Commercials like the “Hot Dogs, Baseball, Apple Pie and Chevrolet” advertisement comes to mind when the American image is mentioned. Since the invention of the automobile, there have been multiple iconic American cars. From the Model T to the Corvette, American society has enjoyed, used, and purchased these living machines. Some vehicles have been passed down through generations in a family while others are status symbols or just means of transportation. Automobiles have always had a special place in America while other countries used more mass transit. American cars have changed multiple aspects of the nation while maintaining public interest and love for the vehicles. The invention of the automobile advanced American lifestyle and production while also changing the image of the nation, creating its unique identity. Ever since the late 1800s and the early 1900s automobiles have had a unique …show more content…
An automobile is a road vehicle with four wheels usually and an internal combustion engine (Shaw). One of the first of these machines to be produced was the Model T by Ford. This vehicle was strong for the time, and it gave many American families the ability to own an automobile (Gartman). The Model T was far from one of Henry Ford’s first prototypes, the “Quadricycle”, which he made in 1896 (Shaw). Before the beginning of mass production, automobiles that were similar to the Model T were very expensive. American automobiles were not always as accessible as they are today. Automobiles were an upper class item before mass production which allowed many more vehicles to be produced every day and therefore at a cheaper price ("The USA in the 'Roaring '20s'."). Some of the American car company brands that appeared early were General Motors and the Ford Motor Company (Gartman). Ford employees received high