A History of Vintage Automobiles From 1916 Through 1924

Before cars were around, people usually traveled distances using horse-drawn carriages. But as early as 1335 several bright minds have been trying to come up with a "horseless carriage". In Italy there were quite a number of designs for wind-driven vehicles, none of which were ever built. Leonardo da Vinci designed a clockwork vehicle, but that too remained just a concept. In America there were two prominent figures who would be remembered as forefathers of the modern automobile--Ransom E. Olds and Henry Ford. Olds was the first mass producer of gasoline-powered automobiles in America, while Ford built several prototypes and began selling cars in 1903.

However, these cars were really nothing more than crude horseless carriages, and they looked a lot like them too--the open body, the large, wooden wheels all screamed "carriage without a horse". But by 1916 certain developments enabled these carriages to become viable means of transportation, with better mechanics, increased power and efficiency, and most of all, safety and comfort.

During the 1916-1924 period, most automobile designs have improved drastically. The dangerous hand crank was replaceed with electric starters, and kerosene lanterns were replaced by electric lighting. Enclosed bodies were also becoming more popular, and the windows can be raised or lowered at will. These improvements not only made automobiles more stylish, but also safer and more comfortable for both passengers and drivers. Driving was slowly becoming more pleasurable.

Apart from increased comfort and security, another important characteristic of cars that became emergent during this period was the increase in durability and affordability. Automobile manufacturers like Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Buick, Plymouth, and Oldsmobile were mass-producing durable cars on assembly lines, which made it possible for more people to travel around at an affordable price. In addition, smaller companies began producing specific car components, adding to the ease of production and sustainability, and further lowering prices, which in turn increased the popularity of the automobile as the preferred mode of travel for everyone.

As the automobile's popularity rose, so did the number of manufacturing companies. Some experimented with electricity and steam--and electricity is still being experimented with to this day--but internal combustion engines were clearly preferred with Packard's development of the V-12. Other manufactureres produced V-8s and V-16s, and by the end of this period the market had hundreds of manufacturers each producing several hundred different models, with a variety of engine configurations.
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Author: J. Carter

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