Many people know that Henry Ford's introduction of the Model T automobile in the early 1900's revolutionized transportation and American industry.

What many may not know is that on this date in history, June 4, 1896, Ford test-drove his first car.

If you come visit Hendrick Durham Auto Mall and check out our new accessories display, you might be amazed at how well and how inexpensively you can accessorize your vehicle -- from wheels, to satellite radio, to floor mats and custom consoles. You also might be struck by just how far motor vehicles and the automotive industry have evolved since that summer day in Detroit 112 years ago.

Ford's vehicle that day was quite plain and primitive by today's standards. Known as the Quadricycle, it essentially was nothing more than a frame fitted with four bicycle wheels and was powered by a small, one-cylinder internal-combustion engine that Ford had constructed on his kitchen table.

The Quadricycle was not the first working motor vehicle in history -- coming 10 years after Carl Benz had patented the first gasoline automobile in Germany, three years after the Duryae Brothers' first automobile and three months after Charles King became the first driver of a gasoline automobile in Detroit. But it made for a milestone moment nonetheless.

Although the vehicle stalled from ignition trouble after running successfully for only a few blocks, Ford reportedly could not have been more overjoyed. That short ride laid the foundation for the Model T, which is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile -- the car that "put America on wheels."

Now, here we are, 112 years later. Vehicles come in all shapes and sizes. They have air-conditioning, power locks and windows. They are built in huge, expensive factories by a very large workforce. There also are accessories galore: 22-inch rims, running boards, billet grilles, remote starting systems, just to name a few.

There's also been a move by many people back toward the 1-cylinder engine as gas prices rise toward the $4-per-gallon mark. None are built on kitchen tables or backyard workshops, but the fruit of Ford's labor is evident.

Labels: Chevrolet Durham Automotive, Hendrick Chevrolet First Ride, Hendrick Chevrolet New Accessories, Hendrick Chevrolet Satellite Radio, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, Rick Chevrolet Carl Benz .