AUTOMOBILES OF THE 1920S

The Age of the Automobile

• High prices and low wages made cars uncommon in the 19th century
• It took Henry Ford's assembly line to change that
• in 1920 there were nearly 8 million vehicle registration and triple that by the end of the decade

Effects of the Automobile

• The creation of the Automobile created an economic spin-off
• Road construction created thousands of jobs
• The oil and steel industries had a substantial increase in demand
• Gas stations and motels were opened all over the country
• Mechanics were greatly needed

1920 Kissel Model 6-45 'Gold Bug' Speedster

• Gold Bugs were popular among celebrities, including boxer Jack Dempsey and pilot Amelia Earhart. It is estimated that fewer than 40 cars survive today.

1921 Mercer Series 5 Raceabout

• It had a giant four-cylinder engine, the size of today's V-8. The engine has just 70 horsepower, powerful for its time

1924 Cadillac Series V-63 Phaeton

• The Phaeton was the first car with four-wheel brakes. More than 18 thousand Cadillacs were built in 1924

Works Cited
"The Age of the Automobile." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 03 May 2015.
"Teaching History.org, Home of the National History Education Clearinghouse." Rise of the Automobile. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2015.
"10 Great Cars of Gatsbys Roaring 20s | Bankrate.com." 10 Great Cars of Gatsbys Roaring 20s | Bankrate.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.