What it was like to drive a car in the 1890s

Let's take a closer look at what it was like to drive a car in the 1890s
Cars were just a couple of years old and there were many difficulties to overcome.

Which car designs existed back then?
Which common technical issues did cars have?
Why was a car so unpopular?

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Book: August Horch - Ich baute autos

[ReidHenderson]

To think my great grandma was born in 1900 and got to live to 2001 she really got to see cars change drastically in her lifetime

[lancelessard]

In 1908 my great grandparents were married and after their honeymoon, my great, great uncle gave them their first car ride ever when he went to pick them up at the train station. The trip back to their farm was so bumpy and uncomfortable that my great grandma thought, "Oh these things are terrible! They'll never catch on." Then my grandma was born a few years later and she prided herself on being of the first generation to grow up without ever knowing what it was like to live without cars.

[maryh]

In the early 1920s my grandmother wanted a car but my grandfather said a horse and buggy was good enough for him. She went out and bought a car, a 1921 Dodge. My mother said her earliest memories were of her sitting in the backseat while the car salesman was in the front seat teaching my grandmother how to drive.

[b.griffin]

"Up to 40kph the streets were OK but with higher speeds the bumpy streets became increasingly dangerous" - I can attest to this with my bike.

[fnersch]

In 1915 my great grandfather drove his family from So. Dakota to San Diego. He had 3 flats on the first day but none after that. Driving across the California desert was scary. In some places the road disappeared. He had 4 children with him and wife too!

[curtisthomas]

It's mind-blowing that besides inventing the car, Benz in the forms of the person and the company were responsible for a large chunk of automobile innovations

[briankleinschmidt]

The muffler didn't come about 'till 1899. These machines were also despised for their great clatter and noise. Their best advantage was they didn't leave poop on the road, but that didn't mitigate how often they were poop on the road.

[travist.]

I once had a neighbor who built an 1890's replica (4 wheel). It was quite authentic. I rode in it, once. It was pretty scary, just going around the block at 5 mph.

[chrischamberlaine]

Really enjoyable. My grandfather, who I knew in his old age, was born in 1871 well before the motor car. My father in 1908 a year before Bleriot flew the Channel. Me in 1943. My only son in 1998 so he has only known the computer age. My grandfather saw the beginning of motoring and my son, now 24, may see the end of the carefree travel that I knew. Four generations come and gone.

[djquinn]

As someone born and raised in Detroit and a third generation auto worker I love these videos on automotive history. Great job!

[nugley]

Horses were, of course, at least as dirty and dangerous. Their hooves threw up mud and muck at the carriage and occupants, especially at speed, so if one were to 'dash' one needed a 'dashboard' for protection. Nice video. Thanks.

[Blackadder]

my country was way behind on cars, my great grandfather had one in the 1920s (maybe in 1918) and still the whole village would run out to see it.

[cratecruncher]

Great topic. I love the way everything is so strange yet relatable to any gear head. These very early cars were ridiculously expensive and crude. I can't even imagine what it must have felt like having to leave a "pride and joy" on the side of the road until they could find a horse to tow it home. Given the rural animosity toward such evil playthings it wouldn't surprise me if said car needed even more work before returning home.

[jouhannaudjeanfrancois]

RedBull should replace their so called "extreme sports" events and create a "let's go on the highway in a 19th century car" extravaganza

[E.Mulchi]

To think that it was forbidden to park your car in public spaces and today more 50% of parking public space is taken up by cars. Imagine how a city without cars would look like today

[StephanBuchin]

These early cars were already nicely designed and some looked exclusive and luxurious.

[BHARGAV_GAJJAR]

Wow ! Attaching a rocking horse head bust exactly like shown on my tricycle was first thing I had my dad do for me when I was 4 !

[justincase]

Looks like having a mustache was mandatory to own and drive a car.😄
As well, " The more things change the more they stay the same " Cars were a pain in the butt 130 years ago, and in one way or another, they still are.
Great vid. Love the old photos. Great history lesson.👍

[kajilai]

God bless the tenacity n endurance of the creators n users of the first cars....it is because of their efforts that we are mobile today.

[VINTAGEMEMORIES.]

you are excellent at creating incredible videos, because it is a long video we do not even notice the number of minutes, but the quality that is your work.