Our Two Cents: What was the most important automotive invention?
Time always marches forward, sometimes upward when it comes to technology. In the world of the automobile, that march of progress has been a good thing. Cars get better and better over time, but a singular innovation usually sparks the change that sends the trajectory climbing even higher. I asked my cohorts at Hagerty Media for the automotive invention they think has made the biggest difference. I even started off with some low hanging fruit to get their wheels turning:
- Tubeless tire
- Oil Filter
- Cup Holder
- Cigarette lighter
So let’s see what the gang came up with for this installment of Our Two Cents. I expect you’ll be surprised by a few of them.
The hand crank delete?
“Charles Kettering’s self-starter for the 1912 Cadillac.” –Joe DeMatio
“Another step forward that borders on being as important as Joe’s with the electric starter would be synchronized gears. Don’t get me wrong, one of the best feelings in the world is double clutching an unsynchronized box and getting the shift perfect, but the convenience of not having to double clutch cannot be understated.” –Greg Ingold
Three-point safety belts
“I am gonna go with Volvo’s three-point seatbelt, created by engineer Nils Bohlin.” –Eric Weiner
“Airbags owe their implementation to a whole lot of inventors. Cars would be a lot less safe without them.” –Brandan Gillogly
You can’t pick just one!
“I have a few that stick out in my mind: implementing the assembly line for automobiles, electronic fuel injection, the catalytic converter, and definitely radial tires.” –Larry Webster
“Safety glass and disc brakes.”–Todd Kraemer
Standardized Controls
“I’m going to go with the traditional control layout. Accelerator on the floor to the right, brake pedal on the center and clutch on the left. Drive something like a Model T where it is a combination of hand and foot controls and you’ll quickly appreciate the standardization.” –Greg Ingold
“To Greg’s point, even the steering wheel.” –Todd Kraemer
Not standardized controls?
“Haptic volume and HVAC sliders, for the purpose of reminding everyone that physical controls are and always will be superior.” –Eddy Eckart
“And to combine Eddy and Todd’s comments above, let’s mention Tesla’s yoke steering wheel.” –Sajeev Mehta
The love of the rings?
“The piston ring. The ability to seal a cylinder and moving piston, especially in a way that has any longevity in the environment created by combustion, is amazing and the reliability and longevity of the piston ring is likely what has allowed the automobile to progress from a novelty to near necessity. Imagine if engines required re-ringing after just 20k miles: Would we use cars and trucks the way we do today? It’s one of the hardest working parts of an engine and rarely is ever thought of until failure.” –Kyle Smith
“I’m kinda glad for the failures present in piston ring design, otherwise I wouldn’t have a silly name for my advice column.” –Sajeev “Piston Slap” Mehta
Overhead valve engines?
“Pushrods. Heck yeah!” –Cameron Neveu
Integrated circuitry
“While I admit that electronics are reaching too far in some instances, our motoring lives have improved significantly once the integrated circuit made its way into the automobile. There’s solid state ignition, improved radio performance, anti-lock brakes, the gauge cluster on the Series I Aston Martin Lagonda … the list goes on and on.” –Sajeev Mehta
Smartphone integration
“Apple CarPlay, and I am approximately 64% serious about that.” –Grace Houghton
“General Motors would like a word about that, Grace.” –Nathan Petroelje
One for Minivan
“Automatic sliding doors on minivans.” –Ben Woodworth
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I believe the invention of the wheel is without a doubt, the most important. Without it no car would roll.
Without the “Studebaker-Ackerman” steering geometry, they would roll in some strange directions.
I would submit the steering wheel was a top ten. The first cars had tillers like small boats, which were fine for the very slow speeds cars first achieved, but when they were able to go over 20 mph, things went downhill fast. They worked so well, they now use them to steer boats!
For those in the northern climates, headbolt/frostplug block heater was one of the best things since sliced bread:)
come to think of it: the engine..without it there would not be an auto mobile
Right after WWI, improved bearings, better fuel and a group of other developments yielded the “high speed motor,” raising RPM’s from the hundreds to the mid-thousands. Power and torque went right up, and of course that demanded breakthroughs in transmissions, lubricants, fuels, etc. The whole car changed, almost all at once.
Intermittent wipers! My father bought a 1969 LTD with them and I asked the salesman what that meant. He had no idea what it was
A couple years ago I bought a new MB GLC300. I asked the (not too bright) sales guy if the turbo has an intercooler………… His response with something about Apple Car play. Things never change.
For me it’s the back seat. What memories I have!
Agreed! Sweet memories of Mary Jane rotten crotch!!
The under-dash record player?
Madman Muntz four track
They should include JR Morris, my grandfather’s Invention – He’s the one that thought up the idea of drilling holes underneath the oil rings on pistons to curb excessive oil burning. It was in 1920 on a Model T engine he used for power and to run tools. He had the thank you letter from Ford Motor Company up on the wall in his office. It has effected every engine since then.
Love my kick-to-open (or close) hatch on my Ford Edge.
My ‘22 Explorer did not have the chip for the foot waving trick. Thank God! At 77, standing on one leg while swinging a foot around with an arm load of groceries is a great way to kiss the pavement!
Most important… hydraulic brakes
Head rests because whiplash sucks.
A big one that is missing….enhanced crash protection by way of crumple zones, air-bags and side-impact beams. Without these improvements, seatbelts would only be good for keep a dead body inside the car…albeit, it would be crushed.
Sajeev, technically, the name of your column comes from piston skirt wear, not piston ring wear. Somebody had to say it! 🙂
I really thought that was an “it takes two hands to clap” kinda situation!
“Haptic volume and HVAC sliders, for the purpose of reminding everyone that physical controls are and always will be superior.” +1
Electric windshield wiper motor which replaced the vacuum powered motor.