The Automobile in America (History)

By the 1920s, the world's largest automobile manufacturer was...

General Motors

Who was Ford's principal competitor that would become the world's largest automobile manufacturer in the 1920s?

General Motors

What challenged U.S. dominance in the field of automobile manufacturer during the 1970s?

Growing sales of Japanese and German cars.

What did U.S. leadership in automobile production began with?

Henry Ford 's founding (1903) of the Ford Motor Company, its production (1908) of the inexpensive Model T, and its development of assembly-line techniques.

By 1960, what were the ratios (car: people) for the private ownership of cars in the world, Europe, and America?

I car: 31 people worldwide, 1 car: 22 people in Europe, and 1 car: 3 people in America

What are future changes in automobile technology likely to include?

Increased fuel efficiency and new industries to support it, improved safety through engineering research and development (both vehicle and road), and increased sophistication of controls and instruments, many of which will contribute to safety.

How did the car engine evolve over time?

It was operated by a hand crank initially but changed to a step on pedal.

When and where did the first drive in gasoline station open and how much was gasoline?

Pittsburg, Pensylvania in 1913. Gas was 27 cents per gallon.

What technologies are being developed to improved roadside safety?

Roadside sensors to alert drivers that they are leaving a roadway.

Who first developed the models using the gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine?

The German engineers Karl Benz (1885) and Gottlieb Daimler (1886).

What was the longest running car of any single model of besides for the Volkswagen Beetle?

The Model T endured from 1908 to 1927

What are the main economic and health impacts of the automobile?

The creation of an industry which employs a significant number of people, the creation of new technologies and industries to support and supply them, a significant monetary cost in injury and property damage, and increased air and water pollution.

What allowed drivers to safely start their own cars, by simply pressing a button with their foot?

The development of the self-starter on the 1912 Cadillac.

When did auto dealership become popular, and when were installment plans available?

The late 1920's

What started the commercial period of the Automobile industry?

The production and distribution of automobiles made by brothers Charles and Frank Duryea.

If a backfire occurred with a hand crank, what would happen?

The resulting backlash of the crank would often break a man's arm or wrist.

How did early vehicles function in order to drive?

They had to be cranked by hand, via a handle attached to the engine crankshaft.

What is being used to monitor traffic signals and to make them and electronic signs more intelligent so that they can change quickly to react to traffic patterns/accidents?

Video Cameras and Computers

From 1908 until 1927, the Ford Motor Company built over how many cars?

15 million automobiles with the Model "T" engine.

When was the first self starter engine invented?

1911

How are electrical cars limited?

In the distance they can travel

When was the first production of the Model T Ford?

October 1, 1908 at the Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit

When and how did the American automobile industry begin?

1896; when the Duryea Motor Wagon Company of Springfield, Massachusetts sold 13 identical gasoline-powered vehicles.

At its height, what percent of the workforce in America was involved in an auto-related industry?

20% percent

Where in the world did the automobile catch on fastest?

America

What is the overdrive or fifth gear in an automobile?

An automotive transmission gear that transmits to the drive shaft a speed greater than engine speed.

Who were the first Americans to attempt to build and sell automobiles at a profit?

Brothers Charles and Frank Duryea

Where does the term "MOTEL" come from and when/where was the first motel opened?

Combining the "m" from motor with the word hotel formed MOTEL (motor hotel), a place where drivers could park, stay, and get gas. The first motel opened in San Luis Obispo in 1925.

What has led to the development of cars powered by electricity from rechargeable storage batteries or by the combustion of natural gas?

Concern about pollution from gasoline combustion

What aspect of future technology will help to alert drivers if another vehicle or obstacle is too close?

Dashboard Collision Avoidance Display in cars

What did models using the gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine evolve from?

Earlier experiments with steam-powered vehicles