Karl Benz applied for a patent for his motorized
vehicle on January 29, 1886. Patent no. 37435 became
the birth certificate of the automobile.
The patent specification was entitled ''Vehicle
propelled by a gas engine'' and its first paragraph
read as follows: ''The construction concerned aims
at operating predominantly lighter vehicles and
smaller ships, such as are used for carrying between
one and four persons. ... Power is generated by a
small gas engine, no matter what design. The engine
is fed with gas that is vaporized from ligroin or
other suitable substances by means of an apparatus
carried on the vehicle. The engine's cylinder is
kept at a constant temperature through the
evaporation of water.''
On March 8, 1886, Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler took a
stagecoach and adapted it to hold his engine,
thereby designing the world's first four-wheeled
automobile.
Ford
1896 Ford Quadricycle
On June 4, 1896 in a tiny workshop behind his
home on 58 Bagley Avenue, Henry Ford finished
his gasoline-powered motor car. After more than
two years of experimentation, Henry Ford at the
age of thirty-two, had completed his first
experimental automobile. He dubbed his creation
the "Quadricycle," so named because it ran on
four bicycle tires. The success of the little
vehicle fueled Ford's automobile ambitions,
leading to the founding of Ford Motor Company in
1903.
1903 Ford Model A |
The name Model A was first used by Ford
in 1903 and also known as the Fordmobile.
Production of the first generation Model
A lasted from 1903 through 1905 with
1750 examples being produced.
The Model A was the first production
automobile for the Ford Motor Company.
The car weighed 1,250 pounds and could
reach 30 miles per hour. Like many early
automobiles, the A had a horse-buggy
appearance. Ford reintroduced the 'Model
A' in 1928 as the replacement for the
multi-million selling T. |
1908 Ford Model T |
The Ford Model T (also known as the Tin
Lizzie and Flivver) was produced by
Henry Ford's Ford Motor Company from
1908 through 1927.
Ford built 15,000,000 cars and trucks
with the Model "T" engine. The only
other car to exceed that number was the
Volkswagen Beetle.
The Ford Model T was named the world's
most influential car of the twentieth
century in an international poll.
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1911 Ford Model T |
1913 Closed Cab Model T Pickup |
Henry Ford said of the vehicle:
I will build a car for the great multitude. It
will be large enough for the family, but small
enough for the individual to run and care for.
It will be constructed of the best materials, by
the best men to be hired, after the simplest
designs that modern engineering can devise. But
it will be low in price that no man making a
good salary will be unable to own one - and
enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of
pleasure in God's great open spaces.
Hudson
 |
The name "Hudson"
came from Joseph L. Hudson, a Detroit
department store entrepreneur and
founder of Hudson's department store,
who provided the necessary capital and
gave permission for the company to be
named after him. A total of eight
Detroit businessmen formed the company
on February 20, 1909, to produce an
automobile which would sell for less
than $1,000.
Hudson was the third largest U.S. car
maker in 1929, after Ford Motor Company
and Chevrolet.
On January 14, 1954, Hudson merged with
Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to become
American Motors. |
1909 Hudson Roadster
Chevrolet
Chevrolet was founded in 1911 by Louis Chevrolet
and William C. Durant. Louis Chevrolet was a
race-car driver, and William Durant, founder of
General Motors, had been forced out of GM in
1910. He wanted to use Chevrolet's designs to
rebuild his own reputation as a force in the
automobile industry.
By 1916, Chevrolet was profitable enough to
allow Durant to buy a majority of shares in GM.
After the deal was completed in 1917, Durant was
president of General Motors, and Chevrolet was
merged into GM, becoming a separate division.
1
911 Chevrolet
1912 Chevrolet Classic Six Model C
1915 Chevrolet
Other Makes
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1901 Frazee
The Frazee is known as the first
gasoline powered automobile manufactured
in the State of Iowa. In fact, it is the
only Frazee model ever in existence.
George T. Frazee, an Osage jeweler,
designed and built the 1901 Frazee at
his home on the corner of Ninth and
Pleasant Streets in Osage, Iowa
The car was handmade except for the
wheels and tires which were purchased
locally. Parts for the motor were cast
at the Kelly-Morgan Iron Foundry in
Osage. |
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Dixie Flyer
The Dixie Flyer was a vintage car built
in Louisville, Kentucky from 1916 until
1923. Dixie Flyers were marketed under
the slogan of "The Logical Car."
The company started in 1878 as the
Kentucky Wagon Manufacturing Company. In
1912, the local Electric Vehicle Company
was acquired, which marked the entrance
of Kentucky Wagon into the automotive
field.
The Firefly speedster of 1922 was the
sportiest Dixie Flyer, unfortunately, it
was their last new model as well.
The post-World War I recession claimed
another victim in the Dixie Car company
although the parent company Kentucky
Wagon is still in business, building
truck trailers.
In June 2010 a restored 1922 Dixie Flyer
was returned from Melbourne, Australia
to Louisville, where it will be
displayed at Kentucky Trailer.
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1931 3-wheeled Mazda truck |
The first mass produced car for Datsun
-1937 |
Some History and pictures of other car makes.
