When it comes to the very first car in the world, most imagine a primitive cart with a motor. But the reality is much more interesting! First patented car — Benz Patent-Motorwagen 1886 - looks like a mixture of a bicycle, a carriage and a steam boiler. Its creator Karl Benz, did not even suspect that his invention would revolutionize the transport industry.
Today this rarity is worth millions of dollars, and its exact copies have been distributed to museums around the world. But how did it work? Why is he considered zero kilometer of the automotive industry? And where is the original now? In this article - photos, technical details and stories, which will not be explained in school textbooks.
Spoiler: this car had no steering wheel, and the maximum speed was only 16 km/h - slower than a modern cyclist!
1. Benz Patent-Motorwagen: what the first car in history looks like
If you are expecting to see something similar to Ford Model T or early Mercedes, prepare to be disappointed. The first car in the world looks like a tricycle with a gasoline engine attached to a wooden frame. Here are its key visual features:
- 🚲 Three wheels: two large rear ones (~1.2 m in diameter) and one small front one (~0.7 m in diameter) - not the steering wheel, but the steering rodlike a horse-drawn carriage.
- 🔥 Open engine: single-cylinder four-stroke engine with a volume of
954 cm³It was installed horizontally and did not have a hood - it was cooled by air. - 🪑 Seat for one: There were no passenger seats - the car was designed only for the driver.
- 🛠️ Wooden frame: the body is made of wood and upholstered in leather, and the wheels have metal rims, like carriages.
Interesting fact: Karl Benz Patented each part separately. For example, a patent for ignition system was issued six months before the patent for the machine itself. But gas and brake pedals were absent - the speed was regulated by a lever connected to the throttle valve.
How did it start? Using a manual starter (like a lawn mower) and evaporative carburetor - the fuel (naphtha, not modern gasoline) evaporated in a special tank before entering the cylinder.
Why did the car have three wheels?
Karl Benz chose a three-wheeled design not because of economy, but for technical reasons. A two-wheel version would be unstable, and a four-wheel version would require a complex transmission that Benz had not yet invented. Three wheels allowed the use of a simple chain drive, like a bicycle.
2. Technical characteristics: what’s under the hood of the great-grandfather of all cars
By modern standards Patent-Motorwagen - it's more likely self-propelled toythan a vehicle. But for 1886 its parameters were revolutionary. Here is a comparison table with modern Smart Fortwo (closest analogue in size):
| Parameter | Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1886) | Smart Fortwo (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1-cylinder, 4-stroke, 954 cm³, 0.75 hp |
3-cylinder, turbo, 999 cm³, 90 hp |
| Max. speed | 16 km/h |
160 km/h |
| Transmission | Chain drive to the rear wheel, 2 speeds (without rear) | 6-speed automatic |
| Fuel | Naphtha (a mixture of kerosene and gasoline) | Gasoline AI-95 |
| Weight | ~265 kg |
~1000 kg |
The only copy with the original engine has survived to this day - and it is still running! True, it is allowed to start it only in exceptional cases, for example, at anniversary events Mercedes-Benz.
By the way, about fuel: naphtha, which Benz used can be compared with modern kerosene. Its octane number was extremely low (~40), so the engine often detonated. To avoid breakdowns, Benz added... camphor oil!
⚠️ Attention: If you tried to refuel Patent-Motorwagen With modern AI-95 gasoline, the engine would instantly fail due to the octane number being too high.
3. Where is the oldest car in the world now?
Original Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1886) is stored in Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart (Germany). This is not just an exhibit - it is national treasure of Germany, insured for tens of millions of euros. Here's what we know about him:
- 🏛️ Mercedes-Benz Museum: the machine is displayed in a special climate display with controlled humidity and temperature.
- 🔒 Limited access: The original is not taken to exhibitions - exact replicas are used instead.
- 💰 Insurance: According to rumors, the car is insured for the amount
~$30 million, but the exact figure is classified. - 🎭 Replicas around the world: exact copies can be seen in London Science Museum, Henry Ford Museum (USA) and even in Tokyo.
Fun fact: in 2011 replica 1886 was sold at auction Sotheby’s for $3.6 million. The buyer is a private collector from Asia. This is the most expensive 19th century car ever sold at auction.
Here's what's surprising: Karl Benz never drove his invention on public roads. The first one to receive official permission to drive a car, became his wife Bertha Benz - in 1888, she secretly traveled from her husband to Patent-Motorwagen 106 km from Mannheim to Pforzheim, proving the practicality of the invention.
Bertha Benz is the first driver in history to drive a car for a significant distance. Her trip in 1888 became the world's first road trip.
4. 5 little-known facts about the first car in the world
Even those who are interested in the history of the car rarely know these details:
- The license plate appeared later: y Patent-Motorwagen there were no numbers - they began to be issued only in 1893 in Paris.
- The brakes were... foot brakes: To stop, the driver pressed a lever that pressed a wooden block against the rear wheels.
- The first "accident": During a test drive in 1886, the car crashed into a wall - Benz forgot that the steering rod turns the wheels in the opposite direction!
- Price in 1886:
600 gold marks(≈$1500 at the exchange rate of that time) is the equivalent~$45 000today. - Benz competitor: worked on the car at the same time as him Gottlieb Daimler, but its model Daimler Reitwagen (1885) was two-wheeled and considered a "motorcycle".
Here's what's really shocking: Benz received the first patent for a car on January 29, 1886 (DRP No. 37435), but first production car he released it only in 1894 - 8 years later! Total sold... 25 copies.
Why so little? The point is that Patent-Motorwagen was inconvenient, unreliable and expensive to maintain. For example, replacing a drive chain required disassembling half of the machine.
⚠️ Attention: If you bought Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1886, you would have to hire a full-time mechanic - the car broke down every 50–100 km.
5. How Patent-Motorwagen changed the world: 3 key consequences
Without this invention there would be no Tesla, nor Toyota, not even Frets. Here are the three main consequences of the appearance of the first car:
1. The birth of the auto industry
Until 1886, transport was divided into equestrian and steam. Benz proved that the gasoline internal combustion engine could be compact and efficient. Within 10 years they appeared Peugeot, Panhard and other brands.
2. Changes in urban infrastructure
The first cars made the authorities think about roads, gas stations and traffic rules. For example, in 1893 the first road signs, and in 1903 - the first traffic lights (at first they were mechanical).
3. Social revolution
The car gave people freedom of movement. If previously a journey of 100 km took a day on horseback, then with a car this time was reduced to several hours. This contributed to the development of tourism, trade and even... suburbia (suburbs).
If you ever find yourself in Stuttgart, visit the museum Mercedes-Benz - there's not only Patent-Motorwagen, but also prototypes of future self-driving cars. A ticket costs ~€10, but there are discounts for students.
6. Is it possible to buy the oldest car in the world?
Technically - yes, but only if you are a billionaire. Here are your options:
- 🏦 Original (1886): not for sale. Kept in the museum Mercedes-Benz and is the property of the company.
- 🔄 Replica (exact copy): price from
$500 000up to$2 million, depending on the condition. They were produced in limited editions in the 1980s–2000s. - 📦 Layout (1:1): a non-working model made of wood and metal will cost
$20 000–$50 000. - 🎮 toy model: Mercedes-Benz produces miniatures Patent-Motorwagen in scale 1:18 for ~€200.
If you are lucky enough to find a replica at an auction (for example, Bonhams or RM Sotheby’s), please note:
- Availability certificate of authenticity from Mercedes-Benz Classic.
- Condition wooden body — original materials dry out over time.
- Performance engine — most of the replicas are not up to date.
Where to look?
Follow classic car auctions:
https://www.bonhams.com
https://rmsothebys.com
https://www.artcurial.com
☑️ Replica authentication Benz Patent-Motorwagen
7. Why Patent-Motorwagen not considered a "first car" in all countries
Starts here car sanitation! The fact is that the term “car” is interpreted differently:
- 🇩🇪 Germany: officially recognizes Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1886) the first car since it was patented and mass-produced.
- 🇫🇷 France: considers the first car La Marquise (1884) - steam car De Dion-Bouton et Trépardoux, which could carry 4 people.
- 🇺🇸 USA: often gives the palm Duryea Motor Wagon (1893) - the first car built in America.
- 🇬🇧 UK: mentions Benzbut also respects Ford Quadricycle (1896) as the first "practical" car.
Who is right? Everyone and no one. It all depends on the definition:
- If "car" = self-propelled vehicle with internal combustion engine, then the championship is for Benz.
- If "car" = any motor vehicle, then the first was steam car Nicolas-Cugnot (1769).
- If "car" = mass-produced vehicle, then again Benz.
But there is one caveat: steam and electric cars appeared before gasoline ones, but were not widespread due to the complexity of the design. For example, an electric car Flocken Elektrowagen was built in 1888 - 2 years later Patent-Motorwagen, but its maximum speed was only 15 km/h.
Why did gasoline engines defeat steam engines?
1. Gasoline engines were lighter and more compact.
2. Steam engines required time to warm up (up to 30 minutes).
3. Gasoline was cheaper and more accessible than coal or firewood.
4. Gasoline engines could idle, but steam engines could not.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the oldest car in the world
❓ How much does the oldest car in the world cost?
Original Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1886) is not for sale, but its insurable value is estimated at $30–50 million. Replicas cost from $500 000 up to $2 million, depending on condition and history.
❓ Is it possible to ride it?
Theoretically, yes, but:
- The original is not removed from the museum.
- Replicas require special permission to go on the road (in Germany they are registered as “historic vehicles”).
- Maximum speed -
16 km/h, which is below the limit on many freeways.
❓ Why does the car have three wheels and not four?
Karl Benz chose a three-wheeled design due to its simplicity:
- There was no need to invent a differential for the rear axle.
- The chain drive from the engine to the rear wheel was more reliable than a belt drive.
- Three wheels made the car more stable than two (like a motorcycle), but easier to control than four.
❓ Where else can you see Patent-Motorwagen, except for the museum in Stuttgart?
The original is only in Stuttgart, but there are replicas in:
- 🇬🇧 London Science Museum (UK)
- 🇺🇸 Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn (USA)
- 🇯🇵 Mercedes-Benz Museum in Tokyo (Japan)
- 🇫🇷 Automobile Museum in Mulhouse (France, Schlumpf collection)
❓ Which modern cars can be considered “successors” Patent-Motorwagen?
No direct descendants, but philosophy Mercedes-Benz saved in:
- Smart Fortwo - a compact city car with rear-wheel drive (like Patent-Motorwagen).
- Mercedes-Benz EQA - an electric car, symbolizing the transition to new technologies (as in 1886).
- Mercedes-Maybach - luxury models that continue the tradition of innovation.