Archive for December, 2010
History Of Car Hire Model T To Sat-Nav
The introduction of the Ford Model T as the first mass produced car is closely linked with the car hire industry. A mere eight years after the first Ts rolled of the production line an enterprising Nebraskan businessman called Joes Saunders started a car hire firm with one car. The main focus of his business was the travelling salesman market although his first customer is believed to be a man who wished to take a girl out on a date.
Two years after this original foray a young entrepreneur Walter L. Jacobs started a company in the Chicago area. The car rental firm was founded with a dozen Model Ts with Jacobs carrying out all of the repair and maintenance work himself. The success of this business was outstanding and within five years it is believed that it was generating an annual income of one million US dollars.
The success of Jacobs’ car rental company did not go unnoticed by investors; most notably John Hertz. Hertz already owned the ‘Yellow Cab and Truck Hire Company’ and used his funds to buy out Jacobs’ car hire firm. Hertz himself was then bought out by the General Motors Company who rebranded the company as the ‘Hertz DriveUrSelf System’. Hertz is still a major player in the car rental industry and most probably the company with the most history.
The early years of the car hire industry were dogged by involvement with organised crime. The Prohibition years saw bootleggers and robbers frequently using car firms for ‘jobs’ and led to the industry gaining a poor reputation with the public. The ending of Prohibition allowed the industry the freedom to distance themselves from the criminal fraternity and rebuild a respectable reputation.
The expansion of the American rail network acted to bolster the car hire industry for a number of years. Purely rental car parking was created at some stations to further entice customers mainly due to Railway companies heavily investing in franchises. Rail companies also started to create a service where customers could order a hire car in advance of their arrival at stations using the telegraph network.
In the post war period the car hire industry grew rapidly being linked to another form of transport; in this case however it was no the railroads but instead the rapidly expanding air travel market. Car rental companies began to open franchises at airports to allow passengers vehicular transport at their arrival destination. The term ‘flydrive’ became popular and supplied a service to tourists and businessmen alike.
Competition in the car hire industry since this time became fierce with many companies employing aggressive advertising campaigns with the help of the airlines themselves. Today airports are still a major source of revenue for companies with desks filling many arrival lounges.
The modern era of car leasing has seen companies face increasing competition from improved public transportation links. Most major airports now have a direct rail link with their host cities while coach and bus companies allow travellers to reach almost any destination once they have left the airport. Businessmen are still integral to the industry as much as it was for Saunders’ original firm while the innovation of ‘flydrive’ holidays has opened a wider market.
Car hire companies are increasingly employing satellite navigation systems in their cars making travel easier for customers. The addition of hightech security systems such as fingerprint scanners have also been employed to secure fleets. For companies to survive in this highly competitive industry they must be innovative and provide a service that is unrivalled. With prices increasingly forced down by rivals the customer now faces possibly the widest choice ever in the history of the industry.
About the writer: Historian Thomas Pretty looks into the history and development of the car hire industry. To find out more please visit http://www.budget.co.uk/
Have You Thought About Upgrading Your Car?
Everyone has different needs and requirements when it comes to a car. For some an old car has character and is infinitely better to drive around in compared to a brand new model which has just rolled off the forecourt. But no matter what age your car might be you would be amazed at how many things you can do to personalise it a bit more.
Upgrading certain parts or features on your car is one way that you can make it uniquely yours. One of the simplest and most common ways to do this is to install a stereo system inside. Some people make do with the speakers that are already built into the car but other people like to add extra ones in.
One of the best places to do this is to cut holes in the rear parcel shelf. This will enable you to add the extra speakers in quickly and easily and all the associated wiring will also be neatly hidden from view.
But there are lots of other things you can do as well. A lot of drivers choose to change the wheels on their car to get a different look. Alloy rims are very popular and can make a big difference to its appearance.
You only need to take a look at some of the vehicles parked in streets near you to see how many ways there are to customise and upgrade your own car. But if you are new to this you might struggle to find a place to start. Just how many things could you do to your car if you had the money?
A good place to start your research is online. Depending on the make and model of your car you may have different options available so find out all you can and see what other people have done as well. A good option is to visit the website of a company which sells parts for your particular car. That way you can see what they have available and ask whether they have experience of selling parts to people for the purpose of upgrading. Moreover they should be able to tell you what the most popular ways of upgrading are for your car
You should also bear in mind that this process can also affect the insurance for your vehicle. You may need or want to upgrade that too in order to protect your improvements. Insurance for cars is available in both third party and fully comprehensive and the latter may be the best choice when you have finished doing all your improvements.
Whatever you decide to do it is clear that you can get the ideal car even if you dont buy it from scratch.
About the writer: Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote but should be considered professional content.
Gmc Body Kitssteps For A Stylish Vehicle
There will come a time in our lives when we will abhor the common and strive through our own creativity to be different. But how do you make your GMC truck different among the rest? Simple get a GMC body kit.
Getting a GMC body kit will surely make your vehicle look cooler and more stylish. The demand for body kits have grown and more and more people are gearing towards self expression using their cars as medium. Body kits are exterior modifications of cars and can instantly make a car more stylish and personalized.
Body kits are usually composed of four parts: one front bumper a pair of sideskirts and one rear bumper. Body kits are made of either urethane or fiberglass and each body kit is created to suit one specific model.So if you are going to order a body kit you absolutely have to make sure that it fits the model and exact specifications of your vehicle. Otherwise you will be wasting good money.
As mentioned body kits are either made of urethane or fiberglass. Body kits that are made of urethane are highly resistant to damage and cracks especially during the cold months. Keep in mind that though urethane is highly resistant to damage once it breaks it can never be repaired. Fiberglass on the other hand is a very good material. But unlike metal it can easily be damaged. Fiberglass however unlike urethane can be repaired. If you live in a place that has snow or bumpy roads go for urethane because of its endurance but if you live in an area where the weather is decent and the road is smooth it will be a wise choice to go for fiberglass.
After you have ordered and when you have finally received the GMC body kit you have been waiting for it is now time to install it. If you think you cannot install the body kit by yourself then it wont hurt a little to seek the help of a body shop. Body shops know the business of installing body kits for a hefty price. If you want to avoid body shops at all cost and you still cant install and paint the body kit all by yourself your last option would be to look for a vendor who advertises its body kits as personal projects not requiring the expensive aid of a professional body shop.
Body kits are huge investments follow these simple reminders to ensure you will be getting the value of your money and a vehicle that will rock the highway!
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Andrew Barker is a writer and car enthusiast who values creativity and imagination over the standardized. Andrew Barker is also the well known owner of i love body kits.
You can find the latest in GMC body kits at I love body kits.