Plastics In Automotive: Moving The World With Plastics
Author: PHoF Historical Committee
Lead Researcher: Chuck DiMeglio
Featured Hall of Fame Member: George Victor Sammet
In the early days of the automobile, cars were exciting but difficult and even dangerous to use. One major problem was starting the engine. Cars relied on a hand crank made of heavy iron. Drivers had to stand in front of the vehicle and manually turn the crank to start the engine. If the engine kicked back, the crank could spin violently and cause serious injury. This was not rare—people were hurt, and in one well-known case, Byron Carter died after his jaw was broken by a crank. Early cars also used metal, wood, and rubber for many under-the-hood parts, which struggled to manage heat and vibration.
A Safer Future Through Innovation
Plastics changed everything. Early plastics, made from natural resins combined with chemistry, offered properties no traditional material could match. Charles Kettering’s electric starter eliminated the need for hand cranking, making cars safer and opening the door for mass adoption. Around the same time, innovators like George Victor Sammet developed Roxite, an early plastic made from fossil plant resin. Roxite could be molded into thin, heat-resistant housings for ignition and starter systems. It flowed easily into molds, held brass inserts firmly, and did not soften under engine heat—something metal and rubber struggled to do efficiently. Plastics made it possible to produce dependable parts quickly and at scale.
The Birth of Plastic Automotive Components
From those early breakthroughs to today’s lightweight, high-performance vehicles, plastics have helped make transportation safer, more efficient, and more accessible. What started as a solution to a dangerous hand crank grew into a material that continues to move the world forward—quietly, reliably, and with innovation at its core.
References
- American Chemistry Council. (2023). Report: More plastics used in automobiles improving fuel efficiency, safety and performance. https://www.americanchemistry.com/chemistry-in-america/news-trends/press-release/2023/report-more-plastics-used-in-automobiles-improving-fuel-efficiency-safety-and-performance
- Starter (engine). (n.d.). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starter_(engine)
- Charles F. Kettering. (n.d.). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_F._Kettering
- Hagerty Media. (n.d.). Electric starter’s inventor Kettering was no crank. https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/electric-starters-inventor-kettering-was-no-crank/
- Overland Automobile. (n.d.). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overland_Automobile
- Sammet, G. V. (n.d.). Plastic Pioneer Tapes: George Victor Sammet. [Historical transcript].
- Sammet, G. V. (n.d.). NIC history speech to the NIC 25‑year employee club. [Unpublished speech].
