First Cars for Customers

It was one amazing feat to build the first practical motor cars—it was another to start making more and selling them. Just convincing people of their benefits was often difficult. Entrepreneurs, engineers, and aristocrats all played parts in the earliest faltering steps toward car manufacture. At the forefront of this development was Germany, followed by France, the UK, and the United States.

De Dion-Bouton 8HP Type O, 1902

 

Origin	France
Engine	943 cc, single-cylinder
Top speed	28 mph (45 km/h)

In 1902 De Dion-Bouton adopted wheel steering and front, rather than underfloor, engine position for popular, light cars such as the Type O, which had a long production run.

Adler 3.5HP Voiturette, 1901

 

Origin	Germany
Engine	510 cc, single-cylinder
Top speed	20 mph (32 km/h)

The typewriter and bicycle manufacturer Adler made components for Benz and De Dion cars before starting to make its own De Dion-engined vehicles in 1900.

Arrol-Johnston 10HP Dogcart, 1897

 

Origin	UK
Engine	3,230 cc, flat-two
Top speed	25 mph (40 km/h)

George Johnston conceived his rugged, simple Dogcart-the first British-built car-in Glasgow, Scotland. Powered by an underfloor opposed-piston engine, it remained in production for 10 year

US Long Distance 7HP, 1901

 

Origin	USA
Engine	2,245 cc, single-cylinder
Top speed	25 mph (40 km/h)

Ambitiously named for a runabout, this car had its horizontally mounted engine and two-speed epicyclic gearbox under the seat. It was renamed the Standard in 1903.

Clement 7HP, 1901

 

Origin	France
Engine	7 hp, one-cylinder
Top speed	25 mph (40 km/h)

Adolphe Clement made a fortune from bicycles and pneumatic tires, and then invested it in car manufacturing. His cars were among the first models to feature front-mounted engines and drive shafts.

Rover 8HP, 1904

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,327 cc, single-cylinder
Top speed	30 mph (48 km/h)

This was Rover Cycle Company’s first four-wheeled car. The 8HP featured a tubular “backbone” chassis, column gearchange, and a camshaft brake. One 8HP successfully drove from London to Contantinople in 1906.

Mercedes 60HP, 1903

 

Origin	Germany
Engine	9,293 cc, straight-four
Top speed	73 mph (117 km/h)

While other makes were building crude machines that were barely faster than a running man, Mercedes was manufacturing magnificent high-speed vehicles like the 60HP.

De Dion-Bouton 3.5HP Voiturette, 1899

 

Origin	France
Engine	510 cc, single-cylinder
Top speed	25 mph (40 km/h)

Count Albert de Dion was one of France’s motoring pioneers. His single-cylinder, water-cooled engines were used by dozens of early car makers around the world.

Renault Voiturette, 1898

 

Origin	France
Engine	400 cc, single-cylinder
Top speed	20 mph (32 km/h)

Louis Renault and his brothers started building cars in 1897, and their Voiturette quickly became popular in France thanks to its impressive performances in trials.

Ford Model A, 1903

 

Origin	USA
Engine	1,668 cc, flat-two
Top speed	28 mph (45 km/h)

Henry Ford built his first car in 1896, but did not start production until 1903 with the underfloor-engined Model A. This was developed into the Model C of 1904.

FN 3.5HP Victoria, 1900

 

Origin	Belgium
Engine	796 cc, straight-two
Top speed	23 mph (37 km/h)

The Belgian armaments manufacturer FN diversified into motorcycle and car making around the turn of the century. About 280 Victorias were made up until 1902.

Benz Ideal 4.5HP, 1900

 

Origin	Germany
Engine	1,140 cc, single-cylinder
Top speed	22 mph (35 km/h)

The maker of the first successful car in 1885. Benz’s Ideal had tiller steering. In 1900, 603 cars were made-most car makers of the time produced only a handful each year.

Fiat 16/24HP, 1903

 

Origin	Italy
Engine	4,180 cc, straight-four
Top speed	44 mph (71 km/h)

With a front-mounted, water-cooled, four-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels via a four-speed gearbox, the 16/24HP was a thoroughly modern car.

Maxwell Model A Junior Runabout, 1904

 

Origin	USA
Engine	1,647 cc, flat-two
Top speed	35 mph (56 km/h)

Jonathan Maxwell and Benjamin Briscoe of New Jersey developed this simple and effective shaft-driven runabout, which sold for $750. It performed well in trials.

Holsman Model 3 Runabout, 1903

 

Origin	USA
Engine	1,000 cc, flat-two
Top speed	20 mph (32 km/h)

Harry K. Holsman built significant numbers of rope-drive “high-wheelers” in Chicago for sale to midwest pioneers: Large wheels allowed them to drive over virgin prairie.

Rexette, 1905

 

Origin	UK
Engine	900 cc, one-cylinder
Top speed	28 mph (45 km/h)

One of many marques established in Coventry, Britain’s “motor city,” Rexette derived its 1904 three-wheeler from one if its motorcycles, adding wheel steering in 1905.

 

It is a quote. The Definitive Visual History Of The Automobile 2011