Did You Know?

There were an estimated 3.6 million motor vehicle-related injuries in the United States in 2002.

According to data reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 3.3 million of these injuries involved motor vehicle occupants. The rest involved about 130,000 pedestrians, 114,000 motorcyclists, and 59,000 pedal cyclists.

There were 62,245,422 number of vehicle registrations in 1960, by the year 2000 there were137,967,488 

2001 had 6,322,896 Total Crashes, 3,032,672 Injuries and 42,116 Deaths

In 1960 the average miles per gallon for passenger vehicles was 14.3, in 2000 it was 21.9 mpg.

In 1960 there were only 300 toll booths--in 2000 there were an astounding 4,900

42 Million used cars were sold in 2004, 1.6 million of these were certified used cars.

The last Oldsmobile was produced April 29, 2004--The 2004 Cherry Red Alero was signed by the 4500 employees of the Lansing, Mi plant. It's now on display at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum.

In 1985 there were 43,825 traffic fatalities in the U. S., 23,168 of these were alcohol related. In comparison, 1997 had 35,725 with 14,051 alcohol related.

There were 87,252,563 licensed drivers in 1960-- In 2000 there were 190,625,023

A 1953 Buick Roadmaster that once belonged to Howard Hughes sold for 1.62 million dollars at the Barrett-Jackson auto auction on April 2, 2005.

The original Batmobile was the 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car.

 Photo courtesy of Eric Seltser and his web site http://www.1966batmobile.com/home.htm

In 1960 there were 3,545,693 miles of streets and highways in the U.S.  In the year 2000 there were 3,936,229.

Average Cost (Per Mile) of Owning and Operating an Automobile--1975= .14 per mile---2001 =. 50 per mile ( Includes gas, oil, maintenance, tires etc)

In 1961 the United States produced 48% of the worlds passenger vehicles, by 2004 this number had dropped to only 10%.

In 1968 Mattel introduced the first line of 16 custom fantasy cars which we know today as Hot Wheels.

Elvis Presley purchased his first Cadillac in March 1955, the pink and white 54 Cadillac later went up in smoke due to a brake lining that caught on fire. (Wonder if he filed a lemon law suit)

Elvis Presley and his 1960 Series 75 Fleetwood Limousine--Photo courtesy of Elvis's Cadillacs Web Site

Dale Earnhardt was the 27th driver to die at Daytona International Speedway since the track opened in 1959.

The rock band REO Speedwagon took its name from the Reo Speed-Wagon, a truck manufactured by the REO automobile company. ("R.E.O." are initials of the company's founder, Ransom Eli Olds, who also founded the Oldsmobile)

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