First Cars with Air Conditioning: A Brief History

A car without an air conditioning system? Simply unimaginable for people these days. It comes as a standard in almost all vehicles manufactured across the world today. However, this was not the case during the earlier days of automobile manufacturing. When did cars get air conditioning? Do you want to know about the first cars with air conditioning?

When Was Air Conditioning Invented for Cars?

Automakers started manufacturing motor vehicles for commercial purposes at the end of the 19^th century. But those vehicles were open-bodied, so the makers did not think of adding anything for air circulation. Close-bodied vehicles made their debut around 1908. Since then, inventors began their quest to develop a functional cooling system for automobiles.

However, consumers had to wait until 1939 when the luxury New York manufacturer Packard developed the first functioning and practical AC system for motor vehicles.

first cars with air conditioning — Packard company was the first to introduce AC in their cars. (Photo source: timetoast)

Packard made the first air conditioned car although it was an optional extra. Had any customer wanted it, a third-party company named Bishop and Babcock Co. installed the system into the car.

Unfortunately, Packard’s ‘weather conditioner’ failed to gain commercial success due to its high price tag. Also, the machine has mechanical issues and needs frequent servicing. The company discontinued it in 1941.

First Cars With Air Conditioning: A Brief History

You now know about the first car with AC, but when was air conditioning put in cars at a mass level?

Aftermarket AC system became highly popular after World War II. Many independent manufacturers took this job of fitting aftermarket air cons into all makes of vehicles. These units were still pricey but there was a cheaper option known as a car cooler.

Car air conditioning systems have gained even more popularity in the next decade. Several big automakers, including General Motors, stepped up to take the business away from independent manufacturers. They offered it as an extra option.

However, GM made the air con a standard feature in almost all of their models in 1953, and Nash and Pontiac followed the trend the next year. The groundbreaking step was created in 1954 with the Ambassador model. This is the result obtained after Nash merged with Kelvinator in 1937. Named All Weather Eye, the air conditioning system on the Nash Ambassador is located in the front and is not only more compact and cheaper but also significantly lighter than systems with the old approach. Specifically, All Weather Eye weighs only about 60kg – half that of many contemporary systems.

After this success, several other manufacturers followed suit in the next few years. Sales of car AC units highly increased in the ’60s. Cadillac changed the game by bringing an AC control system for the first time in 1964. The setting allowed changing the car temperature to a preferred temperature.

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A Setback in the 70s

With technological advancements, people have also been becoming aware of their hostile effects on the environment. The adversarial impact of air conditioning became a big talking point in the 70s.

It brought down air con’s popularity a bit, and many consumers chose not to have it in their cars. People growing up in the 70s may still remember the sticky feeling of vinyl seats on hot summer days.

A scientific study showed that CFCs (used in air conditioning units) are harmful to the protective ozone layer. The debate around this discovery was threatening to the automobile industry. Fortunately, the automakers were more flexible, and they were willing to accept an alternative rather than be adamant about using CFCs.

Carmakers developed R134a, a more environment-friendly substitute for the R12. The older refrigerant is highly detrimental to the ozone layer and the environment in general. When R12 was banned in 1996, the automobile industry was not much affected because it already had an alternative.

when did cars get air conditioning — Fortunately, there is an alternative for R12. (Photo Source: autoblog)

With the alternative refrigerant and continuous technological and design improvements, the automobile industry never had to face a massive setback. The car sales rate has been steady for many years, and almost all of them have air conditioning pre-installed.

The debate over the harmful effects of air conditioning refrigerants is still alive. Many people are cautious about the use of motor vehicles because of the pollutants they release into the environment. The invention of electric cars and several other measures for reducing pollution are responses to address those concerns. However, the future of air-conditioned automobiles is still bright.

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The Bottom Line

So, now you know about the first cars with air conditioning and a brief history of the cooling system in automobiles.

It seems that it took more than 40 years for the air con to be a common feature since the Packard AC system. It became standard in American vehicles through the 60s, but Europe was a bit slow to catch on.

first car with ac — It took more than 40 years for the air con to be a common feature. (Photo Source: imgur)

It is not an exaggeration to say that without air conditioning, cars could not become as popular as they are today. Without Willis Carrier’s invention, car users would struggle to survive when driving through places with harsh weather conditions, let alone be comfortable or enjoying trips in every journey. An air conditioning system was more like a feature for luxury and premium cars in Europe, even during the early millennium years.

Fun Fact: Less than one-third of European cars had air conditioning as a standard in the early 2000s.

However, the European scenario has changed in the last decade. Currently, all cars, except for the ones at the low-budget spectrum, have the system pre-installed as a standard feature.