TIMELINE DRIVETIME
In relative terms, the history of the motorcar is surprisingly short. The impact of cars during 145 years, however, has been spectacularly transformative and relentlessly controversial. The car is an invention that has brought freedom for consumers and businesses but – equally – doubts linger about the sustainability of man’s second best friend.
1866
1920s
1970s
INVENTING THE WHEELS
DRIVERS OF CHANGE
FORK IN THE ROAD
The blueprint for a superefficient, on-demand transport system could only have been created by a German – in this case, Karl Benz. A motoring luminary, his unique Benz Patent-Motorwagen vehicle accelerated industrialisation across the globe and started an enduring love affair between humans and cars.
During the post-war recovery period – especially in the developed world – cars became much more commonplace. Experienced manufacturers, including Ford, Peugeot and Renault rapidly evolved, by opening factories and exponentially increasing their output to meet demand. Cars were mainly, however, playthings of the elite.
As the sixties ended, the permissive society was transcending traditional class barriers, and carownership became possible, regardless of background. Ford set the benchmark for marketing savvy by offering a range that appeared to suit every personality. The Cortina, Escort, Fiesta and Sierra, thus became icons of the road and, often, members of the family.
18
July 2021
