Interesting and Random Facts About Cars

We can all agree that the world is a big place. It’s not surprising that there would be unexpected facts about everything from pencils, to history, to science, and everything in between. Some fun facts to know would be about cars. These facts might not make you a millionaire, but they might help you win an argument or make you look good in front of that one girl at the bar.

GearHeads have come up with a list of random facts about cars that will possibly educate you and amuse guest at a party.

Here Are a Few to Get You Started

• The most stolen car in the United States is the Honda Accord.
• One of the ugliest vehicles ever made, the AMC Gremlin, pioneered the style that is now commonly seen in SUV’s – sloped side-window and high hood. The car was only manufactured for eight years (1970-1978) and numbered 671,475 units. The RRP was $1,879.00USD when it was first released, which these days would be over $11,000 USD.
• In the past 50 years, motor vehicle fatalities in the USA have reduced by roughly 80%. The total number of fatalities for 2010 alone is the lowest in 62 years.
• Whale oil was actually used in some car transmissions until 1973.
• From 1908-1914, Ford’s Model T could be purchased in several different colors, but not black. In an effort to make production cheaper and more efficient, Ford chose to make all further Model T’s only in the color black (since black paint was cheap and durable).
• The 1970 Oldsmobile 442 was capable of doing zero to 60 in less than six seconds. This speed was pretty impressive for the 70’s, especially for an Oldsmobile.
• There are now three states that have legalized self-driving cars on the road: Nevada, Florida, and California. Nevada was the first to issue licenses and did so to allow Google to test their self-driving cars on public streets. The article was originally written in 2012, as of 2016 Utah, North Dakota, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Philadelphia, Vermont, and Washington DC have been added to the list. There was an executive order for Arizona and Massachusetts. Colorado, New York, and Alabama are also in progress. Michigan was the only one to allow it without a driver in the car and passing this was in progress in California.
• The 1946 Cisitalia 202 GT is so beautiful that it is permanently exhibited in the New York Museum of Modern Art. The car sports has no sharp edges and is all one single sheet of aluminum. The car was only made from 1947 to 1952, and only 170 were ever produced.
• Electric cars are not a new thing; they were already being manufactured in 1905. Rauch & Lang produced electric cars until 1920 when the gas-combustion engine became cheaper to run because of low gas prices.
• The Volkswagen Beetle was originally called “Kraft durch Freude Wage” (“Strength Through Joy Car”). The small car was named thusly by Hitler, who in May of 1938 visited the factory and made his great announcement. The car was named after an organization within the Third Reich. After World War II, Volkswagen chose to change the name.

Williams Group Auto

Check out GearHeads for more interesting facts. And stop by Williams Group Auto for your next holiday gift for that special someone or just for yourself. Visit our website to view our entire stock at www.williamsgroupauto.com or stop by one of our locations to speak with one of our professional salespeople for your next used car in Abilene.