Technological Choices

Between the 1890s and 1920s, a standard automotive design emerged out of the competition between steam, electric, and internal-combustion cars. Manufacturers chose engines, drive trains, and accessories that they thought would attract buyers or make cars more powerful, cheaper, or easier to operate. The front-engine, shaft-driven internal-combustion car appeared by 1901 and became the overwhelming choice of motorists by 1910. Steam cars and electric cars fell out of favor and disappeared from the market in the 1920s.

Why did the steering wheel end up on the left?

Some early cars had the wheel on the left, some on the right. Right-hand drive allowed entrance and exit at the pavement, but road improvements ended that advantage. And having the wheel on the right side made passing a dodgy proposition. The very popular Ford Model T, introduced in 1908, had its steering wheel on the left. It set the style for later cars.

Why did the gasoline engine, and not the steam engine or electric motor, become the most common power plant for cars?

Electric cars, quiet and clean, appealed to the wealthy and to women, a smaller market at the time. Steam cars, faster but harder to start and operate, appealed to enthusiasts. The gasoline engine was almost as easy to use as an electric, and easier to start and drive than a steam engine. Its versatility, speed, range, sportiness, and ease of use appealed to people buying cars not just for getting around town, but also for longer trips, and for the pleasure of driving.

Why did the closed body become the standard type of car?

Though more expensive, heavier, hotter in the summer, and dangerous before the introduction of safety glass in the 1920s, the closed body appealed to the buyer who wanted an affordable luxury. It kept you cleaner, and out of the weather. And when metal replaced wood, it was easier to manufacture. Middle-class city and suburb dwellers especially appreciated the closed-body car.