Pictorial Timeline of Automobiles

1769

The very first self-propelled road vehicle was a military tractor invented by French engineer and mechanic, Nicolas Joseph Cugnot.

1789

The first U.S. patent for a steam-powered land vehicle was granted to Oliver Evans.

1801

Richard Trevithick built a road carriage powered by steam. It was the first built in Great Britain.

1807

Francois Isaac de Rivaz of Switzerland invented an internal combustion engine that used a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen for fuel. Rivaz designed a car for his engine that was the first internal combustion powered automobile. However, his was a very unsuccessful design.

1823

Samuel Brown invents an internal combustion engine with separate combustion and working cylinders. It is used to power a vehicle.

1832-1839

Between 1832 and 1839 (the exact year is uncertain), Robert Anderson of Scotland invented the first crude electric carriage.