A few gems of history for all you enthusiasts out there, and who knows, maybe one day, they might help you win your local pub quiz!

1886 – Benz Patent Motorwagen

Motoring as we know it began on 29th January 1886, when a patent was filed for this “horseless carriage” – the first car with an internal combustion engine. Named after its German inventor, Karl Benz, the Motorwagen was both revolutionary and very, very slow: it could barely top 10mph.

1907 - Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

The last word in refinement, the Silver Ghost was a must-have for Edwardian Lords and Viscounts. Its luxury heralded the end of the horse and carriage as the aristocracy’s preferred mode of transport. Adverts billed it: “Silent as a Ghost, Powerful as a Lion, and Trustworthy as Time”.

1936 – Volkswagen Beetle

The “people’s car” company was founded by the Nazis when Adolf Hitler instructed his fellow Austrian, Dr Ferdinand Porsche, to dream up some wheels able to transport two adults and three children for less than £50. Manufacturing on the Bug did not actually begin in Germany until after the war.

1941 – Willys-Overland Jeep

In the words of American President and D-Day General Dwight Eisenhower, the Willys-Overland Jeep was one of the “weapons that won the Allies the war”. Over 330,000 of these iconic 4×4s were produced by American factories, serving in every theatre of the Second World War.

1947 – Land Rover

Where would farmers be without the Land Rover? First unveiled at the Amsterdam motor show, early models were made from both steel and aluminium, due to the rationing of steel and post-war abundance of aluminium, which had been used to make aircraft. The first in a legendary line, many Series 1 Land Rovers can still be seen on our roads.

1949 - Citroen 2CV

More French than a string of onions, this design classic has been adored and derided in equal measure. Created after the Second World War, it was first marketed as an “umbrella on wheels” that could transport eggs without cracking them. Between 1948 and 1990 about four million cars were sold.

1957 - Fiat 500
The car that got Italy on the move. Fiat’s practical and affordable 500 was just three metres long, but its quirkily stylish profile ensured that it became a huge hit across the whole of Europe. Production didn’t end till 1975 – and a modern version was re-launched last year.

1958 – Saab 93

Saab pioneered aerodynamic design, perhaps because it also made fighter aircraft. The 93 first achieved fame on the rally circuit, but its lasting legacy was in the field of safety: it was the first mass production car to have seatbelts as standard, leading Mercedes-Benz (and later every other manufacturer) to follow suit soon afterwards.

1959 – Austin Mini

This revolutionary design was created by British Motoring Corporation boss Leonard Lord who stipulated that 60 per cent of its length should be interior space. Minis later became a cult car, thanks to Michael Caine and The Italian Job.

1959 – Mercedes-Benz “heckflosse”

The sleek but datable Mercedes-Benz “heckflosse” – or “fintail” – was the first production car with crumple zones. Captains of industry could buy the chrome-laden 300SEL model, with air suspension and fuel-injected engine; those on a more stringent budget could fire up the 190 diesel, which retailed at a third of the price.

1961 – Jaguar E-type

The sexiest car ever made. Originally developed as a racer, the E-type was subsequently adapted for use on British roads, and became a symbol of the swinging Sixties. Some models of this (relatively) cheap motor were able to top the 150mph milestone.

1966 – Toyota Corolla

The Corolla was the first mass-market car to have a radio fitted as standard. It was also the first Japanese car to threaten the American and European dominance of the industry, thanks to its efficiency. Toyota’s “just in time” production method was later copied across the world.

1971 – Fiat 127

Small, fun, and perfectly formed, the 127 was the first modern supermini. Even the car’s 903cc engine punched above its weight, giving performance more akin to a modern 1500cc. It could do 0-60mph in a then-impressive 15 seconds, and over 12 years more than four million rolled off the production line.

1976 – Volkswagen Golf GTI

The car that made hatches “hot” hit the road three years after the Golf was launched. With a souped-up engine and go-faster stripes, it became the car of choice for spotty youths, who were soon “pimping” their rides with under-lighting and racing seats. It spawned a generation of imitators, from the Fiat Uno Turbo to the Suzuki Swift Sport.

1997 – Toyota Prius

The first commercial hybrid car was produced in Japan and launched in the UK four years later. Since becoming fashionable among ecologically aware Hollywood celebrities – converts include Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz – it has inspired a legion of impressionable “civilian” consumers to follow suit.

2002 – Honda FC-X

We’ve had hybrid, electric and biofuel cars, but the future of green motoring is probably hydrogen. The FC-X looks like being the first commercially viable hydrogen fuel-cell car. It looks like a bog standard saloon from the outside, but things get clever under the bonnet: it runs on hydrogen and emits nothing more harmless than water.

2008 – Tata Nano

Can the world afford this car? With a price tag of just £1,277, the Nano was launched this year on a promise of bringing cheap motoring to India’s rapidly growing middle class.

Whatever your preferred drive, whether it is a classic car, a 4×4 or a hot hatch, Sureterm Direct can offer you the most competitive car insurance on the market.  So give us a call (for FREE) on 0800 999 2030

Trackback URI |