Key moments in auto history

[Flymeister]

OK - So those of you who are also on "another modeling forum" would recognise this topic.

(Unfortunately the topic was deemed to be irrelevant there, and was deleted)

here we go:

Which cars would you say were instramental in developing the automobile into what it is today ( be it design; technology etc.) ?

From the first Steam wagon to today's modern marvels.

I should also explain that I'm thinking of building a collection of models that will represent this history, but I'm not sure of the cars?!

[Railfreak78]

I think you need a lot of models There are so many to include I think the best would be a steam followed by a model T. I'll go random here, can't leave out heavy duty trucks from the 30's 40's that were strong enough to haul semi trailers, pony cars, muscle cars, exotics, what ever the first car was that had power steering, cruise control, topped 200 mph and is street legal. Cummins, Cat, etc. Race cars, Grave digger changed monster trucks. Cant leave out Caddillac with the great fins, the bubble top Chevys, almost any VW to the luxury of Rolls Royce and such. Too much and where do you stop? Ampicar? LeCar? Junk but paved the way for cars like Geo Metros, and other tiny cars oh the original MINI I can't stop now.

Edited March 18, 2010 by Railfreak78

[Harry P.]

Karl Benz's Patent Motor Wagen from 1885, the first internal-combustion engine automobile. The very first car, in effect.

The very first car? I say yes. Let the debate begin!

[Harry P.]

OK - So those of you who are also on "another modeling forum" would recognise this topic.

(Unfortunately the topic was deemed to be irrelevant there, and was deleted)

So... why are you wasting your time on "the other" forum then?

[Railfreak78]

LOL Harry!

[Flymeister]

LOL.. Railfreak - Now do you understand my predicament? lol

Harry - I would actually agree with you ...about the Benz...and the other forum..lol

Edited March 18, 2010 by Flymeister

[old-hermit]

The very first car? I say yes. Let the debate begin!

Aww c'mon Harry. Everybody knows this was the first car. heh heh heh.

[Modelmartin]

Karl Benz's Patent Motor Wagen from 1885, the first internal-combustion engine automobile. The very first car, in effect.

The very first car? I say yes. Let the debate begin!

Define car. The Benz was the first internal combustion vehicle to be put into production. It does have 3 wheels, however. I would not argue that it is not significant. It certainly is.

Cars started out as motorized wagons so I think maybe we should include the first 4 wheeled wagon with a steerable front axle!

I think the parameters need to be better defined. Are we looking at technology only? Performance? Current collector value? Styling? There are lot of great cars out there.

I say add a Model T and a VW Beetle to the collection. The T put America on wheels and the Beetle put the rest of the world on wheels. Easy to find models of them, too!

[Roadkill2525]

The Ford Pinto, proof that bean-counters kill people. During development of the Pinto it included airbags and rubber fuel bladder but was dropped to "lower" cost on the final product.

[Jordan White]

1964.5 Ford Mustang - Intro to the Pony car

1964 Pontiac LeMans GTO - first recipe for the muscle car

1955-57 Chevy Bel Airs - essence of the 50's

1953 Chevy Corvette - beginning of the American sports cars

[CAL]

Purists would say Gottlieb Daimler simply because his car had 4 wheels and Benz is car wasn't a car but a trike.

other very influential people

Karl Benz of course

Wilhelm Maybach

And Dr. Ing h.c. F. Porsche

Edited March 18, 2010 by CAL

[Harry P.]

Define car. The Benz was the first internal combustion vehicle to be put into production. It does have 3 wheels, however. I would not argue that it is not significant. It certainly is.

Cars started out as motorized wagons so I think maybe we should include the first 4 wheeled wagon with a steerable front axle!

I think the parameters need to be better defined. Are we looking at technology only? Performance? Current collector value? Styling? There are lot of great cars out there.

I say add a Model T and a VW Beetle to the collection. The T put America on wheels and the Beetle put the rest of the world on wheels. Easy to find models of them, too!

Agreed, this is a debate that can go on forever. There are SO many "significant" cars, in terms of technology, styling, performance, etc., that theres no way to make a list that everyone would agree on.

Ok, so define what "car" means. That in itself can be debated, there is no one definitive answer. I mean, somebody could conceivably say that the Cugnot steam wagon of the 1700s could be called the first car... it all depends on how you define the term. In my opinion, the first "car" as I define the word was the Benz Motor Wagen.

VW Beetle, Model T, of course, obvious entries on the list. And tons more.

[Harry P.]

Purists would say Gottlieb Daimler simply because his car had 4 wheels and Benz is car wasn't a car but a trike.

Who's to say that a car has to have four wheels?

What about the Reeves Octo-auto? What were they? (I mean, besides ridiculous!)

What about those 6-wheeled Tyrell(???) race cars? Or those 6-wheeled Mercedes military cars from WWII (I forgot the model name... it's the car that looks like "Rommel's Rod" was based on).

[Nick Winter]

Does anyone know what 442 stands for? For '64 it stood for

4- 4 Barrel carb

4- 4 Speed transmission

2- Dual exuast

[CAL]

Who's to say that a car has to have four wheels?

What about the Reeves Octo-auto? What were they? (I mean, besides ridiculous!)

What about those 6-wheeled Tyrell(???) race cars?

Typically they have four. I guess the could have more, but you have less (like 3) then it is a trike.

[CAL]

and GTO is not gas tires and oil.

[Harry P.]

Typically they have four. I guess the could have more, but you have less (like 3) then it is a trike.

See? I told you this debate can go on forever...

How about the Corvair? It was pretty groundbreaking as far as American cars go. Yeah, air-cooled rear-engine cars had been done before, but not by the US.

The first V8 Ford.

The Chrysler Airflow. Way ahead of it's time styling-wise, big flop sales-wise.

The Tucker.

And the list goes on...

[CAL]

Porsche 917.

Porsche 956/962

Porsche 550 James Dean's Lil' Bastard

[Nick Winter]

'57 Dodge swepline pickup, first pickup with fins

Edited March 18, 2010 by Dukefan69'

[Harry P.]

More important milestone cars...

For performance-Viper.

For styling-Prowler. Love it or hate it, you have to admit it turned heads. Different from any other production car.

For technology-Cord, Toronado.

And the list goes on...

[Nick Winter]

First front wheel drive fullsize domestic car with a V8, the toronado.

[Harry P.]

Jeep. First SUV???

The original Chrysler minivans.

And the list goes on...

[Guest Mustang3.8]

1959 Cadillac: the car with the biggest tailfins

1958 Plymouth Fury/Belvedere: first cars with torsion bar and aire ride suspention

1964 El Camino: First car/truck combo vehicle

[Nick Winter]

Jeep. First SUV???

The original Chrysler minivans.

And the list goes on...

Actually harry it would have been Willy's.

1959 Cadillac: the car with the biggest tailfins

1958 Plymouth Fury/Belvedere: first cars with torsion bar and aire ride suspention

1964 El Camino: First car/truck combo vehicle

that would be the '57 Ranchero.

[CAL]

How about the first car as we know them today.

1916 Cadillac Type 53.