The History of the Automobile – Eras of Invention

The history of the automobile can be traced as far back as the mid-1700s. Early cars were steam powered and they were only used by the rich members of society. Between the 17^th and 18^th centuries, many pioneers began to shape the way that people and goods were transported from one location to the next. From Ferdinand Verbiest to Oliver Evans, inventors paved the way and helped to shape the beginnings of the automotive industry that is visible today.

The Transitions Made In the 19^th Century

The 19^th century brought with it what many people considered to be the first ‘true’ automobile. In 1873, a French inventor named Amedee Bollee built a steam road vehicle that was not only self-propelled, but also had the capacity to transport a group of passengers at one time.
Petrol internal combustible engines were nonexistent until German, Nikolaus Otto, created a four stroke petrol engine in the mid 1860’s. This paved the way for the cars that are currently on our roads today.

The Post War Era

Fast forward to post WWII and the design of the automobile has seen many changes. The ponton style automobile became extremely popular after the war, and several countries presented their representations of this style to the world:
· The Soviet Union – GAZ-M20 Pobeda
· Britain – Standard Vanguard
· United States – Studebaker Champion
Nowadays insuring classic cars of the past is much easier and cost effective than it has been, there are also great options available with tax, for example any car built before 1^st January 1974 will be exempt from tax. If you want more information on the taxation of classic cars, then see this infographic. It also details information on the general trade and popularity of classic cars.