[jb1986_GM]

Hey guys I was curious does anyone know what GM or any domestic have invented to make our lives in cars better?

I can name a few intermittent wipers (Ford - there is a new movie coming out about this), crash test dummies - GM , air bags - GM.

 

[sigma]

Start here....
http://oldsmobile.com/olds/home_nf/index.html

 

[paul8488]

A movie about intermittent wipers? Looks like 'Gigli' is going to have some competition for worst movie ever!

 

[Bravada]

:fall:

If I had the time, I'd photoshop a movie poster for "Intermittent Wipers"...

 

[mikmak]

Would it include dirty laundry?^^^

 

[Bravada]

Haven't thought about that, not creative enough

I was rather thinking of an epic scene of driving an early 20th century vehicle in the rain operating hand-cranked wipers...

 

[Tone]

Well, I don't know about "invented", but GM introduced the following:

- electric starting
- the modern automatic transmission
- the modern high compression v8
- the catalytic converter

GM also pioneered a lot of technologies that were already in use, but not at the volumes and prices GM needed, included extensive use of aluminum (Corvair engine), air bags (I believe they were an expensive option in some early 70s GM full sized cars), rotary engines (killed by the fuel crisis and scheduled to be used in the Monza), and the development of electric vehicles (the famed EV1)

GM's bread and butter cars may be as dull as dishwater, but there is a serious engineering tradition in the company that rivals any automaker.

 

[GMfan1111]

GM also did make a contribution to the minivan market. The power sliding doors which are a standard item on all minivans were first introduced to the market on GM's first gen minivans in 1994

 

[61BelAir]

Wasn't GM the firsts to use Heads Up Display on the Vettes?

 

[IROCNROL1]

I don't know about making your life better, but quite possibly longer.... energy absorbing steering columns and third brake lights.

 

[nicolet]

Wasn't GM the firsts to use Heads Up Display on the Vettes?

I think you are right....

I have it in my 1998 Park Avenue...I love it!:yup:

 

[eurohazard]

I know GM was the first to have variable valve timing in a pushrod V8 for what that's worth.

OnStar is a pretty big deal IMHO too.....no other auto company launched satellites in sapce!

I think GM was the first with magno-electric shocks/struts.

I want to "look it up"...but that's cheating!

 

[hrcslam]

Night vison HUD (Caddy) and turning headlights.

 

[rig.jockey]

Well, I don't know about "invented", but GM introduced the following:

- electric starting
- the modern automatic transmission
- the modern high compression v8
- the catalytic converter

GM also pioneered a lot of technologies that were already in use, but not at the volumes and prices GM needed, included extensive use of aluminum (Corvair engine), air bags (I believe they were an expensive option in some early 70s GM full sized cars), rotary engines (killed by the fuel crisis and scheduled to be used in the Monza), and the development of electric vehicles (the famed EV1)

GM's bread and butter cars may be as dull as dishwater, but there is a serious engineering tradition in the company that rivals any automaker.

- GM can't claim the electric car, it was around before the model T http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/223/electric-car-timeline.html

- Can't claim the rotary either, Felix Wankel designed it and worked for NSU, a company that was taken over by VW after the rotary engine killed the company http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSU_Motorenwerke_AG... there's the turbine engine for automotive use, but Chrysler came up with that one...

 

[2002 Caddy]

Wasn't GM the firsts to use Heads Up Display on the Vettes?

No it was first on an Oldsmobile too...
You will find most of the GM first and inventions found there first homes in Oldsmobile... The power sliding MiniVan doors were an Oldsmobile first too

 

[Canuck]

Night vison HUD (Caddy) and turning headlights.

Turning headlights were first offered by Tucker not GM.

 

[MCGARRETT]

No it was first on an Oldsmobile too...

Actually it was Pontiac, Pontiac had it on the 1989 ASC-McLaren Turbo Grand Prix, I dont think that Oldsmobile started to offer it until 1990. The Corvette did not get a HUD until at least 1997. The Cadillac STS currently has the only 4 color HUD on the market I believe.

I think the GM was the first to pioneer things like dual zone a/c in the 1991 Buick Park Avenue, Rain sensitive winshield wipers on 1992-93 Cadillacs as well.

 

[Chevyfan101]

Lets not forget they made Disc brakes on full size trucks. Even tho I wasn't alive when they introuduced them.

 

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

Actually it was Pontiac, Pontiac had it on the 1989 ASC-McLaren Turbo Grand Prix, I dont think that Oldsmobile started to offer it until 1990. The Corvette did not get a HUD until at least 1997. The Cadillac STS currently has the only 4 color HUD on the market I believe.

I think the GM was the first to pioneer things like dual zone a/c in the 1991 Buick Park Avenue, Rain sensitive winshield wipers on 1992-93 Cadillacs as well.

I want to say it was on the 1988 Cutlass Supreme, probably the pace-car special since I don't remember it being common.

Still I know Nissan had a HUD by 1990 my aunt had one.

 

[Astra RL]

Electic Starter along with electric lights on a non electric car. 1912 Cadillacs.