Celebrating Influential African Americans who helped shape the Auto Industry

February is Black History Month and we at McLarty Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat take pride in America’s diversity. That’s what America is all about: giving and sharing in the remarkable achievements of Americans of different races, nationalities, and cultures. In the celebratory spirit of Black History Month, McLarty Daniel wants to spotlight a few African-Americans who have been inspirational and influential in America’s automotive history.

Charlie Wiggins (1897- 1979)

Charles Wiggins started his own automotive garage in Indianapolis shortly after World War I, and had a great interest in the newly organized sport of auto-racing. He went on to build his own race car out of spare parts, and named it “the Wiggins Special.” Although segregation laws didn’t allow African Americans to race in the Indianapolis 500, Wiggins and other black race car drivers formed their own motor racing league. Their Gold and Glory Sweepstakes was a yearly 100-mile race for African American drivers on a one-mile dirt track at the Indiana state fairgrounds. It was the start of a long struggle for Wiggins, who battled for equality in the sport of motor racing for the rest of his professional life.

George Washington Carver (1864-1943)

Born to former slaves in Missouri, the world-famous botanist became a major figure in modern botany and biology for discovering a variety of ways to utilize the peanut. His research and innovative work led to Carver collaborating with Ford Motor Company in its early beginnings to create sustainable biofuels, synthetic rubber, and made many contributions to bio-energy science, furthering bio-energy innovations that continue to this day.

C.R. Patterson (1833-1910)

Considered the founder of the world’s first and only African-American-owned automobile company, the C.R Patterson & Sons Company, Patterson made important early strides for Black inventors and entrepreneurs. Born into slavery in West Virginia, Patterson escaped to Ohio in 1862, where he went into business with a white partner, J.P. Lowe, a local carriage manufacturer. Their company produced more than 28 different types of horse-drawn vehicles. Patterson continued with the business when Lowe died, and renamed it to C.R. Patterson & Sons Company. By 1910, the company had designed and manufactured a gas-powered “horseless carriage” called the Greenfield-Patterson. The company produced around 150 cars in several styles until the company stopped making vehicles in 1918.

Richard B. Spikes (1878–1963)

The pioneering African-American engineer Richard B. Spikes made innovative contributions that are still helping shape automotive and highway safety today, with Sparks using his mechanical knowledge and foresight to make early driving safer for motorists. Though turn signals are required on every modern car, they didn’t exist until Spikes patented the technology for a light-up automobile turn signal in 1913. Spikes went on to patent many more inventions that still assist in keeping people safe today, including a safety brake he invented in 1963 that was used in public school buses. Spikes’ other famous invention, still helping keep our cars looking great, is the automatic drive-through car wash.

These strong innovative Americans guided the evolution of the modern automobile and shaped the American character through their dedication to hard work. We at McLarty Daniel CDJRF in Springdale are very proud of this American tradition of dedication and hard work, and strive to carry on that great American character. When you’re ready to purchase your new vehicle, come visit your friends at McLarty Daniel and let us assist you. As always, we look forward to serving you!

Click To Contact McLarty Daniel Sales Team

 

Posted in Automotive History | No Comments »