The car is a significant part of our everyday lives, but have you ever thought about its complex history?
It can be easy to take for granted the attributes we experience in our cars daily, but there was a point when cars seemingly became more modern and easier to live with as time passed.
In this timeline, we'll have a look at some of the most significant milestones in the history and evolution of the car, some of which you perhaps experience on a daily basis, behind the wheel of your car.
1860 to 1872 - Invention of combustion engines
Before the first car was created, it was 1860 when the internal combustion engine was created by Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir, while Nicolaus Otto patented the gas engine in 1964, making it commercially successful. George Brayton then went on to invent the first commercially liquid-fuelled engine in 1872.
1886 - Invention of the first car
On January 29th, 1996, Karl (Carl) Benz received his patent for what is considered the world's first car - the Benz Patent Motorwagen. This is the same chap who went on to create Mercedes-Benz.
1888 - Invention of the first 'real' electric car
You may think electric cars are still fairly new (charging shown above), however Andreas Flocken designed the 'Flocken Elektrowagen' in 1888, although Robert Anderson created the first crude electric carriage dating back to circa 1832/1839.
1900 - Ferdinand Porsche invents the first hybrid car
Ferdinand Porsche unveiled the first ever hybrid car. That name may be familiar as he went on to create Porsche.
1908 to 1913 Ford Model T (First mass-produced car)
It wasn't until 1908 that the first mass-produced car was created, in the form of the Ford Model T. It was 1913 when Henry Ford created the production/assembly line.
1930 - First Commercial In-Car Radio
Some cars would be rather boring without a radio, so you have the American Galvin Manufacturing Corporation to thank for setting the foundations for music in our cars today. They look a lot different to back in the 1930s, however.
1949 - Car Keys Invented
We have Chrysler to thank for creating the car key, as before this it was just a hand crank - making car theft pretty easy.
1951 - Power Steering Invented
Again, the Americans came to the rescue with the invention of power steering, meaning that it was no longer a workout to steer your car.
1953 - Air Conditioning
Yes, it's the Americans and Chrysler again who ensured staying cool in your car was possible.
1958 - Cruise Control
Another milestone in making cars easier to live with and drive, cruise control was first seen in yet another Chrysler, the Imperial to be exact, making constant speed easier, ideal for long straight American roads and beyond.
1959 - Seatbelts were invented
When we think of safety in cars, Volvo is a name that springs to mind, and they invented the three-point seatbelt. It almost seems crazy that it wasn't until 1991 that all cars in the UK required all passengers to wear a seatbelt.
1971 - ABS Brakes
It's said that again, Chrysler are again responsible for a milestone moment in car history, with their 'Sure-Brake' system for their Imperial model - effectively ABS brakes. Although, Mercedes-Benz and Bosch anti-skid system was perhaps more known and came along in 1978.
1976 - Digital Dashboard
Despite most car dashboards now resembling an iPad, it was actually 1976 and the Aston Martin Lagonda which was when the first digital dashboard came along. Okay, so it's a different type of digital to what we expect in a new car today, but back in the '70s this would have been properly futuristic.
1984 - CD Players
Yes, it took over fifty years for radio to evolve into having a CD player complement your car's audio experience. Tapes of course came before, but CDs were the future.
2000 - Satellite Navigation
Today, you may just plug your phone in and use a maps' app, but it was the millennium when we first saw GPS in a car, which was previously guarded tech by the US military.
2000 - Hybrid Cars (Again)
Toyota were the real trailblazers when it came to hybrid cars. Yes, the hybrid may have been invented in the 19th century, but it wasn't exactly brilliant. Now, you only have to see how many Toyota Prius' there are worldwide, and all manufacturers now tend to offer hybrid models in their ranges.
2001 - Bluetooth
Again, Bluetooth made mobile phone and music streaming possible. Today it is a standard feature on most cars, but in the early 2000s, it was a new technology for sure.
2014 - Tesla Autopilot
With Tesla delivering their first Roadster models in 2008, it only took until 2014 to see Autopilot in their Model S, which featured adaptive cruise control and lane-centering, the latter is now found on many new cars.
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