to appreciate the esteem for which the British hold for the Bentley Motor Car
Company. Although Bentley has had a number of trials and troubles in its nearly 90 year history, British fans remain loyal.
The best example is that of the national excitement displayed by the British when a Bentley race car finished third at the
24 Hours of Le Mans sports automobile endurance race in France. Never mind that Bentley is now owned by Volkswagen and that
the engines used in the Bentley race car was the save as the Audi R8s that took first and second. It was the first time that
a Bentley had place in the top three in 71 years and the British fans gave little regard to the ownership or engine used.
W.O. Bentley began his career as an apprentice to a railroad engineer around the 1900 turn of the century. But he had a passion
for racing and immediately got into it with the motorcycle circuit, which was a common engagement among young British men
prior to World War I.
After the end of World War I, Bentley became determined to develop his own auto manufacturing company, thus
the beginning of Bentley Motors, Ltd. Established in 1919, the company was held with very little capital for the next decade.
At the time, the only Bentley for sale was attractive to a small niche market. Being a racer at heart, Bentley’s first
cars were high performance race cars and became immediately established as winners in the world of European racing. Bentley
racers won the 24 Hours of Le Mans 4 times between 1923 until 1931 when the company went a different route. Bentley realized
early that there was little market and profitability in building race cars, and to succeed his company would have to make
consumer minded vehicles that would offer functionality, style and most importantly, pay the bills. The Bentleys for sale
during this era where rolling chassis fitted with fancy coachwork bodies, built to suit the wealthiest of clients. With its
new line of Bentleys for sale, Bentley quickly became a major competitor of Rolls-Royce as the next British luxury car maker.
However, the Great Depression got in the way of progress and W.O. put up Bentley for sale. Although Bentley himself was planning
to sell the company to another firm, the deal was grabbed by Rolls-Royce in 1931.
The Bucciali was a French automobile
manufactured from 1922 until 1933. Built by the brothers Bucciali, it began life at Courbevoie as a cyclecar under the name
Buc. Initial offerings were powered by twin-cylinder two-stroke 1340 cc engines. In 1925 a 1600 cc SCAP-engined model appeared,
available in two versions, the "Tourisme" and the "Quatre Speciale" supercharged. A six-cylinder car of
1500 cc was also offered. 1928 saw the creation of a TAN six-cylinder and an eight-cylinder with front-wheel drive and Sensaud
de Lavaud's steering and automatic gearbox, both of which caused a sensation. In the 1930s the company produced the Double
Huit, also a front-wheel-drive model, which was powered by a pair of straight-eight Continental engines mounted side by side.
The last of the prototypes took a Voisin 12-cylinder engine. Very few of the front-wheel-drive Buccialis ever reached the
road. While it is not known exactly how many of the TAV 12 models were produced, only two are known by automotive enthusiasts
to still exist: one in America and one in France. The black Bucciali that still exists was rebuilt by Bruce Kelly with the
help of Robert LeMire at Lake Country Classics in Minneapolis Minnesota.
By 1860, the gasoline engine had been invented in Europe and in 1885, Karl Benz had introduced the
first gasoline powered automobile. His car ran on 3 wheels and looked like a very big tricycle that had no pedals and could
hold two people. In America, the first gasoline-powered auto to grace the rough horse and buggy roads was in 1891. The man
to build this car was John W. Lambert.
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. In 1919, 90% of cars sold were open; by 1929,
90% were closed 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.
The Tony Huber Classic Car image: French made 1903 Tony Huber Classic Car. Two cylinder petrol engine
producing eight horse power.
A vintage car is commonly defined as a car built between the start of 1919 and the end of 1930. There
is little debate about the start date of the vintage period—the end of World War I is a nicely defined marker there—but
the end date is a matter of a little more debate. The British definition is strict about 1930 being the cut-off, while some
American sources prefer 1925 since it is the pre-classic car period as defined by the Classic Car Club of America. Others
see the classic period as overlapping the vintage period, especially since the vintage designation covers all vehicles produced
in the period while the official classic definition does not, only including high-end vehicles of the period. Some consider
the start of World War II to be the end date of the vintage period.
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.
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 as late as the 1960s.
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.
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.
The Coupe deVille (sometimes spelled Coupe Deville or Coupe DeVille) was a
model of Cadillac from 1949 through 1993. The name has become famous through pop culture, with references in pop songs, movies,
and other media.
Classic cars are a popular collectible
that appeals to car enthusiasts and antique dealers. There are many things that factor in to making a car a classic. The definition
of a true classic remains one of those things that many people constantly disagree on. You can ask a dozen different people
what they feel defines a car as classic and you will likely get that many different answers. An antique car is not the same
as a classic though so it's best to gather as much information as you can when determining what makes a classic a classic.
The term "classic" is a very broad term that differs among resources. Even dictionaries have different answers
for this definition. Of course, that can make it incredibly difficult to form your own opinion when all of the reliable sources
can't agree. We all know that a classic is something that has earned a certain level of status. Age often plays into this
as well.
According to the Classic Car Club of America, a classic automobile is one that was manufactured between
1925 and 1948. However, there are other groups and websites that refer to these cars as vintage so you may need to seek out
more than one opinion. Many insurance companies define a classic car as one that is at least twenty years old or older. The
insurance company's definition might be your best bet for getting a straight answer.
A classic car rarely has
anything to do with the make and model of the car. It is often based solely on age. Any car can be a classic if it is old
enough and maintained in a way that retains some of its original value. Age is the primary point when it comes to classic,
antique or vintage cars. If you are interested in buying a classic car, have the age and all other necessary information proven
with the appropriate legal documents.
There are some states that consider a car to be a classic if it is fifteen
years old. Many automotive enthusiasts do not agree with this definition citing that fifteen years is not enough to make a
car a classic. This is something that could be controversial when it comes to insuring a car of that age. This is another
reason why you should take the time to consult an expert in classic cars before purchasing or insuring one.
Because
of the sticky situation involved in defining a classic car, many enthusiasts believe they should be separated into two different
categories. A modern classic is not at all the same as a true classic. A car that is almost one hundred years old certainly
is not the same class of classic that a car twenty-five years old would be. There needs to be better clarification regarding
these details.
Seeking out an expert on classic cars is a good idea when it comes to investing in one. You need
to know exactly what you are getting. The advice that you can get from an expert is priceless and could save you plenty of
money and hassle in the long run.
Let us look in detail what an antique car is and about antique car history. According to the Antique
Automobile Club of America and several other organizations worldwide, an antique car can be defined as any car which is more
than 25 years of age. Sometimes it is seen that some classic cars are misrepresented as antique cars, but the real classic
cars are those certain specific high quality cars from the pre-World War II era. However antique cars are not profitable to
use for everyday transportation, these antiques cars are much popular for leisure driving. Antiques cars which had survived
for more than 25 years are considered great survivors. And that’s why owning, collecting and restoring such rare antique
cars are considered as a well-liked hobby by people all over the world.
The 1930 Mercedes-Benz 710 SSK ‘Trossi
Roadster’ shone out as the natural winner. Specially imported from the USA for the Goodwood event by the Ralph Lauren
Car Collection, the Trossi Mercedes proved a huge hit with the Festival of Speed visitors. The only one if its kind in the
world, the car has an illustrious history and was once owned by Count Trossi himself. The Cartier class of exquisite coachbuilt
supercharged Mercedes-Benz of 1925-1939 also included the class winner, a 1927 680 S Torpedo Roadster, owned by Miguel Gonzelez.
Other class winners included the famous 1911 ‘Golden Ford’ in the 100 years of the Ford Model T class. The ‘Great
Britons’ class of stars of the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show was won by the pristine 1948 Land Rover Series 1 of Tim Dines.
The victor of the rear-engined revolution, celebrating 60 years of Porsche innovation, was Thomas Straumann’s original
356 ‘Gmund’ coupé. A new perspective, with adventurous design from post-War America, saw the pioneering
1948 Tucker Torpedo of John Jackson win his class. The dawn of the Supercar class was won by the stunning Alfa Romeo Tipo
33 Stradale, whilst the 1999 Bugatti Chiron 18.3 was the surprise winner of the audacious supercar concepts of 1980-2000 class
Car number plates act as a vehicles unique identifier. Similar to DNA, there are no two number plates
the same and one specific registration can only be found on one specific vehicle. All the information regarding registration
numbers is held on a central database which, administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency commonly known as the
DVLA.
Over
the years car number plates have followed various formats to meet the increase in the amount of cars our roads. Car registrations
were first made compulsory in 1903 when the Motor Car Act was introduced. Back then the DVLA did not exist so it was the local
council’s responsibility to administer registration numbers. Problems arose however when vehicles were sold or the owners
move to a different area as it was necessary for the registration details to be transferred to another council. Over time
this problem grew with the massive rise in the volume of traffic on our roads. It was clear that the council system of car
registrations could not cope.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre (DVLC) was formed in 1965 and took over the responsibility
of administering car number plates across the country. The head office was based in Swansea and had 81 local offices supporting
the administration of car registrations as well as other road and vehicle related issues such as supplying information on
vehicles to the Police. Gradually even Post Offices became involved in the car registration system causing many local DVLA
offices to close. The number of local offices had reduced to 53 by 1985 and the DVLC changed its name to the Driver and Vehicle
Licensing Agency (DVLA). Currently there are 40 local offices across England, Scotland and Wales.
Since the introduction of the DVLC/DVLA, there
have been 3 different registration number formats: suffix registration numbers, prefix registration numbers and the current
or new style registration numbers. Suffix number plates began being issued in 1963 and ran until 1983. The format displayed
three letters, up to three numbers and then an age identifier letter for example ABC 321A. Prefix car registration numbers
were released when the suffix series was exhausted and reversed the format by putting an age identifying letter at the beginning
of the registration plate. This was followed by up to three numbers and then three letters for example A321 ABC). I, U, Z,
Q and O registrations were never issued for either the suffix or prefix series. Our current style of DVLA number plates were
first issued in 2001. These registration numbers display the format of two letters, two numbers followed by three letters.
The numbers give an estimate of the age that the vehicle was first registered and the first two letters related to the area
where the vehicle was first registered. An example of a current style DVLA number plate is NE02 ABC.
Since the introduction
of car number plates there have literally been millions of combinations created so the chances of finding a private plate
to suit you are high. Nevertheless, popular names and initials sell incredibly fast and are therefore extremely scarce. Nowadays
number plates are no long just an identifier for our vehicles, rapidly becoming collector’s items and the ultimate car
accessory.
By
Ross O'Donnell Published:
11/26/2006
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) keeps
a list of plates that it has not approved because of words formed by their sequence of numbers and letters, an MP has found.Reportedly
included on the list is 054MA, which could be seen to resemble the first name of Osama bin Laden, the al-Qa'eda
chief. Other terrorism-related banned plates are H057AGE (hostage), MA56ACA (massacre), HE580LA (Hezbollah) and even BU580MB
(bus bomb). The DVLA is also thought to prohibit combinations resembling jihad or Hamas.
Meet and greet Goldilocks. Every now and again we come across that special car that just seems to fit the
bill in every possible way. All I did was take my crappy old Jeep for a car wash and I came home with this instead.
The MG is a British brand of sports
car, which has been around for over eighty years. Although the last model of the MG went bankrupt in 2005, the ownership has
been moved to Nanjing Automobile Group, who plan to produce the cars once again in 2007. The “MG” name stood for
“Morris Garages”, who was a car dealership in Oxford. The company started creating customized cars with designs
from Cecil Kimber, who eventually became the General Manger of the company. Now, under its new ownership, the “MG”
is going to stand as “Modern Gentleman”. Zhang Xin, the boss of the group, says that he wants “to see that
this brand represent grace and style”.
Although MG is mostly known for their two-seat sports cars, the company has also produced coupés
and saloons. The company was originally based in Oxford, but in 1925, one year after it was created, MG moved to the larger
Bainton Road premises, due to high demand for the vehicles. After the car was finally shown at the London Motor Show, demand
of their cars went higher still and they were forced to move again. In 1929, MG moved to their permanent location, which is
Abingdon, Oxfordshire. In 1935, William Morris, the owner, sold the company to Morris Motors. The consequences of this deal
were that the British Motor Corporation would later absorb the MG brand in 1952. During the 1960s, British Leyland had control
of the brand, but was in trouble due to a lagging economy. Up until 2005, the MG brand was part of the MG Rover Group, which
was based in Longbridge, Birmingham. The original 1924 model MG, known as the MG 14/28, was essentially a sports car body
on a Morris Oxford steel frame. It wasn’t until 1929 that the popular vertical MG grille was finally on the car. The
main sports car that MG created was in the Midget series. The car company quickly got recognition as it did quite well in
international automobile racing. A more modern sports car was built in 1962 due to high demand for the company to create a
more modern car. Unfortunately, due to the numerous ownership trades and financial problems, the car company ran out of steam
in 2005. There are rumors that Project Kimber might want to work with Nanjing, the group that now has the rights to the MG
name, in order to create a new sports car inspired by the design of the discontinued microcar Smart Roadster.
Although the
car has had a tough history recently, it was quite popular when it was first released to the public due to its power at the
time. The car is also famous for its distinctive look, which sports the classic grille and popular classic car body. Unfortunately,
car enthusiasts will remember the car not only for its great design and performance, but for its financial troubles and constant
switching of ownerships as well. Hopefully Nanjing Automobile Group will be able to revive the brand as “Modern Gentleman”
and really make the car shine once again.
Motivated by their
racing success, Henri Chapron bought two used Delahaye Type 145 competition cars to rebody them in his own way. With performance
credentials to win events like the Pau Grand Prix, this chassis was one of the fastest in its day - a very special Type 145
adorned with simple cigar bodywork won a million francs from the French government for breaking the speed record at Montlhery.
With such a potent chassis and graceful body design to complement
it, these two Coupes became Chapron's masterwork. It's obvious he had a keen sense to rebody Delahaye's most
sporting chassis, even if it meant including complicated racing engines that were difficult to repair.
The first car, chassis 48772 entered shop in 1939, but wasn't
completed until after the war due to delayed payments. By 1951 the chassis was mated with its new body and it was shipped
to New York. After a less than a year of driving, the used racing engine needed to be rebuilt. Unfortunately, the engine
was never completed and the car sat dormant for twenty years.
The electric vehicle was the preferred choice of many because it did not require the manual effort
to start, as with the hand crank on gasoline vehicles, and there was no wrestling with a gear shifter. While basic electric
cars cost under $1,000, most early electric vehicles were ornate, massive carriages designed for the upper class. They had
fancy interiors, with expensive materials, and averaged $3,000 by 1910. Electric vehicles enjoyed success into the 1920s with
production peaking in 1912.
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 André Citroën with the launch of the Traction Avant in 1934, though it had 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). After
1930, the number of auto manufacturers declined sharply as the industry consolidated and matured.
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.
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 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.
From the public domain comes 12 vintage auto vector clipart cars from a prior age. They range from the first horseless
carriages to motorized coaches to turn of the century gangster and “Great Gatsby” age cars. Click image for full screen size
The first piston engines did not have compression, but ran on an air-fuel mixture sucked or blown
in during the first part of the intake stroke. The most significant distinction between modern internal combustion engines
and the early designs is the use of compression and, in particular, in-cylinder compression.
The Wankel engine is a type of internal combustion engine which uses a rotary design to convert pressure
into a rotating motion instead of using reciprocating pistons. Its four-stroke cycle is generally generated in a space between
the inside of an oval-like epitrochoid-shaped housing and a roughly triangular rotor. This design delivers smooth high-rpm
power from a compact, lightweight engine. Since its introduction the engine has been commonly referred to as the rotary engine,
though this name is also applied to several completely different designs.
The engine was invented by engineer Felix Wankel. He began its
development in the early 1950s at NSU Motorenwerke AG (NSU) before completing a working, running prototype in 1957. NSU then
subsequently licenced the concept to other companies across the globe, who added more efforts and improvements in the 1950s
and 1960s.
Because
of their compact, lightweight design, Wankel rotary engines have been installed in a variety of vehicles and devices such
as automobiles including racing cars, along with aircraft, go-karts, personal water craft, chain saws, and auxiliary power
units. The most extensive automotive use of the Wankel engine has been by the Japanese company Mazda.
The Austin 7 was a vintage car
produced from 1922 through to 1939 in the United Kingdom by the Austin Motor Company. It was one of the most popular cars
ever produced there and wiped out most other British small cars and cycle cars of the early 1920s, its effect on the British
market was similar to that of the Model T Ford in the USA. It was also licensed and copied by companies all over the world
Thomas Humber founded the Humber cycle company in Sheffield in 1868, but it was not until much later
that the company would become involved with the production of motor vehicles. The Humber company expanded through the 1870s
to the point where it was producing bicycles in Nottingham, Beeston and Wolverhampton. Factory number four was opened in Coventry
in 1889, by which time Humber was seriously looking at motorized transport. There was a brief flirtation with such oddities
as tricycles and quadricyles — one of which sported front wheel drive and rear wheel steering.
In 1899 the first Humber
car, the 3 1/2 horsepower Phaeton, was built at Beeston, but the first Coatalen designed car, the Voiturette, did not appear
until 1901. This was followed by the 1903 Humberette, which sported a tubular frame and 5hp single-cylinder engine. Larger
cars came in the shape of the 1902 four-cylinder 12hp, which was soon followed up in 1903 by a three-cylinder 9hp and a four-cylinder
20hp model. By this time, Humber car production was concentrated at a new factory in Folly Lane, Coventry, which - coincidentally
- was situated close to Hillman.
After 1905, the smaller engined models were dropped, allowing Humber to concentrate on the production
of its staple 10/12hp model and the larger 16/20hp. In 1907, this range was supplemented by the arrival of the Humber 15hp.
The Jonckheeres made an extravagant
body which eventually won the ‘Prix de Cannes’ award. The car has oval doors and sliding left and right vents.
It also happens to be the only few Phantom I which had modified grill. Max Obie restored the car with silk headliner and seats
that could be folded into beds. After being resurrected the car was sold at an auction in the 1980s and was procured by a
Japanese collector who retained it for 20 years. The car eventually came back to U.S. in pieces and Tired Iron works in California
were assigned the task of putting the pieces together.At the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours, it won the Lucius Beebe Trophy for
the finest Rolls-Royce along with the hearts of many a people. The car has also been spotted at various other Concours events
like Measowbrook and Ameila Island.
A man in the UK has recorded the fastest ever speeding offence
in the nation’s history with a 172mph (277km/h)
run in a Porsche 911 Turbo. Timothy Brady, 33, was travelling on the A420 roadway near Oxfordshire at more than 100mph (161km/h)
over the 70mph (113km/h) posted speed limit. The previous record for a speeding offence in the UK was held by a Jason McAllister
who was clocked doing 156.7mph (252km/h) in an M3. Brady was eventually stopped by local police after they set up a roadblock, reports the Daily Mail.
For the offence, the speed-freak had his license immediately suspended
Motorists are almost universally required to take lessons with an approved instructor and pass a
driving test before being granted a license. The trend has been towards increasingly tougher tests in recent decades. Almost
all countries allow all adults with good vision to apply to take a driving test and, if successful, to drive on public roads.
Saudi Arabia, however, bans women from driving vehicles (whether pedal or motor powered) on public roads. Saudi women have
periodically staged driving protests against these restrictions.
In many countries, even after passing one's driving test, new
motorists may be initially subject to special restrictions. For example, in Australia, novice drivers are required to carry
"P" ("provisional") plates, and are subject to lower speed limits, alcohol limits, and other restrictions
for their first two years of driving. This varies between states. Most countries have also implemented laws in relation to driving whilst under the influence of alcohol
or drugs. The limits up to which drivers are permitted to drive vary according to the jurisdiction in which the offence occurs
As with all collectible antiques, current value has everything to do with
current supply vs. demand, and very little else; certainly little to do with the car's price when new or any objective
standard. Thus, rare cars that are highly desired are highly expensive, while vehicles that are not fashionable to collect
can be very cheap. Condition, of course, influences value. At the present time, the variation in purchase price between a
poor condition and good condition vehicle is generally much less than the cost of restoring a poor condition car; thus it
is cheaper in the long run to buy the better vehicle.
Thrust SSC (SuperSonic Car) is a British-designed
and built jet-propelled car developed by Richard Noble, Glynne Bowsher, Ron Ayers and Jeremy Bliss. ThrustSSC.
ThrustSSC holds the World
Land Speed Record, set on October 15, 1997, when it achieved a speed of 1,228 km/h (763 mph) and became the first land vehicle
to officially break the sound barrier (not considering the earlier, unsubstantiated claim of the Budweiser Rocket).
The car was
driven by Royal Air Force fighter pilot Squadron Leader Andy Green in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, United States. It
was powered by two afterburning Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engines, as used in British F-4 Phantom II jet fighters. It is
16.5 m (54 ft) long, 3.7 m (12 ft) wide and weighs 10.5 tons (10.7 t). The twin engines developed a thrust of 223 kN (50,000
lbf) and burned around 4 Imperial gallons per second (18.2 l/s or 4.8 US gallons/s). Transformed into the usual terms for
car mileages based on its maximum speed, the fuel consumption was about 5,500 l/100 km or 0.04 mpg U.S.
British cars hold a special place in
American history. At a time when most sports cars were huge and bulky, the powerful but small British cars created a different
segment in the car market in America. There were many British cars that were popular in America, such as the MG, Austin-Healey,
and Triumph, to name a few. They became a dream machine for Americans and sold well during the 1950s and 1960s. Not only were
they cheap, but they also had a unique simplistic composition and design that endeared them to the American populace. This
popularity of British cars continues even today. One can find antique British cars in almost every American city, despite
most British cars having stopped export in the late eighties and early nineties. The old cars of yesteryear were -and indeed
still are- treasured by connoisseurs. The American public takes pride in owning old British cars and refurnishing them to
their pristine glory, despite the heavy expenditure.