| Henry Ford, arguably the most famous name in cars, | | | | manufacturing their legendary cars. |
| founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903. His cars | | | | The United States had the Duryea Brothers who |
| were cheap and mass produced by a loyal work | | | | formed their automobile company in 1893. Ransom |
| force with with highest wages of any industry at the | | | | Olds, debuted his Oldsmobile in 1902 and in 1903 Henry |
| time ($4.00/day). | | | | Ford was in production with his Ford Motor Company, |
| By 1908, Ford's Model-Ts "Tin Lizzies" were filling the | | | | expanding Olds' assembly line concept. |
| roads. Ford's goal had been to create a car large | | | | Automotive development continued rapidly into front |
| enough for the entire family to enjoy weekend outings, | | | | engine vehicles with rear wheel drive. Engine size, |
| together. Easy to maintain, and affordable (4 months | | | | power and speed became a major focus of car |
| salary for an assembly line worker); the Model T | | | | companies as people became enthralled with the |
| changed the way the World moved. You would no | | | | "Merry Oldsmobile" and the V8 engine. |
| longer both live and die within 5 miles. | | | | Beginning in 1911, Chevrolet was known for innovative |
| It is uncertain exactly when and what was the first | | | | designs and unique styling. Entering the automobile |
| automobile, and who invented it. In 1769, Nicolas Joseph | | | | market to compete with the Ford Model T, Louis |
| Cugnot of France created the first self propelled road | | | | Chevrolet and William Durant created models that |
| vehicle. It cruised along at just over 2 miles per hour | | | | would become part of automobile history. The 1914 |
| powered by steam. | | | | "Classic Six" boasted a 6-cylinder engine with a top |
| In the United States, Oliver Evans patented the first | | | | speed of 15 miles per hour. 1918 saw the first in a long |
| automobile on record (also a steam engine) in 1789. It is | | | | line of Chevy V8 engines. |
| debated as to whether steam powered road vehicles | | | | Chevy is widely known for some of the most popular |
| can be categorized as cars. Those who do accept | | | | classic cars ever produced, like the Corvette - one of |
| the notion of steam powered cars call Nicolas Cugnot, | | | | the most recognizable vehicles in the world. Chevy |
| of France, the first inventor of the automobile with his | | | | models of the mid-50s remain wildly popular among |
| self propelled tricycle. Proving very popular for | | | | car collectors. The '55 Bel Air, available in convertible, |
| locomotives, the steam engine added too much weight | | | | hardtop coupe, and 2- or 4- door sedan versions was |
| to be feasible for the road. | | | | considered superior in style to any other vehicle at the |
| Sometime between 1832 and 1839 Robert Anderson | | | | time, particularly due to its chrome accents and classic, |
| of Scotland is said to have created the first electric | | | | refined look. The small-block V8, introduced in 1955, |
| car which also proved to be heavy, slow and | | | | remains in continuous production to this day. Chevy |
| expensive. Both the steam engines and the electrical | | | | innovations of this era included the first fuel-injected |
| engines were abandoned in favor of gas-powered | | | | engine in 1957. In 1966, Chevrolet unveiled the Camaro |
| vehicles. During the early 1900s, the electrical cars had | | | | that would become the pace car at the Indy 500. |
| had good sales in the United States, but with the | | | | In 1916, 55% of the cars in the world were Ford |
| improved system of roads, people wanted cars that | | | | Model-Ts. This is a record that has never been (nor |
| could go the distance. | | | | likely will be) broken. |
| The invention of gas fueled cars is generally credited | | | | In 1964, Chevrolet became the first American |
| to Karl Benz of Germany in 1883. In 1926 Benz merged | | | | automaker to build more than 3 million vehicles in one |
| companies with Daimler-Maybach and began | | | | year. |