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

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.

DRIVERS OF CHANGE

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.

FORK IN THE ROAD

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.

198689 1996

EXHAUSTED

Even though Japan had banned leaded petroleum back in 1972, a global awakening to the widespread pollution it caused didn’t happen until the dawn of the eighties. By 1986, using unleaded petrol became a status symbol; a fledgling example of espousing your ‘green credentials’. Finally, in 1989, leaded petrol was banned in the UK and much of Europe.

ELECTRIC AVENUE

The EV1 was arguably the first genuine electric car. While it provided a pivotal moment in terms of highlighting sustainability, ironically the expensive production meant manufacturing could not be sustained. Smart cars carried the baton for years, but were clunky and largely ridiculed. Mercifully, cool electric cars are now emerging, with the usual ‘affordable’ names involved, but also Porsche, Lamborghini and Ferrari.