The history of transportation is synonymous with that of progress. Wheels attached to one form of transport or the other, have carried men farther than they had ever ventured before. The earliest known form of powered road transport was a steam powered three-wheeled machine meant to haul cannon in 1769 designed by French inventor Nicolas Cugnot.

There are records of earlier versions of powered vehicles designed by inventors who used springs and compressed air. Why, even Mr. Da Vinci drew sketches of machines he thought might work. The efforts of earlier inventors like the Frenchman de Rochas who built and drove car as early as 1862 cannot be ignored.

The credit for the first car, however, goes to Carl Benz, who in 1885 built an internal combustion engine three-wheeled vehicle. Benz was the first to make a commercial success of the automobile. Others like Henry Ford soon followed and played a big role in creating an automobile-centered culture in America.

This CD has three parts. The first part contains several clips produced by General Motors and Ford Motors, which extol the virtues of their cars - magnificent breaking capabilities, fabulous maneuverability, great suspension and unmatched durability. These clips also serve to preserve the history of cars produced by these manufacturers between 1936 and 1960. The progress and innovations introduced over the years are evident in these clips.

The second part of this historic CD deals with vintage streetcars and carries some historic shots of this time-proven mode of transport. You will see pictures of the earliest horse-driven streetcars, and witness the result of an accident in which a streetcar rams into an automobile.

The third part of this fabulous CD is a storehouse of snapshots of vintage cars. You will witness some of the earliest racecars in action and get a peep into a car-manufacturing unit. Large gatherings of cars and their proud owners seen in some old snapshots tell us that the age of the automobile had arrived.

Sample thumbnails taken from the collection. Click on image to view larger picture.

EDITORIAL REVIEW:

It is difficult to imagine a world without automobiles and other means of transport that have made life faster and easier than ever before. Like all other inventions though, automobiles and streetcars had humble beginnings and evolved gradually to the forms in which we recognize them today.

This CD is a wonderful reminder of those early days when companies like Ford Motors and General Motors strived to make the automobile affordable to the common man. The fact that they succeeded is evidenced in the images you will witness on this entertaining CD.

There are some absorbing snap shots of Ford T models assembled in one place for one reason or the other, most likely a public event. The pictures of antique racecars are reminders of the beginnings of a great sport, while a few shots of battleships steaming across the harbor with hundreds of cars in the foreground, reminiscent of the days when the shipping industry was miles ahead of its land-based counterpart in terms of technology.

This CD also carries a historical treatise on streetcars that have served several American cities for several decades. The picture of a horse boarding a streetcar is sure to bring on smiles. The rivalry between the iron horse and the automobile never really ended, and some horrifying snapshots of automobiles that were crushed beyond recognition by streetcars support this fact. Early clips of automobiles included in this CD showcase the astonishing progress made in automobile design over the years.

This fascinating CD is a treasure trove of historical snapshots that take you on a memorable journey back in time to the beginnings of an era that changed the way we travel. Enjoy it!