What the world's first car looked like: from Karl Benz's drawings to a real prototype

It's hard to believe, but the world's first car will turn 10 in 2026 138 years. This three-wheeled, gasoline-powered vehicle, created Karl Benz in 1886, became a revolution that changed transportation forever. But what exactly did this car look like? Why did it have three wheels and not four? And what do they have in common? Benz Patent-Motorwagen with modern cars?

Today we will look at the appearance, technical characteristics and little-known details of the first car - from the wooden frame to the steering, which was more like a bicycle. You'll learn why the first car had no doors, how its transmission worked, and why its top speed was comparable to human running. We’ll also compare it with modern cars in the table and reveal 5 myths about the first car.

Spoiler: Benz Patent-Motorwagen was not the first self-propelled vehicle in history (steam engines appeared earlier), but it was the first a production car with a gasoline internal combustion engine - what we today call a “machine” in the usual sense.

1. Appearance: why was the first car three-wheeled?

If you imagine the first car as a smaller version of the modern sedan, you'll be disappointed. Benz Patent-Motorwagen more like hybrid of bicycle, carriage and motorcycle. Its key visual features:

🔹 Three wheels instead of four. It was easier for Karl Benz to design a three-wheeled model: two large rear wheels (110 cm in diameter) and one small front wheel (73 cm). This simplified the steering - instead of a complex system for four wheels, it was enough to turn one.

🔹 Wooden frame with metal elements. The body was made of wood (oak and beech), and the frame was made of steel tubes. There was no casing: all the mechanisms were visible, like modern chopper motorcycles.

🔹 No doors or roof. The passenger (and the car was designed for only one person) sat on top, like on a bicycle. It was impossible to drive it in rain or snow - it was a purely “solar” car.

Fun fact: the front wheel was manageable, but did not have a suspension. Any unevenness in the road was transmitted directly to the steering wheel, which made the ride extremely uncomfortable. But the weight of the car was only 265 kg - lighter than many modern motorcycles!

2. Engine and technical specifications: what was under the hood?

With my heart Benz Patent-Motorwagen became single-cylinder four-stroke gasoline engine volume 954 cm³. Its power was 0.75 hp (yes, less than one horsepower!), and the maximum speed is 16 km/h. For comparison, the average speed of a long-distance runner is 12–15 km/h.

Key technical details:

• 🔥 Ignition system: there were no spark plugs or battery. Benz used glow tube - a hot metal part that ignited the fuel mixture. It had to be pre-heated with a blowtorch!
• ⛽ Fuel: not modern gasoline, but naphtha - light fraction of kerosene. It was poured into a 4.5-liter tank, which was enough for 100 km.
• ⚙️ Transmission: two belt drives (for low and high speed) and a chain drive on the rear wheels - like a bicycle.
• 🔋 There was no electricity: no headlights, no signal. The only “gadget” is a mechanical bell, like a bicycle.

The most important detail: Benz's patent No. 37435 dated January 29, 1886 described not just a car, but a “self-propelled carriage with a gas engine” - this became the legal basis for mass production.

3. Control: how did you steer the first car?

Forget about the steering wheel - in Benz Patent-Motorwagen was lever, similar to a bicycle handlebar. To turn, you had to physically tilt it left or right. The brakes were also unusual:

• 🚲 Handbrake: A wooden lever that pressed the belt against the rear wheel. Efficiency depended on the strength of the driver's arm.
• 👟 Foot brake: pedal that blocked the chain drive. It only worked at low speeds.

⚠️

Attention! The first car did not have a differential, a mechanism that allows the wheels to rotate at different speeds during turns. Therefore, on a bend, one of the rear wheels would slip, which often led to a skid.

4. How does the first car compare to modern cars?

To understand how far the automotive industry has come, let's compare Benz Patent-Motorwagen with today's popular hatchback Volkswagen Polo:

Surprisingly, the price of the first car was comparable to a budget car today! But in terms of weight it is inferior even to modern motorcycles.

5. 5 myths about the first car that everyone believes

🚗 Myth 1: The first car was created by Henry Ford

❌ Reality: Ford released its Model T only in 1908 - 22 years later Benz Patent-Motorwagen. Benz patented his invention overseas back in 1886.

🔥 Myth 2: The engine ran on kerosene

❌ Reality: Was the fuel naphtha - lighter and purified fraction. Kerosene is too viscous for gasoline engines.

💨 Myth 3: The car accelerated to 40 km/h

❌ Reality: Maximum - 16 km/h. Higher speeds were not possible due to weak brakes and lack of suspension.

👨 Myth 4: Karl Benz was inspired by steam engines

❌ Reality: He criticized steam engines for their weight and complexity. His goal was a light and compact gasoline engine.

🚦 Myth 5: The first car was illegal

❌ Reality: There were no laws regulating cars in Germany until Benz received a patent. The problems started later - when cars became faster and more dangerous.

6. Where can you see the first car today?

Only survived three original copies Benz Patent-Motorwagen:

• 🏛️ Mercedes-Benz Museum (Stuttgart, Germany) - the most famous example, completely restored.
• 🚗 Private collection (London, UK) - sold at auction in 2011 for $4.6 million.
• 🇺🇸 Henry Ford Museum (Dearborn, USA) - donated by the company Daimler-Benz in the 1950s.

If you want to see the machine in action, visit veterama festival in Mannheim (Germany), where working replicas are regularly demonstrated.

⚠️

Attention! Original copies are never started - the risk of damaging historical equipment is too great. All “driving” versions are exact copies, assembled according to Benz’s drawings.

7. How did the first car influence modern cars?

Despite the primitiveness Benz Patent-Motorwagen laid the foundations of modern cars:

• 🔧 Gasoline internal combustion engine: All modern cars (except electric cars) use the principles invented by Benz.
• 🛣️ Steering: the idea of turning the front wheel remains (albeit in an improved form).
• ⚡ Lightweight design: Benz proved that a car could be compact and maneuverable, and not bulky like steam carriages.

Without this invention there would be no Ford Model T, nor Toyota Corolla, nor Tesla Model S. Here's what's definitely left in the past:

• 🔥 Glow tubes instead of spark plugs.
• 🚲 Chain drive instead of a cardan shaft.
• 👟 Lack of shock absorbers (modern cars have at least 4 suspension points).

Spark plug (1898)|First automobile carburetor|Engine water cooling system|First truck (1895)|First bus (1895)-->

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the first car