Origins: First production cars
For every company no matter how big or small, there was a first car,
the one that started it all. Some of them are forgotten, others celebrated,
but each one shaped the company that produced it.
Ford Model A
Year: 1903
Before the Model T and highly efficient assembly line production methods turned the
Ford Motor Company into a major player, there was this: the Model A.
The company was started with just $28,000 of initial investment.
Chevrolet Series C Classic Six
Year: 1911
This car pre-dates Chevrolet's purchase of a controlling interest in General Motors.
In fact, the Chevy Classic Six was produced even before Chevy was formally incorporated.
In 1912, the car's base price was $2,150.
Buick Model B
Year: 1904.
No American automaker has been around longer than Buick. It was founded in 1899,
and became a corporation on May 19, 1903 under the Buick Motor Company name.
Its founder, David Dunbar Buick, was born is Scotland but set up shop in Detroit.
The Model B was the first model offered for sale to the public.
Chrysler 70
Year: 1924
Walter Chrysler turned around the Maxwell Motor Company are re-organized it under his name.
Before the 70, there was the Chrysler Six, but that was built under the Maxwell marque.
Jaguar Mark V and XK120
Year: 1948/9
Originally called the Swallow Sidecar Company, the name was changed to Jaguar Cars Limited after World War Two.
The Mark V and the XK120 were the first new cars built under this name.
Lotus Mark VI
Year: 1952
It says a lot about a company that its first production car was a racing machine.
Customers were responsible for installing an engine and gearbox.
Land Rover Series I
Year: 1948
Inspired by the Jeep, the original Land Rover was designed as a farm utility vehicle,
somewhere between a tractor and a truck.
Ferrari 125 S
Year: 1947
Enzo Ferrari only approved production of the company's first road car to fund the racing team.
Only two were built, both with amazing 1.5-litre V12 engines.
Lamborghini Tractor
Year: Post-war
This legendary Italian supercar maker started out by producing tractors before getting into high-performance sports cars and GTs.
Pagani Zonda C12
Year: 1999
Despite being such a young company,
Pagani has already established itself as a competitor to the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Porsche 356
Year: 1948
Because of the scarcity of parts and materials in post-war Germany,
Porsche used many VW Beetle parts to build the 356.
However, the car quickly evolved.
BMW 3/20
Year: 1932
Despite having been around since 1916, this was the first vehicle
designed and built in-house by the company.
Mercedes-Benz SSK
Year: 1928
It would take pages and pages to explain the origins of Mercedes-Benz.
Many companies and personalities were involved.
The Mercedes-Benz brand didn't appear until 1926, and the SSK was one of the first new cars it produced.
Volkswagen KdF-Wagen
Year: 1936
Originally founded by a Nazi labour organization,
the company's purpose was to build more affordable cars for working-class people.
Although, the war effectively stopped production before it could really begin.
Last year VW Group sold over eight-million vehicles.
Honda T360
Year: 1963
At this time Honda was already a major manufacturer of scooters and motorcycles.
The T360 was a small pickup with a top speed of just 100 km/h.
Nissan / Datsun Phaeton
Year: 1934
Nissan comes from a long and complicated history of companies and conglomerates,
but the auto business was separated off in 1934.
Hyundai Cortina
Year: 1967
Before the all-original Pony came along and really put the company on the map,
Hyundai manufactured and sold the Ford Cortina
Toyota AA
Year: 1934
Primarily and heavy industrial company, this was Toyota's first family car.
At the time, the AA was priced at 3,350 Japanese yen.
Bugatti Type 13
Year: 1910
The recent Veyron supercar was a return to form for Bugatti after all but disappearing in the '60s.
Now the company is owned by VW. This tiny machine is the one that started it all.
For every company no matter how big or small, there was a first car,
the one that started it all. Some of them are forgotten, others celebrated,
but each one shaped the company that produced it.
Ford Model A
Year: 1903
Before the Model T and highly efficient assembly line production methods turned the
Ford Motor Company into a major player, there was this: the Model A.
The company was started with just $28,000 of initial investment.
Chevrolet Series C Classic Six
Year: 1911
This car pre-dates Chevrolet's purchase of a controlling interest in General Motors.
In fact, the Chevy Classic Six was produced even before Chevy was formally incorporated.
In 1912, the car's base price was $2,150.
Buick Model B
Year: 1904.
No American automaker has been around longer than Buick. It was founded in 1899,
and became a corporation on May 19, 1903 under the Buick Motor Company name.
Its founder, David Dunbar Buick, was born is Scotland but set up shop in Detroit.
The Model B was the first model offered for sale to the public.
Chrysler 70
Year: 1924
Walter Chrysler turned around the Maxwell Motor Company are re-organized it under his name.
Before the 70, there was the Chrysler Six, but that was built under the Maxwell marque.
Jaguar Mark V and XK120
Year: 1948/9
Originally called the Swallow Sidecar Company, the name was changed to Jaguar Cars Limited after World War Two.
The Mark V and the XK120 were the first new cars built under this name.
Lotus Mark VI
Year: 1952
It says a lot about a company that its first production car was a racing machine.
Customers were responsible for installing an engine and gearbox.
Land Rover Series I
Year: 1948
Inspired by the Jeep, the original Land Rover was designed as a farm utility vehicle,
somewhere between a tractor and a truck.
Ferrari 125 S
Year: 1947
Enzo Ferrari only approved production of the company's first road car to fund the racing team.
Only two were built, both with amazing 1.5-litre V12 engines.
Lamborghini Tractor
Year: Post-war
This legendary Italian supercar maker started out by producing tractors before getting into high-performance sports cars and GTs.
Pagani Zonda C12
Year: 1999
Despite being such a young company,
Pagani has already established itself as a competitor to the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Porsche 356
Year: 1948
Because of the scarcity of parts and materials in post-war Germany,
Porsche used many VW Beetle parts to build the 356.
However, the car quickly evolved.
BMW 3/20
Year: 1932
Despite having been around since 1916, this was the first vehicle
designed and built in-house by the company.
Mercedes-Benz SSK
Year: 1928
It would take pages and pages to explain the origins of Mercedes-Benz.
Many companies and personalities were involved.
The Mercedes-Benz brand didn't appear until 1926, and the SSK was one of the first new cars it produced.
Volkswagen KdF-Wagen
Year: 1936
Originally founded by a Nazi labour organization,
the company's purpose was to build more affordable cars for working-class people.
Although, the war effectively stopped production before it could really begin.
Last year VW Group sold over eight-million vehicles.
Honda T360
Year: 1963
At this time Honda was already a major manufacturer of scooters and motorcycles.
The T360 was a small pickup with a top speed of just 100 km/h.
Nissan / Datsun Phaeton
Year: 1934
Nissan comes from a long and complicated history of companies and conglomerates,
but the auto business was separated off in 1934.
Hyundai Cortina
Year: 1967
Before the all-original Pony came along and really put the company on the map,
Hyundai manufactured and sold the Ford Cortina
Toyota AA
Year: 1934
Primarily and heavy industrial company, this was Toyota's first family car.
At the time, the AA was priced at 3,350 Japanese yen.
Bugatti Type 13
Year: 1910
The recent Veyron supercar was a return to form for Bugatti after all but disappearing in the '60s.
Now the company is owned by VW. This tiny machine is the one that started it all.
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