Just as topical today, this early advert for a new asphalt surface that covered potholes was crucial to a new road building programmePhotograph: English HeritageArgyll's Car Showroom, London in 1905, which featured a lift to the rooftop where cars were taken for 'grooming'Photograph: National Motor Museum/English HeritageThis petrol station in Essex was built by the AA in 1919-20 – one of the first in Great BritainPhotograph: The Automibile Association/English HeritagePreston Bus Station and Car Park, which was built in the 60s is now a Grade II listed buildingPhotograph: Alun Bull/English HeritageThis early filling station on the Euston Road in London is recognisable by the petrol pumps, but the uniformed attendant and sense of space seem odd todayPhotograph: Bedford Lemere & Co/English HeritageTraffic seen at Wellington Arch and Hyde Park Corner in 1930Photograph: English HeritageThe Ford factory at Dagenham opened in 1931 and was the largest car factory in EuropePhotograph: English HeritageA policeman controls traffic in London in 1960 before traffic lights and roundabouts came in to regular usePhotograph: English HeritageThe Esso filling station on the A6, Leicester is one of the few surviving buildings commissioned from industrial designer Eliot Noyes by MobilPhotograph: Steve Cole/English HeritageCoventry Inner Ring Road built between 1962 and 1974 is one of the most highly developed and tightly drawn inner ring roads of any city in EnglandPhotograph: English Heritage