A vintage car is, in the most general sense,
an old automobile, and in the narrower senses of car enthusiasts and collectors,
it is a car from the period of 1919 to 1930. The vintage era in the
automotive world was a time of transition. The car started off in 1919 as still
something of a rarity, and ended up, in 1930, well on the way towards ubiquity.
In fact, automobile production at the end of this period was not matched again
until the 1950s. In the intervening years, most industrialized states built
nationwide road systems with the result that, towards the end of the period,
the ability to negotiate unpaved roads was no longer a prime consideration of
automotive design. In today's terms, a vintage car is defined the same as a classic.
Cars
became much more practical, convenient and comfortable during this period. Car
heating was introduced, as was the in-car radio. Four-wheel braking from a
common foot pedal was introduced, as was the use of hydraulically actuated
brakes. Power steering was also an innovation of this era. Towards the end of
the vintage era, the system of octane rating of fuel was introduced, allowing
comparison between fuels. In 1923 the gasoline additive Ethyl made its debut at
the Indy 500 that resulted in a boost in octane from the 50's to the 80's In
the United States drive-in restaurants were introduced as well as suburban shopping
centers and motels.