History of United States Automobile
  1902

Back to History of United States Automobile Index

The 112-member National Association of Automobile Manufactures adopts a 60-day guarantee for new automobiles

T.H. Shevlin is fined $10 in Minneapolis for traveling more than 10 mph faster than the speed limit

Approximately 9000 automobiles are built in the U.S. this year.

Sample Production Figures
Locomobile 2,750
Oldsmobile 2,500
Rambler 1,500
White 385
Knox 250
Packard 179
Stanley 170
Union 60

The Detroit Automobile Company becomes the Cadillac Automobile Company

The Packard firm changes its name from Ohio Automobile Company to Packard Motor Car Company an patents the 'H' gearshift slot pattern, which will soon become commonplace

Locomobile is the first U.S. gasoline automobile with a four cylinder, front-mounted, water cooled engine
 

Rambler is launched by the Thomas B. Jeffery Company in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Louis S. Clarke, of Autocar, designs the porcelain spark plug insulator and patents double reduction gearing for rear axles

A Chicago ordinance allows drivers to wear spectacles (but not eye glasses)

The American Automobile Association is formed in Chicago to oversee racing

Ford's '999' racing car sets a speed record of five miles in 5:28
 

Go to 1903

Back to History of United States Automobile Index