This part covers some (not all) technological innovations, that proved to be influencial on cars during the years 1895 to 1929.
   Starting with the 1895 first ever pneumatic tyres of Michelin that were applied in the Paris-Bordeaux race of that year. Only one sans-cheveau, the „l’Éclair“, was equiped with these new tyres. Although it wasn’t a succes, the advantage to the usual wheels of those days was so remarkebly, that these were used again in the Chicago Times Herald Contest later that year.
   Almost ten years later, detachable rims or „jantes amovibles“ basically ensured the win for Renault in the first Frech Grand Prix in 1906. Now the tyre could easily be changed by means of a steel ring, bolted on the wheel. The up to then common wheels (so called artillery wheels) were still made of wood, on which now the tyre with the steel ring could be detached in comparably short time. Then later, around 1912, detachable wheels found their application, one can say: again, in the form of all-steel wire wheels with a central locking device. Names of the British Rudge-Whithworth, the French R.A.F. ot the American McCue wired wheels became known.
   Front-Wheel Drive’s development can be divided in two periods; Pre-war and Post-war. Pre-war FWD’s came as early as 1895 with the Selden Motor Wagon, followed by several French designs and the Austrian Gräf & Stift car in 1898. Then in 1904, a US patent was granted to Walter Christie for an innovative front-wheel drive system. This then is further developed until around 1919. Then it becomes silent around the FWD. After the war, in 1924, Harry A. Miller revived the front-wheel drive with a different system, whichs lead to a year-after-year dominance of his racing cars in American races. Following this, Europe then embraces the advantages of front-wheel drive.
   Universal joints and especially constant-velocity joints were a necessity for further developping front-wheel drives to higher vehicle speeds in limited assembly contours.
   Other new technically features such as four-wheel brakes and hydraulic brakes to reduce lap time on the racing track, as even the road holding improving independent suspensions came to the fore on both sides of the ocean. * 01.01.2026: This page is under construction and it is being extended continuously *