The humble 4x4 started in France when manufacture Latil began making front wheel drive vehicles and then making the natural shift to 4x4s before the turn of the century. The first 4x4s were tractors and gun tractors.
1900 – 1910
A lot happened during this time frame – the first battery powered vehicle is brought out with a battery powering each wheel. This was later expanded to a petrol engine driving a dynamo and electric motors to power the wheels but it was too expensive and didn’t take off.
The Spyker was built, making the first full-time four wheel drive car to be created. Caldwell Vale 4x4 trucks were created by Felix and Norman Caldwell, introducing trucks with four wheel drive and four wheel steering.
1911 – 1920
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Co (FWD) was launched and started selling 4x4 vehicles. During World War One there was a huge increase in the amount of four wheel drive, all-terrain vehicles being manufactured. Jeffery Quad started producing 4x4 trucks, the Big Lizzie was launched in 1915 and the first Oshkosh four wheel drive truck was made.
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