Goodbye to the Horse-Drawn Carriage.

During the 1910s automobiles rapidly replaced horses. Motorcars appealed to the adventurous and the professional — doctors and businessmen were among the first Americans to buy and drive cars. Over this momentous decade the design of the automobile stayed relatively stable: Henry Ford's Model T, introduced in 1908, set the standard, dominating the market and providing a model for its competitors. The wealthy drove cars that looked much like the Model T but were appointed with fur rugs and fine leather. During the 1910s the big changes in automobiles came in their production and engineering. Technological advances made cars easier to drive and maintain, while assembly innovations made them faster and cheaper to make. As costs came down, car dealers came up with a way to put automobile ownership within reach of virtually any adult: the installment plan.

The Model T.