During the 1920's, there were three main companies called "The Big Three" that dominated the automobile industry: General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. Because of Henry Ford new, more efficient ways to mass-produce cars, like the assembly line, were found. They proved to be helpful when meeting the high demand for cars. However, after the stock market crashed in 1929 and the Great Depression hit, the production of cars went form 5.3 million in 1929 to under 2.4 million. Because of the decrease in demand for cars in the 1930's, car companies tried to make cars that looked more attractive, meaning an increase in luxury cars being made. This created a new style of cars, called streamline, that influenced the shape of the cars we still have today. Streamlined cars took on a "teardrop shape" making it more aerodynamic. A streamlined car was usually more gas efficient and had a bigger engine. In 1930, U.S. cars were averaged to use 599 gallons of gas per year. The first aerodynamic streamlined car was made by Chrysler and was called the "Airflow". Although the "Airflow" was unpopular on the market due to it being 'ugly', the streamlining technique started to gain fame. Streamlined cars were popular because they became symbols of the modernization of America. The one company that was able to effectively streamline a car and have it sell was Ford. Ford made the Lincoln Zephyr which incorporated the streamlined look while keeping it tasteful. The Lincoln Zephyr was so popular that the model lasted for more than ten years on the market. Because the style was so popular, many companies used the same sleek look of the cars and applied it to their products to appeal to the public. This resulted in simpler furniture and electronics with a teardrop shape.
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