We have very advanced automotive technology like AWD these days to allow us to go off-road, but clearly not all cars can go off-road; how come in old movies you see old cars driving on dirt roads all the time?

Question

Is this just a movie thing? Aside from the lack of comfort, how well did old cars drive on dirt roads, which presumably were everywhere? I can’t imagine they got good traction on those thin wheels, or even produce enough power to push through a bumpy hill, so I’m wondering if there’s something I’m missing here?

In: Technology

Answer 1

This always impressed and baffled me, too!!

I live in the Interior of Alaska and we have an awesome museum dedicated to the different vehicles and other means of conveyance that look more fragile than my 2004 AWD MommyMobile from the mid 1900s.

How did/were they able to successfully drive through terrain that mine can’t?