Go down history lane and learn how America's collision repair industry came to life!
The history of the automobile collision repair industry is closely
intertwined with the history of the automobile industry itself. The first
versions of the automobile began appearing in the late 1800’s. These were
generally homemade and crude creations that were often motorized and modified
horse-buggies. However, some ambitious inventors recognized the potential of
the “horseless carriage.” Soon, vastly improved automobiles began appearing in
France and Germany. These motor vehicles were greatly improved to the point
where they took on the unique characteristics of an automobile as opposed to a
crudely modified farmer’s wagon.
Automobile Evolution
In 1901, Mercedes produced a vehicle that is considered to be the
first of what we now consider to be an automobile. However, the main drawback
to Mercedes and other automobiles made at that time was that they were
essentially made one-at-a-time from scratch. There was no standardization in
the manufacturing process at that time. So, if an automobile broke down or was
damaged, the owner’s only option was to go to the person or company that
manufactured the car for help. The manufacturer in turn, had to have a
replacement part made by a machinist. Obviously, this was a long and costly
process. Fortunately, Henry Ford changed all of that by using his innovative
methods to mass produce the Model T in 1908.
Early Auto Industry Jobs
Then first automobiles were an eccentric toy. Only the rich people
could afford a car as a way to amuse themselves and others. In these early
days, it took a considerable amount of skill and talent to safely operate a
motor vehicle. Therefore, these wealthy people who could afford an automobile
hired competent drivers to chauffer them around. These early drivers also
became proficient in repairing vehicles to ensure job security. However, when
Henry Ford introduced the Model T, the automotive world would change forever.
Automotive Industry Explodes
Henry Ford changed the world with his vision of making automobiles
affordable “to the masses.” With his innovative mass production techniques,
Ford was able to offer the Model T to the public at the affordable price of
$825 in 1908. The Model T was the bestselling automobile period. Henry Ford’s
success in mass producing vehicles to allowed him to streamline his costs and
take advantage of economies of scale to where he could eventually sell a model
T for $575 in 1912. This was about a year’s pay for the average person.
However, owning an automobile could reap enormous financial benefits that far
exceed its cost. Thanks to Henry Ford, the United States produced 485,000 of
the 606,000 motor vehicles that were produced in 1913. Automobile sales
continued to soar until by the 1950’s almost every American family owned at
least one automobile.
Auto Collision and Mechanical Repairs
With the invention of affordable mass produced vehicles, came the
corresponding growth in the need of skilled tradesman to repair and maintain
these vehicles. As more automobiles were produced, there was a healthy growth
in competition between car dealerships and privately owned mechanics shops
seeking to get their share of the emerging and lucrative auto repair business.
However, during the 1930’s, many car owners would take a do-it-yourself
approach to automobile repair. Especially for cosmetic repairs like painting
because many vehicles came from the factory with bad paint jobs. However, all
of this would change as the automobile manufacturers concentrated on improving quality
and attracting new customers. However, the advancements in vehicle technology
would eventually make it hard for the average automobile owner to competently
repair his vehicle.
The Collision Repair Technician v. Mechanic
The complexity of the evolving automobile technology necessitated
the separation of the automobile mechanics from the automobile collision repair
technicians. Today, automotive mechanics deal with a wide variety of power
train issues such as engine and transmission problems. They also deal with
brakes, suspensions, sensors and even auto electrical problems. However, the
auto collision repair technician often repairs almost incomprehensible damage
to the vehicle’s structure. They can make a vehicle that is a mangled mass of
metal look like a new car again.
Highly-Trained Collision Repair Technicians
Today’s collision repair technicians are among the most
highly-trained professionals in the automotive field. Modern vehicles are a
miracle of engineering excellence. Safety is the number one priority of today’s
car manufacturers. Vehicles are designed to fold in and crush on impact during
an accident. The reason for this is that the vehicle itself will take the
impact of a collision instead of the passengers. However, these safer vehicles
are often more challenging to repair because there is a lot more structural
damage to the car. However, today’s auto body collision repair technicians have
state-of the-art training that enables them to efficiently deal with these
kinds of repairs. They work closely with automobile manufacturers to keep
updated on the latest technological updates that will help them serve their
customers better.
