Interesting Car Trivia

Everyone is interested in hearing about historic facts when it comes to the automobile.  Not only are cars one of the best modern conveniences ever invented, they have also contributed greatly to our country’s economic growth.

Here are the top most interesting facts on cars and the car industry, according to Cross Keys Auto Dealer in St. Louis;

1. The first cars used a lever instead of steering wheel to steer with
2. The first Porsche 911 was introduced in 1964 and generated a power output of 130 hp
3. The world’s longest traffic jam was between Paris and Lyon on the French Auto route in 1980 which was about 110 miles long.
4. The very first auto insurance policy was purchased in 1897 in Westfield, MA
5. Windshield wipers were introduced by a woman
6. The first self-propelled car was invented by Nicolas Cugnot in 1769. It was designed with three wheels and an engine in the front along with a boiler
7. In the late 18th century, Issac de Rivaz designed an internal combustion engine that used a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen to generate power
8. The first practical four-stroke engine was invented by the Otto and Langen Company of Deutz, Germany.
9. The New York City Police Department used bicycles to pursue speeding motorists in 1898
10. The first speeding ticket was issued in 1902
11. In 1916, 55% of the cars in the world were Model T Fords
12. The first gas gauge appeared in cars in 1922
13. In 1923, 173 new inventions by women for cars were recorded including a carburetor and an electric engine starter
14. The first car radio was invented in 1929
15. The animated Peanuts characters were created in 1957 for a Ford Fairlaine automobile commercial
16. Most American car horns beep in the key of F
17. The automobile is the most recycled product in the world today

If you are shopping for a new car, visit your local St. Louis auto dealer, Cross Keys Auto in Hazelwood and ask about our guaranteed financing program.