CARS

The first cars were open carts powered by steam engines. They bumped along at two miles per hour, slower than a person could walk.

Cars hav come a long way since then. Do any of these cars look like yours?

The Benz Velo had bicycle wheels and a small gasoline engine. Instead of stepping on gas or brake pedals, the driver pulled levers to change speed or stop. Can you find the little steering wheel with a handle?

Very few people owned cars at first. Then came Henry Ford and his car factory. Model Ts like this one were built in just 90 minutes, and every car was exactly alike. Because Model Ts could be built quickly and cheaply, lots more people could afford to buy them.

Not many people could buy an expensive car like this one, with its big engine, fancy tires, and extra headlights.

The BMW Isetta was a tiny car with lots of nicknames-bubble car, yogurt pot, and rolling egg. It had only three wheels and didn't go very fast. Do you see the door handle? To climb in, the driver swung open the whole front of the car.

This big pink sedan is longer than two Isettas. People loved the shiny chrome, fancy taillights, and whitewall tires. A windshield that wraps all the way around the car's front gives the driver a good view.

The Ford Mustang came along 50 years after the Ford Model T. It was sporty, fast, and fun.

This Tesla Roadster has a secret. Its engine is powered entirely by electricity! Just plug in the Roadster to charge the battery, then zoom away at 125 miles per hour! That's speed that leaves those first cars in the dust.