Pictorial Timeline of Automobiles

1863

Jean-Joseph-Etienne Lenoir builds a “horseless carriage” that uses an internal combustion engine that can reach speed of 3 mph).

1867

Nicholaus August Otto develops an improved internal combustion engine.

1870

Julius Hock builds the first internal combustion engine that runs on liquid gasoline.

1877

Nikolaus Otto builds the four-cycle internal combustion engine, the prototype for modern car engines.

August 21 1879

George Baldwin files for the first U.S. patent for an automobile - well, actually a wagon fitted with an internal combustion engine.

September 5 1885

The first gasoline pump is installed in Fort Wayne.

1885

Karl Benz builds a three-wheel automobile powered by a gasoline engine. the world’s first motorbike uses one of his internal combustion engines to build the world’s first motorbike.

1886

Henry Ford builds his first automobile in Michigan.

1887

Gottlieb Daimler uses his internal combustion engine to build a four-wheel vehicle, considered the first modern automobile.