Soren
History isn’t just about dusty old records; it’s filled with amazing stories and wild ideas that shaped the world we know today. The history of the automobile is no perfect journey—it’s a chaotic, creative, and sometimes outright strange adventure. Here are some of the most fascinating tidbits from the past.
1. Cruise Control Was Invented by a Blind Man
Ralph Teetor, a blind inventor, came up with the idea for cruise control in the 1940s. He was inspired by a bumpy car ride with his lawyer, who would constantly slow down and speed up while talking. Teetor wanted to create a device that would maintain a steady speed, and his invention—originally called the “Speedostat”—became the cruise control we know today.
2. The First Speeding Ticket Was Issued for Going 8 MPH
The first person to ever receive a speeding ticket was a New York City taxi driver in 1899. Jacob German was driving his electric taxi at a blistering 12 mph (19 km/h) on Lexington Avenue when he was stopped by a police officer on a bicycle for speeding. German was arrested and charged with reckless driving and “running away from a police officer.”
3. A “Car” Ran on Coffee Beans
During World War II, a French engineer named Jean-Michel Boussard developed a vehicle that ran on a mix of coffee beans and wood. The coffee beans were burned in a specially designed generator, which produced a gas that powered the engine. The car was said to have a top speed of about 30 mph (48 km/h), but it also smelled strongly of burnt coffee.
4. A Car Company Invented the Modern Car Stereo
Most people think of radios as a part of a car’s dashboard, but they were once sold as an accessory. In 1928, a German company named Blaupunkt invented the first car radio, the “Autosuper.” It was an expensive and clunky piece of equipment, but it paved the way for the in-car entertainment systems we take for granted today.
5. The World’s First Car Race Was a Disaster
The first official car race, held in 1895 from Paris to Bordeaux, was a logistical nightmare. The race was over 700 miles long, and many of the cars broke down. The winner, Émile Levassor, finished the race in a staggering 48 hours and 48 minutes, but he was so exhausted from the journey that he passed away a few months later.
