What car has power steering first?
The first production car to offer power steering was the 1951 Chrysler Imperial, a milestone that introduced hydraulic-assisted steering to mass production. While engineers had tinkered with assistive steering concepts earlier, Chrysler’s 1951 model cemented power steering as a practical option for everyday driving.
To understand how this came to be, we look at the early experiments, the leap to production, and how the technology evolved into the hydraulic, electric, and hybrid systems that drivers see on today’s vehicles.
Origins and the first production milestone
Power steering reduces the effort required to turn the steering wheel, especially at low speeds. Its development involved several experiments before it reached the showroom floor. The breakthrough most historians cite is Chrysler’s 1951 Imperial, which was equipped with a hydraulic power-assisted steering system designed by engineers at the company. This marked the first time a car from a major manufacturer offered power steering as an option in volume production.
Key moments in the journey from concept to showroom include early engineering work on hydraulic and electric assist and the rapid adoption by other manufacturers in the 1950s and beyond. Below is a concise timeline of milestones that shaped how steering assistance became a standard feature.
Before listing the major milestones, note that this overview focuses on production-vehicle milestones and the broad shift toward widespread availability rather than every experimental prototype that never reached the market.
- Early experimentation with steering assistance occurred in the mid-20th century, with engineers exploring hydraulic and electro-hydraulic concepts as a way to reduce steering effort.
- 1951 — The Chrysler Imperial becomes the first production car to offer hydraulic power steering, marking the start of power-assisted steering in mass production.
- 1950s–1960s — Other automakers begin offering power steering options, and various hydraulic schemes are refined; the technology gradually spreads across brands and body styles.
These milestones illustrate how power steering moved from experimental concepts to a nearly universal feature in cars over the following decades, reshaping how drivers interact with their vehicles.
How power steering works and its evolution
Today’s steering systems come in three broad categories that evolved from the original hydraulic approach: hydraulic power steering (HPS), electric power steering (EPS), and electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS). Each uses a different method to provide assist, with implications for efficiency, feel, and packaging.
In brief, modern systems typically fall into these types:
- Hydraulic Power Steering (HPS): A pump, typically driven by the engine, supplies hydraulic pressure to assist the steering rack or gear. It was the standard for decades after its 1951 introduction.
- Electric Power Steering (EPS): An electric motor provides assist, controlled by sensors and an onboard computer. EPS is common today due to efficiency, packaging, and precise control.
- Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering (EHPS): A hybrid approach that uses electric pumps with hydraulic actuation for certain applications, aiming to combine benefits of both systems.
EPS has become dominant in many segments for its efficiency and tunable steering feel, while hydraulic systems still linger in some trucks, heavy equipment, and performance applications where feel and load compensation are prioritized.
Additional context and industry impact
Chrysler’s introduction of hydraulic power steering in 1951 set off a cascade of developments across the automotive industry. By the 1960s and 1970s, other manufacturers offered power steering as standard or widely available options, helping to redefine vehicle design—especially for larger cars that benefited most from steering assistance. The move also influenced consumer expectations, as drivers began to equate modern steering with ease of handling rather than sheer manual effort.
Summary
In summary, the 1951 Chrysler Imperial is recognized as the first production car to offer power steering, ushering in an era where steering effort could be substantially reduced. Over subsequent decades, the technology evolved from hydraulic systems to electric and hybrid configurations, making power steering a ubiquitous feature across nearly all segments of modern automobiles.
