4 Better designs

Chapter 4 Better designs Every car company boasted that their designs were best. So, in 1895, they decided to have a race from Paris to Bordeaux- and back again- to show who was right.

Over 1,130 km (700 miles) and 48 hours later, the race was won by a Panhard-Levassor car. The Michelin brothers were there too, showing off their new, inflated wheels. They had 22 punctures on the way, but the crowd still thought their tyres were great.

In France, where the race took place, there was no speed limit. "Why do we have to drive at a snail's pace?" grumbled British drivers. According to the Red Flag Act, a car was only allowed on British roads if someone walked 20 paces ahead of it. Horse owners liked this law. They said horseless carriages scared their horses.

In 1896, the Red Flag Act was finally abolished. At last, British drivers could drive faster than they could walk. Now they needed some exciting new designs. British engineer, Henry Royce, dreamed of making a really comfortable car. But he was too poor to do it on his own.

Luckily, in 1904, he met Charles Rolls- a rich landowner who loved motoring. With Rolls' money and Royce's skill, the two men went into business. In 1907, they launched the first great luxury car, the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. It's so quiet.

The Silver Ghost was a dream to drive, but not very practical on rough, pot-holed roads. In America, engineer Ransom Olds took a different approach. He created a car that could cope with bumps and named it the Oldsmobile. Slow down, the hens are escaping! With its lightweight frame and strong springs, the Oldsmobile was perfect for countryside roads.