In 1939, Packard became the first automobile manufacturer to offer an optional air conditioning unit in its 1940 model year cars. These bulky units were manufactured by Bishop and Babcock (B&B), of Cleveland, Ohio and were ordered on approximately 2,000 cars.
Advances in technology made air conditioning more efficient and reliable, and by the 1970s, nearly all new cars were being produced with air conditioning as standard equipment. In the 1980s and 1990s, advancements in air conditioning technology continued, leading to more efficient and environmentally friendly systems.
1968 – The AMC Ambassador becomes the first car to include A/C as standard equipment, rather than an added option. 1969 – Over half of all American cars now have A/C. 1970 – Interdynamics (IDQ) is founded and creates the first do-it-yourself automotive A/C kits.
In 1998, Saab invented the first ventilated seats, which gave a cooling sensation. In the 2000s, Mercedes brought next-level luxury with their massaging seats. Therefore, with seating options more comfortable than your couch, automotive comfort has certainly come a long way.
R-12 Freon: Vehicles Manufactured Before 1995
The 1987 Montreal Protocol required automotive manufacturers to discontinue their use of this refrigerant by the end of the 1994 model year—though the phase-out officially began in 1993.
Why Is R-134A Being Phased Out? When Is the Phaseout Expected to Conclude? Like a lot of '90s relics, R-134A has not aged well. It was known then that 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane could potentially contribute to acid rain and that its ozone layer depletion potential was high.
The second-generation Chevy Bel Air was the first Chevrolet with air conditioning if consumers wanted. Chevy outfitted the 1955 Bel Airs with AC outlets on both sides of the dashboard, and these cars even had a heavy-duty generator inclusion.
The 1966 Cadillac Fleetwood was the first model to feature heated seats. The technology behind heated seats is similar to the tech features in hairdryers, electric blankets, and water heaters. A long strip of heating material, called a heating element, serves as the resistor, resisting the electrical flow.
Inventors H.H. Schultz and J.Q. Sherman file a patent for an air conditioning unit that can be placed on a window ledge. The units hit the market in 1932 but are not widely purchased due to high cost. Also in 1931, Frigidaire begins marketing year-round, central air conditioning systems for homes.
In 1939, Packard became the first automobile manufacturer to offer an optional air conditioning unit in its 1940 model year cars.
The 1940 Packard was the first car to offer factory-installed air-conditioning. By 1969, more than half of all new cars sold were equipped with A/C. Some brands affixed window decals to promote their air-conditioned automobiles.
Practical auto air conditioning as we know it first became available from Cadillac for the 1953 model year. The Frigidaire system could also be had on Buick and Oldsmobile models, but was much more common on Cadillac models. It was available either as a factory option or as a dealer-installed extra.
If you've ever wondered about the history of cruise control, the Folsom Auto Mall is here to educate you. The very first version of a speed control device was found in a Wilson-Pilcher car back in 1901. This English car company built a single gear vehicle with a speed governor in the middle of the camshaft.
Buick's introduction of the Ascencioné® Graphic Control Center in the 1986 Riviera marked a pivotal moment in automotive history, ushering in the era of touchscreen technology in vehicles.
It was in 1955, as well, that California became the first state to require all new cars to come equipped with lap belts. While the seat belts were an option, it was estimated that only about 1 percent of American drivers used them.
A woman invented it by the name of Margaret A. Wilcox. She was born in 1838 in Chicago, and it wasn't until 1893 that she patented the car heater. Wilcox figured that she could make use of the engine's hot air by warming up the cabin - it was genius!
Architecture played a big role in keeping homes cool. By creating archways, large windows, and high ceilings, builders could funnel in outdoor breezes and create cross-ventilation. Porches built in the shade also gave people an area to cool off during the evening.
Air conditioning was not installed in the White House until 1930 in the West Wing and was expanded to the residency in 1933 for President Franklin D. Roosevelt's term. Before that, the president and other residents and visitors to the White House sweltered in the heat and humidity of D.C. summers.
The 1929 Cord L-29 (Phaeton) was the US's first front-wheel-drive production car, as well as the world's first to sport constant-velocity joints.
Though nearly ubiquitous in today's new motor vehicles, they began as a luxury option in the 1940s. The first power windows were introduced in the 1940 Packard 180 series automobiles.
The first electrically heated toilet seat was manufactured by Cyril Reginald Clayton at St Leonard's on Sea in Sussex. A UK patent was applied for on 5 January 1959, filing on 4 January 1960 and granted in August 1963 (UK patent no. 934209).
Luxury amenities such as power steering, air conditioning, and leather seats were first available in the 1963 Corvette. The earliest serial number air conditioned Sting Ray has a production build date in October, about 6 months before the rest of the A/C cars.
Chrysler Corporation introduced the first commercially available passenger car power steering system on the 1951 Chrysler Imperial under the name "Hydraguide".
What's the story of the modern air conditioners we're familiar with? Since 1947, AC units became more compact and cheaper. In that year, 43,000 systems were in use. By the 1960s, most new homes in the United States were built with central air conditioning.