| The long and winding road must have been an | | | | electricity to gas powered engines and the |
| uphill climb in the days before automobiles. | | | | introduction of the first automatic transmission, |
| Leonardo da Vinci played with the concept of | | | | advancements to the actual performance of the |
| transport vehicles in the 15th century, but horse | | | | car weren't nearly as dramatic. In fact, cars could |
| drawn carriages and old, reliable walking remained | | | | only be driven in the summer time because |
| the most efficient means of transportation. | | | | antifreeze had yet to be developed. By contrast, |
| Thankfully, in the late 1700's, inventors concluded, | | | | the vast landscape of the United States |
| there has to be a better way. For well over two | | | | transformed the desire for automotive |
| hundred years and counting, the art of | | | | transportation into the need for automotive |
| transportation has been evolving. With a multitude | | | | transportation.Automobiles made it possible for |
| of patents, inventors, mechanics, and researchers | | | | school systems to improve, health systems to |
| to thank, the modern day, fuel-injected, safety | | | | improve, and lifestyle standards to improve, |
| efficient automobile is light years away from the | | | | simply by connecting the city to the rural areas |
| heavy, perilous steam engine powered vehicle of | | | | and the United States as a whole. The ability to |
| the early days.There isn't one clear cut inventor | | | | transport building materials, as well as people, |
| to single handedly credit with the invention of the | | | | helped build communities and expand cultures.By |
| automobile, although there is a wealth of opinions | | | | the 1900?s the United States had long established |
| on why certain inventors should receive that | | | | a tradition of manufacturing success. For this |
| credit. Contributions from Scotland"s Robert | | | | reason it was logical that the production of cars in |
| Anderson, France's Nicholas Cugnot, Germany's | | | | America would result in larger volume at lower |
| Karl Freidrich Benz, and Charles Duryea from the | | | | prices than in Europe. Of the 485,000 automobiles |
| United States helped mold the first automobiles to | | | | produced in 1913, the United States produced |
| provide genuine transportation.Once the concept | | | | 606,000 of them. As a result, the market for |
| of automotive transportation had been realized, | | | | domestic versus import cars was clearly |
| the next effort went into ways to produce those | | | | established. Imported vehicles obviously cost |
| vehicles. These were the days long before | | | | more to purchase, but also cost more to |
| standardized parts, so mass tooling was an issue. | | | | manufacture. In 1912, the Model T sold for |
| Individual parts needed to be of consistent size | | | | approximately $600, which was less than the |
| and material to make the production process | | | | average wage annually in the United States. The |
| more efficient. Skilled labor was the next biggest | | | | introduction of the Mercedes Grosser undoubtedly |
| challenge to enabling every home the opportunity | | | | defined the distinction between luxury automobiles |
| to own an automobile. Henry Ford's vision to build | | | | and economy automobiles. This distinction during |
| "cars for the great multitude" helped ignite a flood | | | | the economically-trying war eras further |
| of almost 500 automotive manufacturers into the | | | | developed the class system, which to this day is |
| U.S. market, while Mercedes and Oldsmobile helped | | | | still somewhat defined by the type of vehicle a |
| fuel the fire worldwide.Mass producing one of the | | | | person owns. The Mercedes focus shifted from |
| world's most historical advancements was no | | | | merely providing transportation to providing |
| small task. The Mercedes folks needed seventeen | | | | transportation in the most luxurious way possible. |
| hundred workers to produce one thousand cars | | | | Luxury or economy the United States was |
| per year. Henry Ford's introduction of the first | | | | declared "auto dependent" in the 1980's because |
| assembly line in 1913 revolutionized the business | | | | almost every household owned one, if not two |
| of producing cars. Major advancements in | | | | vehicles.The evolution of the automobile industry is |
| machinery and technology made the process of | | | | a truly fascinating one that has yet to reach its |
| building cars open to the multitude of new | | | | final chapter. Underneath the research programs |
| automotive manufacturers; however, in 1927, | | | | focused on designing less environmentally harmful |
| Ford was the winner with fifteen million units | | | | vehicles and the business programs focused on |
| manufactured.Once the automobile had been | | | | producing the least expensive vehicles possible, |
| designed, established, and mass produced, the | | | | the simple luxury of transportation is almost lost. |
| focus shifted to how to make the most profit | | | | In the end, the opportunity to travel the long and |
| from it. Besides the evolution from steam to | | | | winding road in comfort is truly a gift. |