10 Surprising Car Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

With everyone’s chatter about the future of automobiles (cue the iCar buzz), we figured it would be an appropriate time to reflect on how far the automobile industry has come. Taking a stroll — or drive — down memory lane is more interesting than you would think. Prepare to have your mind blown!

1. The “New Car” smell is composed of over 50 volatile organic compounds. Don’t worry. It’s non-toxic. 
2. If you could drive straight up toward the moon, it would take 6 months to get there traveling at a rate of 60 MPH.
3. Up to 19 people can fit into a smart car. Obviously, this is not recommended. 
4. When the car radio was introduced, some states wanted to ban it, arguing that it could distract drivers and lead to accidents.
5. It’s a criminal offense to drive a dirty car in Russia. That’s one way to motivate you to stay organized!
6. There are more cars than people in Los Angeles.
7. Around the world, 90% of drivers sing at the wheel. Yes, it is a universal commonality to belt “Don’t Stop Believing”.
8. Even though most cars could barely reach 45 MPH at the time, the first speeding ticket was issued in 1902. 
9. The “Dashboard” was originally a piece of wood attached to the front of a horse-drawn carriage that would prevent mud from splattering on the driver as the horse galloped. 
10. The first coin-operated parking meter was installed in Oklahoma City in 1935.