A Brief History of the Car
With the advent of combustion engines, the creation of the first powered cars seemed inevitable. It is quite hard to imagine a life without cars, even if you do not drive or own a car personally; they are such a common sight on modern streets and roads and most people will either own or make use of a car at some point in their life either as a driver or passenger. You may find it surprising to learn that we have only really had cars for about the last 100 years or so, so they really are quite a recent invention.
Henry Ford is credited with being the first person to popularise motorised cars and his first and most iconic vehicle was called the Model T. This took place at a time where most people got around by horse or horse drawn carriages, and the motorised cars steadily began to replace beasts of burden on our roads. Initially, cars were much too expensive for all but the richest to own, and it wasn’t until the 1930s that cars really began to become a household commodity.
It was not uncommon for families and individuals to save money for a considerable amount of time before being able to afford a car, and this is just one factor that prevented our roads from becoming too congested in the early days of motorised vehicles.
Before this period of relatively rapid advancement in car manufacturing, primitive wheeled vehicles were powered by steam and these were being made as early as the late 1700s. These steam powered engines were slow, impractical, and inconvenient for the most part, though they were certainly considered a status symbol.
The combustion engine was the key to creating cars which were more practical, more powerful, and more impressive, though it was not designed with cars in mind. The first combustion engines were created to assist with the massive changes taking place in industry in the UK, as huge advancements in manufacturing and the processing of raw materials was taking place throughout the 1800s and into the 1900s.
It wasn’t until the late 1800s that this engine was applied to cars, and the ancestors of modern cars were born. By the turn of the century, cars were being sold in their thousands, and made quite an impact in Western Europe and America in particular.
In a post-war economy, car manufacturing became an increasingly important source of revenue and employment for thousands of people. Car manufacturing costs were driven right down, making cars an accessible purchase for many different kinds of people from a range of socio-economic backgrounds.
Car designs have changed a lot in the modern age, with vehicles becoming much faster, more reliable, and more fuel efficient with time. Car manufacturers also focus more strongly on the safety features and specifications now than they ever have before in the history of car making.
Advances in manufacturing techniques have also made it possible for cars to be offered to the general public at much more affordable prices. You can pick up a high quality Vauxhall Corsa used for under £2000 for example, though new cars have a larger price tag and can cost tens to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
There are many different kinds of cars available on the market today, and each has a niche that it is designed to fill:
SUVs - The SUV is a versatile car type that is designed to carry people and luggage, and they are highly practical for this purpose.
Hatchbacks - Hatchbacks are the most popular car type on the market, new or used. They are compact and usually have a somewhat sporty look. They’re a great choice for commuting and urban driving.
Sedans - The sedan is a classic car shape that slopes at the back, unlike hatchback models. It is a popular shape for family cars and most makes will have at least a few sedan options among their car ranges.
Super mini - The smallest and most compact car class, super minis are perfect for shorter commutes, single drivers, and shorter urban journeys, They usually have fantastic fuel economy thanks to their smaller engine sizes and lightweight frames.