999Classics’ Post

The vintage era with the characteristic body of European cars, which we associate with the fertile Silver Age in culture, managed to distinguish itself not only by the unique design of the cars. This period is characterized by technical discoveries and achievements. It should be noted that it was during this period that a number of advanced technologies were invented. The developers actively worked to improve the internal combustion engine: new developments of multi-valve engines were in high demand among wealthy clients; at that time, 8, 12 and 16 cylinder V-engines were installed in exclusive cars; Lockheed founder Malcolm Lawhead, the predecessor to modern Lockheed Martin and Europe's largest defense manufacturer, invented hydraulic brakes in 1919. In 1921 they were used in Ford's Model A; In 1924, for the British company Vulcan Motor, Reisler invented an automatic transmission, which featured a two-stage planetary gearbox, a locking clutch, and a torque converter. But this invention was not used; a similar solution appeared only in 1940; Since about 1920, tinted glass began to be used for car glazing. front-wheel drive in 1932-1934 appeared first in the cars of Alvis and Corda, then in the Traction Avant of Andre Citroen. The time of appearance of this invention is debatable; in the specialized racing sector, a similar technical solution was used in 1897; independent suspension first appeared in 1873 (Amédée Bollée), but was introduced into mass production in the Mercedes-Benz 380 in 1933. Most of the technologies in the automobile industry were invented before 1930, as evidenced by the colorful history of automobile manufacturing in Europe. After World War II, the number of inventors and automobile companies declined sharply. Nowadays, many of the inventions have been improved. Automotive manufacturing has become the preserve of a select few, from invention to production. #vintagecars #automotivetechnology #europeanmanufacturing #innovations #silverageculture

To view or add a comment, sign in

Explore topics