The modern world is full of transport machines from small Nano to elite cars like Ferrari, science of harmonics or Vaastu can play a good role. Our ancient Shaastra also mention vehicles in different forms and types. There were basically three types of transport.

(1) Surface.
(2) Water transport.
(3) Aviation transport

Chariots are the examples of surface transport. According to Puraan several types of machines were used for making chariots. In 31st chapter of Samaraangan Sootradhaar --
"Tasya Beejam Chaturdasyat khitiraponalo nilah,
Asrayatvena Chaitesa vijaya Dapyu payujyate"

The chariots that run on surface or roads are called Ras Yantra. "Ras" signifies nectar in Sanskrit. It also refers to fusion of chemicals. If it would have been "Ashwa" or horse then the word should have been "Ashwakat". There are many places in epics that mention that a "Drutgaamee" or Super-speed "Rath" or chariot was used. It seems that horses were not the only source of transport in those days.

--In Raamaayan, Nal, used chariots that were faster than mind and heart. Only Nal knew this art.
--In Rig Ved Ashwinee Kumaar used chariots that ran on water and land. It seems that something else was used in place for horses, for these kinds of Chariots.
--"Yantra" also refers to a mechanical or robotical form or figurines. May be, robots fuelled by some chemicals were used as mode of transport.
--In "Yuddh Kaand" of Raamaayan Rishi Vaalmeeki writes in a dialog between Raam and Vibheeshan - "Is that huge human shape (Kumbhkaran) is a robot made in the factory of Raavan?" He hereby is referring to some kind of "Yantra Manushya" and is wondering whether the huge body of "Kumbhkarn" is a kind of robot. In Samaraangan Sootradhaar Yantra powered by fire are mentioned and today we have devised the same.

Water transport, for example boats, are mentioned in our Shaastra but huge ships are not mentioned. It seems that some of them were aware of using same "Yantra" on land and water - a single machine with dual mode of transport. It is been mentioned in Rig Ved in reference to Ashwinee Kumaar.

Aviation was a popular mode of transport and mentioned everywhere in our Shaastra. Bharadwaaj Muni mentioned the same in his "Vimaan Shaastra". It has also been discussed in Samraangan Sootradhaar.

It is been mentioned that Mercury was used a fuel for these vehicles. Technically Mercury is a highly sensitive to heat and there is a very acute possibility of the same. But Shaastra mention the same at many points.

In "Vaimaanikee" every detail has been given about "Vimaan" (airplane). The types of aviation vehicles, types and qualities of a pilot etc are mentioned in these classics. Sunlight was used in place of an ignition plug and its fuel could be reused.

"Pushpak Vimaan" was also mentioned in Raamaayan. These aircrafts could be controlled by mental energies as well. This has been mentioned in the Shaastra.

In "Mayamatta", war crafts have been defined. It explains how sunlight can be used as a weapon against a enemy. Precise proportions are mentioned in Vaimaanikee and it seems that Vastu was utilized in formation of these vehicles.

Today vehicles are just made on commercial level and they are used by the masses. Still there are vehicles which create mass appeal and I always wonder what leads to the same. "Maruti 800" was one such car which still carries a good resale and had a mass appeal. Money and facilities might be the cause as well but there are other subtle reasons which are still unclear.

I still believe that "Rath" or vehicles carry certain maths which resonates with the rider, only then vehicles will be utilized to its full potential. This applies to general mode of transport like buses or trains as well. May be, they carry subtle maths which resonates to general population.

My Note
I have read only two types of transport methods apart from the animals - horses, elephants, donkeys etc; they are Rath and Vimaan.

Rath -
Sometimes these Rath, might not be of the same shape and size as we perceive them today as per our modern knowledge because in those books those Rath have been described in other ways too. There maybe several types of Rath -
--there was Krishn's Rath which used to come to Him when He remembered it and was equipped with all kinds of weapons and it used to come almost instantly. But there are instances when Krishn's Rath did not move instantly and He could not reach the place at the right time.
--one Rath was used by kings to ride on, such as one may find on which Raajaa Dasharath went to Mithilaa,
--there was one Rath used by Meghnaad for war (in which he they could fly in sky and and fight),
--at the same time there were those ordinary Rath in which warriors fought in MBH war in Kurukshetra

Vimaan -
Vimaan word clearly indicates that it was an air craft, not the land transport. They also seem so much different in their objective, size and shape and facilities. There are a few Vimaan description available in scriptures -
--Pushpak Vimaan, used by Kuber, Raavan and Raam; which could fly with the speed of mind, but at the same time Raamaayan says that it took three days to reach Bharadwaaj's Aashram. These two pieces of information contradict so much.... Why? Because modern railways are even much much faster than it
--Saubh Vimaan used by Shaalv was a very special one.
--Three early Daitya brothers, Taarakaaksh, Kamalaaksh and Vidyunmaalee had three huge huge Vimaan, they say like cities. made of gold, silver and iron. They had all kinds of facilities and they lived in them for years together. Can somebody imagine what kind of Vimaan they must have been?