Top 10 unusual automotive stories
Unusual content coming up today! For once, we're putting aside engine reprogramming, e85 conversions, performance parts and technical PPF FAQs. Today, we're going to take a look at some of the most surprising anecdotes from the automotive world. If you thought you knew everything there was to know about the history of the car, you may be about to learn a little more to help you shine at your social gatherings.
Here are 10 true, sometimes absurd, often impressive stories that you didn't know!
1. Electric cars, an old story
People often think that the electric car is a recent invention, a green start-up trick. But no! The very first electric vehicle dates back to... 1832-1834. Yes, you read that right. That was well before Karl Benz's first petrol car in 1886. Just goes to show that good ideas sometimes take a long time to be standardised.
2. The very first car accident
No seatbelts, no airbags, and yet... the first recorded accident dates back to 1891, in Ohio City. A steam carriage crashed into a fence post. Nothing serious, except for the fence. Moral: even at 10 km/h, you need to stay focused.
3. The price of a masterpiece
48.4 million dollars. That's how much a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for at auction in 2018. But since then, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé stole the show in 2022 for €135 million. It's enough to make you weep if you sold yours in the 80s to buy a Twingo.
4. Supersonic, did you say?
The fastest car in the world is the Thrust SSC. It broke the sound barrier in 1997 with a top speed of 1,228 km/h. So you need a good playlist to drown out the wind noise... and really good brakes.
5. The world's first seatbelt
In 1959, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin invented the three-point safety belt. Volvo decided not to keep the patent to itself. The idea? To save lives, not make money. A rarity in the world of cars.
6. Before the flashing light, the mime
Before 1938, there were no indicators. Drivers had to hold out their hand to indicate a bend. Imagine doing that today on the ring road. Thanks to the inventors of the indicator, even if some people seem to have forgotten that it existed.
7. The Sultan's garage
The Sultan of Brunei owns not just a garage, but a rolling museum. More than 7,000 cars, including rare models, some designed just for him. All worth an estimated $5 billion. We can't even imagine the technical inspection.
8. The popular icon
The Volkswagen Beetle is more than just a car: it's a legend. More than 21 million units produced between 1938 and 2003. It's been around through the ages, through films, and sometimes even across oceans.
9. Tyres cost more than your car
Z Tyres are priced at $600,000 a pair. And why is that? Because they are encrusted with 24-carat gold and diamonds. Not sure they'll be much use in the rain, but when it comes to style, there's nothing to complain about.
10. Monaco, kingdom of the car
With over 800 cars per 1,000 inhabitants, Monaco holds the world record for cars per capita. When you live in a place where everything is a ten-minute walk away... you might as well do it in a Ferrari.
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