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To much of the world, the United States is still a relatively young country. Barely over two hundred in political age, this country is much younger in terms of having a coherent, overall culture that can be defined and recognized by outsiders. This is partly because of the melting pot nature of the country — with so many immigrants bringing traditions from elsewhere, figuring out what is distinctly American took time.

The twentieth century was a watershed in defining Americana . A huge factor in that is the American love affair with the automobile. The wide open spaces and sprawling metropolises that characterize the US were instrumental in making the automobile so important. They were also formed, in part, by the widespread adoption of cars. More than any other nation, Americans bought cars — outfitting them for families, businesses, farmers, and general use. They even adapted them for sport, using american racing wheels to turn a regular car into a street racer.

Everything associated with the automobile has also become a part of Americana by default. American highways, truck stops, and unique road side attractions are easily distinguishable from those in other countries. Likewise the huge variety of vehicle brands available not to mention that there are dozens of brands of accessories and tires (choose from goodyear, michelin, firestone, or nitto tires ). Movies about cars, songs about cars, and entire magazines and websites devoted to nothing else.