Automotive Transportation

Horseless transportation was a very popular dream shared by many Americans at the turn of the 19th century. The steam engine was the only available power to work with at the time, and it meant for heavy, rough, and dangerous riding. Boiler explosions threatened drivers and a top speed of around 30mph in the late 1800's was fairly inefficient. The next drive system was surprisingly not internal combustion but electricity. In 1888 William Morisson invented the first practical electric people transporter. It was able to transfer 12 people at 20 miles per hour for over 13 hours. However, the father of all engines was being experimented with during this time, the internal-combustion engine. Early models could only move about six kilometers in three hours in 1826, but J. Frank and Charles E. Duryea began commercial production of the more reliable and efficient engine that burned air, gas, and oil. Frank and Duryea sold these automobiles to the upper class at a high cost of $5,000because of the low supply of handmade cars. A Boston millionaire Charles J. Glidden sponsored an annual tour that featured different brands of cars. These tours tested the reliability and safety of the cars and also sparked the American crave for speed. By 1906, a racer set the land speed record at 127 mph. However, many civilians can not handle that speed without the highways, so the car companies turned back to durability and practicality. This lead to the famous Model T. Ford was able to make a car that was so durable it could be mended with rope and wire by the owners. It was such a remarkable car that it actually created a problem. In 1927 when the new Model A came out the model T still dominated the roads at 70%. Therefore, the car companies started making cars more appealing by using more comfortable suspension and flashy colors. After World War II the automobile took off and the entire nation became obsessed with automotive transportation. America now had three big companies comprised of GM, Ford, and Chrysler. The Big Three started to produce different cars for different income levels and the idea succeeded.
America became obsessed with cars in the 70's and considered themselves, "king of the roads." This is a fitting name for the Americans as they adopted the internal-combustion engine from Europe and made it durable and reliable. As durability became expected from all the Big Three, the aspect that separated and put a company ahead was flavor. Designers loaded cars with large tail fins and as much chrome as they could to get their car noticed by the public. In the 50's to 80's citizens were able to buy cars that were flashy and matched their radical love for the car and road itself. In my opinion this became a lost cause as gas prices exploded and safety officials cracked down on the speed limits. As time shows, the hole point about getting a car is to be free and become an individual. It is expressed through the art of ones car and through the places one takes the car. People in love with speed and power buy the muscle cars and race them from one red light to another. It is obvious that there is much more to the car than just transportation in America. It is a technological symbol of freedom, fun, and individuality. That is why the car is still praised today after conflicts with the oil crisis and safety officials cracking down on their flaws.

"automobiles." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2010. .