Automobiles are four-wheeled motor vehicles that are used for transportation. While there are many definitions for a car, the most common ones say that they run on the road, seat one to eight passengers, have four wheels, and primarily transport people. Let’s take a closer look at this common definition of the car.
Ford Model T
The Ford Model T had a manual transmission and no brakes on the wheels. Later, rear wheel brakes were added as an after-market option. Even the factory did not install rear wheel brakes until the 1960s. In addition, the transmission brake was operated by a lever on the floor that you operated with your right foot. The Model T could reach speeds of about 40 mph or 65 km/h.
Benz’s inventions
Many of Carl Benz’s inventions in the automobile field were based on the internal combustion engine. In 1878, Benz patented a petrol two-stroke engine, which would later be used in many different automobile models. Other inventions included a water radiator, gear shirt, and speed regulation systems.
Ford Model N
The Ford Model N is an inexpensive automobile produced by the Ford Motor Company. It was introduced in 1906 and served as the company’s entry-level line. It had a front-engine design with a straight-four engine rated at fifteen horsepower. It was a small car, with a wheelbase of 84 inches.
Benz’s co-operation with Benz & Cie
Karl Benz was born in 1844 and was only two years old when his father died. His mother wanted to give him a good education and soon he was working for various employers. He eventually teamed up with August Ritter, a mechanical specialist, to open a workshop in Mannheim. Benz and Ritter were not the most reliable partners. Their fledgling company barely survived due to the generosity of Bertha Ringer, who had given them her dowry.
Ford’s Model T
In 1909, Ford’s Model T won the New York to Seattle cross country race. Then, in 1911, Frank Kulick beat Bob Burman’s Blitzen Benz in the Indianapolis 500. Ford’s Model T was so popular that it accounted for more than fifty percent of world automobile production by 1921.