Women Pioneers in the Auto Industry

In celebration of Women’s History Month, McLarty Daniel Ford Lincoln in Bentonville would like to take this moment to share the inspiring stories of a few of the women who helped shape the automotive industry, making great strides for all of us. These true pioneers have made our world a better place.

Mary Anderson, (1866 – 1953)

It can be brutal driving during a rainstorm or in snowy conditions. Can you imagine driving through that muck without windshield wipers?! So let’s all give a big round of applause to Mary Anderson for her wonderful invention. In 1903, Mary invented the first set of windshield wipers for automobiles. The device was a lever inside the vehicle that controlled a rubber blade on the outside of the windshield. The lever, when operated, caused a spring-loaded arm to move back and forth across the windshield. A counterweight was in place to ensure contact between the wiper and the window. The device could be easily removed when not in use. Similar kinds of devices had been made earlier, but Anderson’s was the first device to be effective. She prevented many car accidents and then went on dedicating her life to empowering women in every facet of the business world.

Bertha Benz (1849-1944)

Bertha was the wife of German inventor Carl Benz who, in 1886, created the first gasoline-powered car. Yet, Bertha Benz was a pioneer in her own right. She is the first person to take a long-distance “road trip” in a gas-engine vehicle. To prove the reliability of her husband’s invention, Bertha and her sons took an early prototype of Benz’s car on a then-incredible 120 mile journey in 1888. This first-ever road trip took Bertha 12 hours to complete, traveling from Mannheim to Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In her honor, the Bertha Benz Memorial Route is now a historic route you can travel whenever you’re in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Denise McCluggage (1927-2015)

During the early days of auto racing, nearly all race drivers were men. Denise McCluggage helped change that when she began to race professionally in the late 1950s. She eventually became the fastest American auto racing driver of any gender. As she raced she wore a white helmet with pink dots that had become her trademark. Overall, her racing achievements include winning the grand touring category at Sebring in a Ferrari 250 GT in 1961, and a class win in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964. She also participated in the Nürburgring 1000 km sports car race. After retiring from racing in the late 1960s, McCluggage continued pioneering by becoming one of the few female automotive journalists at AutoWeek magazine.

What an honor to share these stories about these courageous women. Each woman achieved not only for the automotive industry but for women’s equality and making our world a much better place. When you are ready to make your own mark out on the world, let us assist you in making that happen in the vehicle that is perfect for you. Come by McLarty Daniel Ford Lincoln in Bentonville and test drive your future! Hope to see you soon!

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