When it comes to the first automobile, many people imagine a primitive steam-powered cart or even a horse-drawn carriage with a motor. But really first real car with a gasoline internal combustion engine appeared only at the end of the 19th century - and its appearance still surprises with its unusualness. It was not a luxury convertible or a powerful sedan: rather, a tricycle with a motor that could barely reach walking speed.
Today we will figure out exactly what it looked like Benz Patent-Motorwagen - a car officially recognized as the first car in the world, what technologies were at its core and why its design became a breakthrough for the entire automotive industry. You will be surprised to learn that this vehicle did not have a steering wheel, brakes in the modern sense, or even doors!
By the way, did you know that the first automobile was patented before the bicycle with a chain drive was invented? And its maximum speed was only 16 km/h - less than a modern electric car on a playground. Let's take a closer look at this unique invention.
Who invented the first car: myths and reality
Many people mistakenly believe that the first car was created by Henry Ford or Gottlieb Daimler. In fact, the official inventor is recognized Karl Benz - a German engineer who, on January 29, 1886, received patent DRP No. 37435 for his brainchild. Interestingly, his wife Bertha Benz played a key role in promoting the invention: it was she who first drove it a significant distance (about 100 km) without her husband’s knowledge, proving the practicality of the car.
But why then is Daimler mentioned so often? The fact is that around the same time he developed a four-wheeled carriage with an internal combustion engine, which later became the prototype for Mercedes-Benz. However, Benz's patent was issued earlier, and it is his model that is considered the first production car.
- 🔧 Karl Benz - official inventor of the first car (patent 1886)
- 🚗 Gottlieb Daimler - created a four-wheeled prototype, but later than Benz
- 👩 Bertha Benz - the first woman to make a long trip by car
- 📜 DRP Patent No. 37435 - a document that secured Benz’s priority
An interesting fact: Benz himself never called his invention a “car.” In the patent it was listed as "Motorwagen" (motor carriage), and the term “car” appeared later, from the French "automobile" - "self-propelled".
Appearance Benz Patent-Motorwagen: detailed analysis
If you're expecting something similar to modern cars, you'll be disappointed. Patent-Motorwagen more like a hybrid of a bicycle, motorcycle and cart. Here are its key visual features:
1. Three-wheel design. Two large rear wheels (about 1.2 m in diameter) and one small front wheel (about 0.7 m in diameter). This scheme was chosen to simplify the steering - instead of a steering wheel, a lever, the turn of which tilted the front wheel.
2. Open body made of wood and metal. The frame was made of steel tubes covered with wood panels. The seat was a simple bench without a back, designed for 1-2 people.
3. Engine side. Single-cylinder four-stroke engine 954 cm³ located horizontally between the rear wheels. Its power was only 0.75 hp (0.55 kW) at 400 rpm!
4. No doors or roof. Passengers sat on top, like on a motorcycle. In rain or snow, the trip turned into an ordeal - no protection from the weather was provided.
5. Chain drive. The movement to the rear wheels was transmitted through a bicycle chain (like modern motorcycles). This was an innovative solution for that time.
| Characteristics | Description |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Length: 2.7 m Width: 1.4 m Height: 1.5 m |
| Weight | Approx. 265 kg (without passengers) |
| Maximum speed | 16 km/h (on flat road) |
| Fuel tank | 4.5 liters of gasoline (enough for ~100 km) |
| Brakes | Only manual band brake on the rear axle |
Unique fact: the first car accident in history happened with Patent-Motorwagen. In 1888, Bertha Benz crashed into a stone wall during her trip because she lost control on a descent. The reason was the weak efficiency of the brakes - they had to be tightened manually, like on a horse-drawn carriage.
Technical innovation ahead of its time
Despite the primitive appearance, Benz Patent-Motorwagen was stuffed with revolutionary solutions for that time. Many of them are still used in cars today!
1. Ignition system. Benz developed electric ignition using a spark plug and battery. Previously, internal combustion engines were ignited with an open flame or a hot tube.
2. Water cooling. The engine had a cooling jacket with thermosiphon water circulation - the predecessor of the modern cooling system.
3. Differential. Although there was no full-fledged cross-axle differential yet, Benz used chain mechanism, allowing the wheels to rotate at different speeds when cornering.
4. Recoil starter. To start the engine, the flywheel had to be turned by hand—a prototype of the modern “crooked starter.”
5. Spring suspension. The rear wheels were equipped with transverse springs to soften impacts on uneven roads.
- ⚡ Electric ignition - instead of open fire
- 💧 Water cooling - prevented overheating
- 🔗 Chain drive - like a bicycle, but for a car
- 🔄 Proto-differential - simplified turns
Interestingly, Benz first wanted to use steam engine, but abandoned this idea due to its bulkiness. The gasoline internal combustion engine turned out to be more compact and efficient - this decision determined the development of the entire automotive industry.
If Benz had opted for a steam engine, the cars could have weighed several tons and required constant refueling with water and coal, like steam locomotives.
How to drive the first car: instructions for daredevils
Management Patent-Motorwagen was no less extreme than his appearance. Here are step-by-step instructions on how the driver would have to act:
1. Starting the engine:
- Open the gasoline supply valve (located under the seat).
- Turn the flywheel by hand until a spark appears.
- Adjust the air supply using the throttle valve.
2. Get moving:
- Slowly release the handbrake (lever to the right of the seat).
- Smoothly press the accelerator pedal (located on the floor).
- Attention: Pressing suddenly could stop the engine!
3. Turns:
- Instead of a steering wheel, a T-shaped lever was used, connected to the front wheel.
- To turn, you had to tilt the lever left/right, like a motorcycle.
- The turning radius was about 5 meters - like a modern bus!
4. Stop:
- Apply the handbrake (band type).
- Turn off the gasoline supply using the tap.
☑️ Preparing for a trip to the Patent-Motorwagen
⚠️
Attention: Brakes when driving downhill Patent-Motorwagen often failed due to overheating of the tape. During her trip, Bertha Benz was forced to stop the car by placing stones under the wheels!
Why was the first car a three-wheeler?
Many people wonder: why did Benz choose three wheels and not four, like modern cars? There were several reasons for this:
1. Simplification of design. Three wheels required fewer steering parts. Instead of a complex system of rods and steering rack, it was enough to tilt the front wheel with a lever.
2. Patent restrictions. At that time, patents already existed for four-wheeled carriages with steam engines. Benz wanted to avoid litigation.
3. Stability. Two large rear wheels provided better stability on uneven roads (and there were almost no paved roads then).
4. Weight restrictions. The three-wheeled design was lighter, which is critical when the engine power is less than 1 hp.
However, this solution also had disadvantages:
- Poor handling at high speeds (although 16 km/h can hardly be called high speed).
- Tendency to rollover on sharp turns.
- Limited carrying capacity - it was impossible to carry more than two passengers.
Already in 1893, Benz released a four-wheeled model Benz Victoria, but just a three-wheeled one Patent-Motorwagen went down in history as the first production car.
What would have happened if Benz had opted for four wheels?
Most likely, the car would become heavier and less controllable with the existing engine. In addition, the patenting of the four-wheeled design could be delayed due to disputes with the inventors of steam carriages. Perhaps the first car would have remained an experimental model rather than a production product.
How much did the first car cost and who bought it?
In 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen was worth it 600 German marks - at that time it was a huge amount. For comparison:
- The average worker's salary was about 50 marks per month.
- A good bicycle cost 100-150 marks.
- A horse and cart cost 200-300 marks.
Thus, the Benz car was a luxury available only to the very wealthy. The first buyers were:
1. Industrialists - owners of factories and factories.
2. Aristocrats - barons and counts who want to surprise others.
3. Inventors — engineering enthusiasts interested in new technologies.
In total, approximately 25 copies Patent-Motorwagen between 1886 and 1893. Today only 3 original cars have survived, one of which is in German Museum in Munich, and the other - in Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
⚠️
Attention: If you wanted to buy Benz Patent-Motorwagen today, get ready to shell out no less 5-10 million dollars. At auction, rare historic cars reach record prices - e.g. Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé was sold in 2022 for $143 million!
How the first car changed the world: the consequences of the invention
Appearance Benz Patent-Motorwagen became the starting point for an entire era. Here are the key changes it launched:
1. Birth of the automobile industry. Benz's success inspired other inventors - within 10 years, dozens of automobile companies appeared in Europe and the USA.
2. Development of road infrastructure. Before cars, roads were built primarily for horses. The advent of cars required asphalt pavement, road signs and traffic rules.
3. Reducing distances. If previously a trip between cities took days, then with a car this time was reduced to hours.
4. New professions. Specialties such as car mechanic, driver, mechanic, and car designer have emerged.
5. Environmental issues. Even then, it became clear that gasoline engines pollute the air - this spurred the development of alternative energy sources (electric vehicles appeared almost simultaneously with gasoline ones!).
It is curious that Karl Benz himself did not foresee such a large-scale impact of his invention. In one interview he said: “I just wanted to create a reliable and comfortable carriage that would not depend on horses. I didn’t even imagine that this would change the whole world.”
The first car was not perfect - it was slow, uncomfortable and unreliable. But it was its appearance that proved that gasoline-powered cars had a future, and launched the race for automotive innovation.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about your first car
Why was the first car so slow?
Main reasons for low speed Patent-Motorwagen:
- The weak engine (0.75 hp) could not accelerate the car any faster.
- The chain drive had significant energy losses.
- No gearbox - the engine operated in one mode.
- Heavy wooden wheels with solid tires created a lot of resistance.
In addition, Benz specifically limited the speed for safety reasons - the roads of that time were bumpy and the brakes unreliable.
Did the first car have a license plate?
No, in 1886 there were no license plates for cars. The first registration numbers appeared only at the end of the 19th century:
- 1893 - France introduced compulsory car registration.
- 1896 - Germany began issuing numbers on metal plates.
- 1903 - The first standard license plates appeared in the United States (in Massachusetts).
Benz Patent-Motorwagen drove without any identification marks, which seems incredible today!
Could the first car drive at night?
Technically yes, but it was extremely dangerous. U Patent-Motorwagen there were no headlights in the modern sense. For night trips we used:
- Kerosene lamps - attached to the front and sides.
- Acetylene lanterns — gave brighter light, but were a fire hazard.
- Torches - in emergency cases (for example, during Bertha Benz's trip).
In addition, the lack of brakes and poor lighting made night driving extremely risky. The speed had to be reduced to 5-8 km/h.
What fuel did the first car use?
Engine Patent-Motorwagen worked for naphtha - a light fraction of oil, close to modern gasoline. Interesting facts about fuel:
- Naphtha was bought in pharmacies - it was sold as a solvent.
- The octane number of the fuel was very low (about 40-50 units).
- The 4.5 liter tank was enough for about 100 km in economy mode.
- We refueled manually from cans - there were no gas stations then.
Today, naphtha is used primarily as fuel for tractors and ships, and as a raw material for the chemical industry.
How long did it take to assemble the first car?
In the workshop of Karl Benz to make one Patent-Motorwagen was leaving from 4 to 6 weeks. The process included:
- Manufacturing of steel frame (2-3 days).
- Assembly of the engine and cooling system (1 week).
- Installation of wheels and chain drive (3-4 days).
- Wood paneling and finishing (2-3 days).
- Testing and configuration (3-5 days).
At the same time, all parts were made by hand - no assembly line, like Ford later did. Each car was unique!