1. Benz Patent-Motorwagen: The first practical automobile generally credited as being the first car was invented by Karl Benz in 1885. It was called the Benz Patent-Motorwagen and was powered by a four-stroke gasoline engine.
2. Duryea Motor Wagon: In 1893, the Duryea brothers introduced one of the first cars in the United States. It was called the Duryea Motor Wagon and was manufactured in Springfield, Massachusetts.
3. Ford Quadricycle: Before developing the Ford Model T, Henry Ford created the Ford Quadricycle in 1896. Although he built only a few examples, it demonstrated the potential of gasoline-powered vehicles.
4. Oldsmobile Curved Dash: In 1899, Ransom E. Olds produced the Oldsmobile Curved Dash. It was an affordable and mass-produced car known for its distinctive curved dashboard.
5. Panhard & Levassor Type A: In 1891, the French automobile company Panhard & Levassor introduced the Type A, featuring a single-cylinder engine and the use of a sliding-gear transmission.
While these early cars paved the way for the development and popularity of automobiles, it was the introduction of the Ford Model T in 1908 that truly transformed the automotive industry and made car ownership more accessible to the masses.