Coffee With Jim

In the beginning the automobile was literally a horseless carriage. Then it morphed into a box on wheels. But Walter Chrysler and Hans Ledwinka had a streamlined vision of the future, and the auto industry was forever changed.

Even though the Airflow was deemed radical in its engineering and even bizarre in its styling, it paled in comparison to the new Ledwinka designed Tatra’s. The large Tatra 77 was introduced mere weeks before the Airflow and as a result claimed the title of being the world’s first production aerodynamic car. 

Welcome to another episode of 5 Minutes with Jim. There were motorized bicycles and vehicles with four, six and even eight wheels. They were powered by steam, gasoline, kerosene, electricity, oversize clock springs and even compressed air. They began as a manifestation of eccentricity and scientific curiosity but soon morphed into circus side show curiosity and promotional gimmick.

Then in the blink of an eye the automobile was a multimillion-dollar industry. Names became brands. Streetscapes were transformed with gas stations, garages, electric vehicle charging stations, billboards, and dealerships. Society was transformed. The world of transportation was transformed. Our lexicon was transformed with the addition of words like motel. Generational businesses were decimated. Time honored careers were transformed into historic footnotes. It was a time of transition. 

This program is sponsored in part by the historic Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico (www.roadrunnerlodge.com/)the magic of crowdfunding (www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica)