In terms of machines that have changed the World, cars might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But their huge impact on society today cannot be underplayed, much less denied. Life, as we know it today, would be extremely difficult if the technology for cars, and automobiles in general, didn’t come along.
That is the point of this list. We will take you through some of the most iconic cars ever produced and consider their impact on the life we now all lead. So, without further ado, let us start on this grand tour of all types of cars from all eras that changed the world as we know it!
Tesla Model S
This was a very big step forward. When Elon Musk rolled the Model S around, electric vehicles were kind of a novelty. They did exist, and they worked, but they weren’t very feasible. The most they could pull off was a few miles or so before they needed to be plugged into their chargers which can be very off-putting when you need something for actual use!
The Tesla Model S was the first car of its kind that could do a proper journey of about 250 miles or more on one single charge! It clearly showed that electric vehicles were here to stay as we know it, and this was certainly the way the future was heading. It made them viable, and this spawned its movement of the low and zero-emission cars, which is going strong!
The VW Beetle
Name a more iconic motorcar. Exactly. There isn’t one! The Beetle is loved all over the world for being a hippie icon, which is ironic because it was the brainchild of Adolf Hitler. He wanted a people’s car (which is what Volkwagen means) that was cheap and easy to make so that everyone could have one. Thanks to the work put in by Ferdinand Porsche, this became a reality in the world of motoring.
The Beetle was to Europe what the Ford Model T was to the USA. It was popular, it ran extremely well, and it looked fantastic. It was so well designed that its rear-engine layout became the inspiration for another classic car: the 911! To date, with over 21 million Beetles produced, the car holds the title for longest-running and most-manufactured car.
Nissan Qashqai
Japan has always pioneered technological advancement in ways that leave the rest of the World blind-sighted, to be honest, and wondering why they hadn’t thought about it before. Nissan achieved this with the Qashqai back in the early 2000s. Before this vehicle was produced, saloons and hatchbacks were very separate things. By marrying these disparate concepts together, Nissan paved the way for modern SUVs.
Then the global demand for vehicles like the Qashqai was created, and all the sporty but comfortable SUVs that you see nowadays are a byproduct of this. It changed the world as we know it.
The Land Rover Defender
Have you ever thought about what would happen if a tank and a tractor had a baby car? Well, wonder no more. The Land Rover Defender was to Great Britain what the Jeep Cherokee was to the USA: a symbol of reliability, plain and simple. There is nowhere a Defender can’t go; whether you take it to the jungle, a mudflat, or the trenches of the Western Front, the Defender will get you where the action is!
There is nothing overly sophisticated about this car, but it doesn’t need any of the bells and whistles. It was born to do one thing: to show the world how superior four-wheel drive is. And it has performed this duty spectacularly. Though this car first came out in 1989 and there are more modern versions available, the original model is still made and sold in developing countries.
1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen
The 1886 Benza Patent Motorwagen is widely considered as the world’s first production car ever, it was invented by Carl Benz because he wanted everyone to get off their high horses. Well, not really, but that was the effect.
Most people doubted whether a three-wheeled contraption powered by a single-cylinder petrol engine, without even a hood, could perform, but those doubts were laid to rest when Carl’s wife, Bertha, drove the Motorwagen from Mannheim to Pforzheim in 1888. The future of cars comes from this.
Our thoughts
All of these vehicles helped pave the way for global change, and that is why they are considered iconic. While not a complete list of all the important cars out there as there is no end to that topic, but these are cars we hope every budding car enthusiast will now know and recognise.
And remember for all your automotive components look no further than the real at H Bowers. Call us today on 01782 590 700 or email enquiries@bowersautoparts.net.