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100 years later- look closely-not AI

CharonPDX

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Heck, a couple days after I took delivery in 2022, I was in a parking lot, and this fine fellow pulled in next to me to get a picture of his "old" with my "new".

Rivian R1T R1S 100 years later- look closely-not AI IMG_7830


(I was pulling out of the parking spot when he started waving at me, wanting me to park again to get the photo.)
 
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Swiszo

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Heck, a couple days after I took delivery in 2022, I was in a parking lot, and this fine fellow pulled in next to me to get a picture of his "old" with my "new".

IMG_7830.webp


(I was pulling out of the parking spot when he started waving at me, wanting me to park again to get the photo.)
Very nice, can you imagine if the person who first drove the car on the right could see the car on the left in person???? Thanks for the pic
 

Rivian R2D2

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Wow, didn’t know Rivian made a gas model 100 years ago.

Joke. Amaizing to see those still on the streets, hardly see classic cars anymore much less antique.

Good find!
 

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cbrcanuck

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Heck, a couple days after I took delivery in 2022, I was in a parking lot, and this fine fellow pulled in next to me to get a picture of his "old" with my "new".

IMG_7830.webp


(I was pulling out of the parking spot when he started waving at me, wanting me to park again to get the photo.)
I remember when you first posted that picture way back when. I've thought of it every time I drive by something similar in my R1T, always hoped to be able to get a picture close to one too but it hasn't happened yet!
 

Redmond Chad

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Thanks for posting, I love these things.

In 1909, Seattle held an "Alaska Yukon Pacific" Exposition that drew 3.7 million people. It was held on land that is now part of the University of Washington; in fact a couple of the exposition buildings are still a part of U.W.

As part of the event, there was a Model T race from New York to Seattle. (I think it took about a month back then). The finishers lined up around U.W.'s Drumheller Fountain. There is a lot of stuff online about the exposition, and many pictures of the fountain from 1909, but unfortunately I can't find a photo with the cars there.

There was a 100th anniversary event in 2009, including a bunch of Model T's (and similar vehicles of the era) that drove from New York to Seattle and once again lined up around the fountain. Along the way, they stopped at Coulon Beach Park in Renton to meet up with some electric vehicle drivers from the Seattle Electric Vehicle Association. We drove our cars with them to Drumheller Fountain.

My wife came with me, and had her camera, and took a photo at the fountain. But for some reason, while I can find photos of that day, I can't find the one at the fountain. Here's the best I can do, one of some of the EVs (two conversions, a Tesla Roadster, and my 2003 RAV4 - there were others, just not in the photo) and one of some of the Model Ts when we first met up (there were a lot of them! And I guess you can make out the Roadster in this photo, so they are near each other):

Rivian R1T R1S 100 years later- look closely-not AI ModelTs

Rivian R1T R1S 100 years later- look closely-not AI EVs


I also had my Roadster on display at the Portland Auto Show a couple of years. One of those years - I think it was 2011 - my car was next to a Baker Electric; I think it was a 1912. I can't find that photo either.
 
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Luxus

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I'm sure some of you guys know this already but way back when the auto industry was first born, there were electric cars. Along with some other power sources like steam. It was a wild time.
 

Redmond Chad

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Indeed - like the 1912 Baker Electric I was next to in Portland. Back in the day they had all sorts of things - personal and commercial EVs, home charging stations, battery swapping stations, etc.

In fact at some point - I dare say around 1909 - EVs had the greatest market share. Although a lot of people were rooting for steam, because while there were no gas stations or EV charging stations, people knew how to get fuel for steam engines.

If you are interested in how gasoline vehicles came to win out, an excellent resource is the Pulitzer-winning "The Prize [The Epic Quest for Money, Oil and Power]" by Daniel Yergin. It's long, and covers a lot of other territory, but I found it to be a great read.
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