Automobiles, also known as motorcars, are vehicles with four wheels used for transportation. Modern automobiles are complex technical systems with thousands of separate component parts. They have evolved through technological advances, air pollution and safety legislation, and competition among manufacturers worldwide. To understand the evolution of the automobile, it is helpful to consider the different types of automobiles.
Daimler and Maybach invented modern gas engine
Gottlieb Daimler and Maybach met in 1867 when Daimler was working abroad as a technician. The two were 12 years apart in age and became a friendly working partnership. Their technical and business skills complemented each other perfectly. Ingenious designers and innovators, the duo collaborated for decades.
Ford Model T
The Ford Model T has an engine of two cylinders and a two-speed transmission. The engine produced about twenty horses and was capable of cruising at 45 miles per hour. This car used vanadium steel for its chassis and was lightweight. It received 15 to 20 miles per gallon of gas. It also had a clutch and a gear lever.
Duryea Motor Wagon Company
The Duryea Motor Wagon Company was founded in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1895. It was the first American company to produce a gasoline-powered automobile.
Rene Panhard and Emile Levassor
Rene Panhard and Emile Levassom are two Frenchmen who helped to make the automobile industry a success in France. Born in 1841, Panhard was a car engineer and was a graduate of Ecole Centrale Paris. After graduating, he began working for a wood band saw company owned by Jean-Louis Perin. The company soon branched out into the manufacture of engines for Daimler and other companies, but they were soon involved with automobiles.
Charles and Frank Duryea
The Duryea brothers are remembered as the founders of the automobile industry in the United States. They were visionary engineers who made the first six-cylinder car and contributed to the development of the limousine, which was popular into the 20th century. Sadly, their vision was not universally welcomed. In 1894, the Kiwanis Club in Springfield, Massachusetts, proclaimed Charles Duryea the “Father of the Automobile,” and in 1942, the state governor’s office wanted to put a plaque to honor him. However, publications dated back to the 1940s show some rivalry between the brothers. Many of these publications include affidavits attesting to the younger brother’s role as an inventor.
Karl Benz
The history of Karl Benz Automobiles can be traced back to the 18th century. Benz’s wife, Bertha, supported him financially when his iron construction business failed, and helped him pursue his dreams of making automobiles. Although he was a skilled engineer, he lacked marketing skills. However, his wife helped him achieve his dream, and the company has survived to this day.