The History of The American Automobile

American society before the invention of the automobile was a society divided by class. You were rich and mobile or poor and not. You lived on the farm or lived in the city and the car changed your way of life. In the beginning of American automobile history - thousands of companies surfaced trying to make their custom vehicle the top selling automobile. Companies like Winton, Pierce Arrow, Packard, Duesenberg, Hudson, and Studebaker who no longer exist today impacted the American auto industry by profound automotive inventions such as front wheel drive, dual overhead cams, and hydraulic brakes.

The 1906 Model H Cadillac starts the timeline of the museum but it is not the first American car manufactured. Our automotive roots began with Charles Duryea who was the first American automobile manufacturer producing 13 gasoline powered cars in 1896. Ransom E. Olds took the position of mass producing automobiles and creating the assembly line. In 1901, his assembly line produced 425 horseless carriage cars in a single year. Improvements were made to the assembly line and in 1902 he produced 2,500 curved dash Oldsmobiles. Many credit Henry Ford for the modern assembly line but he improved Old’s concept by installing conveyer belts which cut his manufacturing time from a day and a half to 90 minutes. Henry Ford neither created the first automobile or the assembly line but his Model T transformed the nation’s way of life by changing cars from luxury to necessity and providing an affordable automobile for the masses. Ford revolutionized manufacturing by implementing the eight hour day creating a three shift work day and doubling his employee’s wages to five dollars a day. Ford’s biggest competitor was General Motors which was formed in 1908 incorporating Buick Motor Company.

Over the next few years GM bought Olds Motor Company, Fisher Body, Cadillac, Chevrolet and Oakland Motor Car Company (Pontiac). While Ford and Chevy were manufacturing inexpensive automobiles for the general public many car companies were developing luxury custom vehicles for the wealthy. Car companies like Cadillac, Packard, Auburn, and Duesenberg built one-of-kind custom vehicles that were the envy of the American public but only the well-to-do could afford to own one. The Great Depression stunted the elite car companies and forced many to file bankruptcy never to manufacture another automobile. Companies like Packard were forced to build a mid grade lower priced automobile to avoid economic failure. World War II stopped the production from 1942 to 1946 of the American automobile for the general public and companies stayed in business by building aircraft engines and military vehicles.

After World War II - car companies took advantage of the abundance of steel and started manufacturing long, well powered, aerodynamic cars that set trends in design and engineering. The cars of the fifties trimmed with gleaming chrome inside and out ignited Detroit’s Golden Age of the automobile. Harley Earl (GM chief engineer) can be credited for many of the ornate designs of the 1950’s cars using art, science, and engineering to produce works of rolling art. Earl is said to be the father of the Corvette and is responsible for the tailfin craze, wrap-around windshield, two-tone paint, and annual styling changes in cars. During the 1950’s not all car manufacturers flourished - companies like Hudson, Nash, Packard, and Studebaker were forced to merge but still couldn’t compete with the Big Three (Ford, Chrysler, & GM) and eventually closed down.

During the 1960’s the Muscle Car era was born by putting V-8 engines into midsize cars giving them startling performance and setting off intense competition between manufacturers to produce the most powerful and extreme machine. During the 1970’s the muscle car died due to safety concerns and emissions controls forcing manufacturers to discontinue making performance cars.

The 1973 oil crisis quadrupled the price of oil severely impacting transportation in the U.S. - the national speed limit was lowered, and year round day light savings was implemented. Americans became more aware of gas mileage and started buying fuel efficient Japanese and European cars. Ford, GM. and Chrysler answered the crisis by building more fuel efficient mid size cars to compete with the market. During the 1950’s American cars were re-designed every year but not technically updated. This would keep the production cost low but the risk of becoming outdated was very high. America once created unique powerful cars but due to rising fuel costs, fierce competition, and limited resources were forced to produce the same size, shape, high gas mileage, and limited performance cars that are very similar to foreign competitors.

With over a century spent with the American automobile it has become the center of American culture and lifestyle. As concerns about the high gas prices, effects of pollution and green house gas increase, internal combustion engine cars may be replaced with an alternative fuel source such as solar, electric, hybrid, or fuel cell power. The car will have many changes in the future but it will remain an icon of American society and culture treasured by all.