Have you ever wondered when the first speeding ticket was issued? We did. And we went to the trouble to look up the answer (it happened in 1902), along with a bunch of other crazy facts for all of you vintage car aficionados out there. So sit back, relax, and take a look into the history of one of the greatest inventions of the modern era.
1. Kind of like a manual? The first cars steered with levers instead of a steering wheel.
2. Talk about a high (er, low) speed chase: in 1898, the New York City Police Department chased wreckless motorists with a bicycle.
3. Some records can't be broken: 55% of the world's cars were Model T Fords in 1916, a continuing world record.
4. Very much appreciated: In 1922, the first gas gauge appeared in cars.
5. 173 new inventions (including a carburetor and an electric engine starter) for cars had been reported in 1923–all by women.
6. Silence used to be golden: the first car radio wasn't invented until 1929.
7. Must've been a lot of accidents before 1938, when the first electric turn signals were invented by Buick.
8. Thanks to cars, The Peanuts characters exist: they were first animated for a Ford Fairline commercial in 1957.
9. Going green: the automobile just so happens to be the most recycled consumer product in the world.
10. And on pitch: most car horns in America sound in the key of F.
Now that you've had a crash course in car history, it's time you let Classic Auto Ins. insure your very own piece of history. Hot rod insurance is important for a number of reasons, including safety, knowledge, and proper care. For a free classic car insurance quotation, visit our site today!
About the Author
Drew Yagodnik is Vice President of Classic Automobile Insurance Agency, Inc. Classic Automobile Insurance Agency has been protecting collector, classic and exotics since 1992.
