Made famous by the S-class
Forty-five years ago you could order ABS as an expensive option on the then Mercedes S-class. Was that the first car with ABS? That was the first with the Bosch system, but in 1966 the Jensen Interceptor FF also had ABS. It was all there sooner than many think.
Coming to a stop with locked wheels is no longer an option with new cars thanks to the anti-lock braking system (ABS). For the first ideas about ABS, we have to go back to France in 1929. In that year, aviation pioneer Gabriel Voisin introduced a hydraulic system for aircraft. Remarkable that it stays with that specific application for a long time. That Gabriel Voisin is the same Voisin who is behind the super deluxe car brand Avions Voisin. However, those exclusive cars are never equipped with ABS. The idea of ​​equipping cars with ABS is something that lives in those days. For example, in 1936 Bosch applies for a patent on a mechanical anti-lock braking system. However, due to too much complexity, it never comes to production.
Dunlop also working with ABS
After Voisin and Bosch, Dunlop is also going to work with ABS. The company has been producing the Maxaret aircraft anti-lock braking system since 1952. It is even used on Fokkers F27. In 1958 the system is tested on a Royal Enfield Super Meteor motorcycle and a few years later a Ferguson P99 racing car is also fitted with it. The first motorists will not become acquainted with the Dunlop Maxaret system until 1966. In that year, Jensen presented the Interceptor FF (Ferguson Formula) with permanent four-wheel drive (from the same Ferguson as the P99 racing car) and Dunlop Maxaret.
Porsche secretly buys a Jensen
This car has such impressive driving characteristics that even Porsche secretly orders one through its English representative. The car with chassis number 119/008 is put through its paces from 1967 on the Porsche test track in Weissach. After 3,625 kilometers, the Porsche engineers report a problem with one of the drive shafts, but to keep the secret (espionage) test under wraps, Porsche does not submit a warranty claim. In 1969 the car is sold again in England through a stooge. However, there appears to be nothing wrong with the ABS. Porsche itself is experimenting with systems from Teldix (Telefunken-Bendix) on the 908 and the 917, which is dressed in Martini colours. The 911 celebrating its anniversary at Goodwood will not be fitted with ABS until 1988 as a 964.
Commonplace in America
In 1968, Ford in America delivered the Lincoln Continental Mark III with the Sure Track Brake System anti-lock braking system, an option costing approximately $200 that only operated on the rear wheels. However, the public is not very willing to pay for this security item. Chrysler also notices this, which has been supplying an electronic system from Bendix to the Imperial since 1970. That car may be the first American car with an anti-lock braking system that works on all four wheels, but only 11,569 buyers are willing to pay an extra $ 344 for it. In 1970 Citroën is also about to present ABS, a system from Teldix for the SM. But due to the poor financial situation of the French brand, that introduction is canceled. This seems to close the Teldix book, but in 1973 Bosch takes over Teldix and developments gain momentum. The acquired knowledge and skills result in what becomes available as an option on the Mercedes-Benz S-class in 1978 and then spreads like an oil slick across the car world.
We explain how ABS works in this article. There is also a video where we explain the system.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl