Car Culture of the 20th Century

Study Notes

The period saw a rise in car manufacturers, improvements in design and technology, and the emergence of "car culture."
People enjoyed taking leisurely drives, having picnics, and watching movies at drive-in theaters.
Manufacturers produced different types of cars for various people, such as four-door sedans (e.g., Austin Ten) for families and high-performance cars (e.g., Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin) for enthusiasts.
High-performance cars were built on racing technology, incorporating features like superchargers that increased engine speed.

Dusty trails were replaced with smooth tarmac roads and multi-lane highways, connecting major cities.
Traffic control measures like traffic lights, speed limits, and road signs were introduced.
Electric lighting enabled nighttime driving.

Today's cars rely heavily on computer control, with robots assembling the basic frame more efficiently than humans.
Computers manage fuel consumption, engine efficiency, and other functions, with potential future applications in autonomous driving using GPS and sensors.

The 2004 Morgan Roadster combines traditional skills with modern power, reaching 134 mph (215 km/h).
The Benz Patent-Motorwagen is a three-wheel, gasoline-powered car.

1885: German company Hildebrand & Wolfmüller sells the world's first mass-produced motorcycle.
1886: French engineer builds the first steam-powered car with an internal combustion engine.
1885: German engineer Nikolaus Otto demonstrates the four-stroke internal combustion engine.
1895: Charles and Fran Duryea found the Duryea Motor Wagon Company, the first American carmaker.

1900s: Harley-Davidson starts producing motorcycles in America.
1908: American engineer Henry Ford introduces the mass-produced Model T car, with over 1.3 million units produced by 1923.
1932: Ford introduces the compact V8 engine.

1946: Italian company Piaggio introduces the Vespa scooter.
1947: Enzo Ferrari founds the Ferrari automobile company.
1948: William France establishes the NASCAR racing series in America.
1950: The first World Drivers Formula I Championship is held at Silverstone, England, and won by Giuseppe Farina in his Alfa Romeo 159.

2010: Nissan launches the electric car known as the Leaf.
2011: Three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL hydrogen fuel-cell cars circumnavigate the world in 125 days.
2014: Ford reveals the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept Car powered by solar panels on the roof.