The first car in the world: who invented it and what did it look like?

From steam carriages to gasoline engines: how the first car appeared

The question is who invented the first car in the world, still causes heated debate among historians and car enthusiasts. The fact is that the concept of “car” has evolved along with technology: from steam self-propelled carriages of the 18th century to the gasoline internal combustion engines that we are used to seeing today. If we take a strict definition, then the first serial a car with an internal combustion engine appeared thanks to Karl Benz in 1886. But there were other inventors whose developments can be considered the “great-grandmothers” of modern machines.

To understand this issue, we need to understand what exactly we consider a “car”. If we are talking about self-propelled vehicle without horse traction, then the palm can be given to the French military engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, who in 1769 introduced the world's first steam car - "Fardier à vapeur" (steam cart). However, it was a bulky design, intended to transport artillery pieces rather than for civilian use. Gasoline engines, which became the basis of modern cars, appeared only a century later.

In this article we will trace the evolution of the car from the first prototypes to the patented one. Benz Patent-Motorwagen, let's figure out why exactly Karl Benz considered the “father of the automobile”, we will meet other inventors whose ideas formed the basis of the transport revolution. We’ll also find out what the first production car looked like and why its maximum speed was only 16 km/h.

Steam predecessors: the first self-propelled machines (XVIII–XIX centuries)

For a long time, the only alternative source of energy for transport was steam. The first attempts to create a self-propelled cart without horses date back to end of the 17th century, but the most famous project was steam car of Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot. His "Fardier à vapeur" (1769) could transport up to 4 tons of cargo at a speed 4 km/h and had three wheels - one in front for steering. Interestingly, this unit was created by order of the French army for towing cannons.

However, steam engines had a number of critical disadvantages:

• 🔥 Explosion hazard due to high steam pressure in boilers.
• 🐢 Low speed and maneuverability (maximum 10–15 km/h).
• 💧 The need for constant refueling with water and coal.
• 🚫 Prohibitions on use in cities due to noise and smoke (for example, in London in 1865, the “Red Flag Law” was introduced, obliging drivers of steam engines to walk ahead with a banner).

Despite this, steam cars were produced until the beginning of the 20th century. For example, in 1884 a Frenchman Amédée Bolle released a steam car "La Mancelle", which reached speeds up to 40 km/h and was considered one of the most advanced at that time. But the future lay with internal combustion engines.

Karl Benz and his Patent-Motorwagen: birth of the first gasoline car

Officially the first car with a gasoline engine admits Benz Patent-Motorwagen, created by a German engineer Karl Benz in 1885–1886. This three-wheeled carriage received patent DRP No. 37435 from January 29, 1886, which secured Benz the title of “father of the car.” The machine was equipped with:

• 🔧 Single-cylinder four-stroke engine volume 954 cm³ and power 0.75 hp.
• ⚡ Electric ignition (Benz's patents also covered the ignition system).
• 🔄 Three-speed gearbox (no reverse speed).
• 🛞 Spoke wheels with rubber tires (bicycle type).

It was the Benz Patent-Motorwagen that became the first car produced in the series: from 1886 to 1893, about 25 copies were sold. The maximum speed was 16 km/h, and the power reserve is about 100 km on one tank (capacity 4.5 liters). Interestingly, Benz's wife, Bertha Benz, in 1888, made the first ever intercity trip (from Mannheim to Pforzheim, ~106 km), proving the practicality of the invention.

What was inside the first Benz Patent-Motorwagen?

Inside, Benz's car was extremely ascetic: an open cabin without doors, steering in the form of a lever (like a bicycle), and pedals used to regulate speed and braking. The engine was located horizontally under the seat, and the fuel tank was located between the rear wheels. The launch was carried out manually using the crank.

Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach: an alternative path to the car

In parallel with Benz, they worked on creating a car Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach. Their approach was different: they focused on developing compact high-speed engine, which could be installed on various types of transport. In 1889 they introduced their first car - Daimler Stahlradwagen ("steel wheeled vehicle").

Differences from a Benz car:

Characteristics	Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1886)	Daimler Stahlradwagen (1889)
Engine type	Single cylinder, 0.75 hp	Two-cylinder V-shaped, 1.5 hp.
Max. speed	16 km/h	18 km/h
Wheels	3 (front 1)	4 (like modern cars)
Transmission	Belt drive	Chain drive

Daimler and Maybach also founded the company Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), which later became part of the concern Mercedes-Benz. Their engines were used not only in cars, but also in motorcycles, boats and even airships. For example, in 1885 they installed their engine on world's first motorcycle — Reitwagen ("driving car").

Debate about primacy: why Benz and not Daimler?

Many people wonder why Karl Benz is considered the inventor of the car, and not Daimler or other engineers? Here are the key arguments:

1. 1886 patent: Benz was the first to receive an official patent for a gasoline-powered car.
2. Serial production: Benz Patent-Motorwagen was sold as a finished product rather than an experimental prototype.
3. Integrated approach: Benz developed not only the engine, but also all the key systems (transmission, steering, brakes).

At the same time, Daimler and Maybach made no less contribution to the development of the automotive industry. Their engines were more powerful and versatile, and DMG later produced legendary models Mercedes, which set the standards for modern cars. Today, both inventors are recognized as pioneers of the industry, and their companies have merged into a concern Daimler-Benz (1926), which later became Mercedes-Benz AG.

What the first cars looked like: photos and technical features

Externally, the first cars looked more like horse-drawn carriages without horses than modern cars. Here are their key features:

• 🚗 No body: Open frame with seat, no doors or roof.
• ⚙️ Steering lever (like a bicycle), and not with a steering wheel.
• 🔥 Open engine, often located under the seat or behind.
• 🛑 Rear wheel brakes, controlled by a pedal or lever.

To start the engine it was required:

Checking the gasoline level in the tank (4.5 liters was enough for ~100 km)

Manual starting of the engine using a crooked starter

Adjusting the fuel supply using the lever

Flame control in the combustion chamber (on early models)

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I wonder what Benz Patent-Motorwagen had only one gear for forward movement and had no back. To turn around, the driver had to get off and push the car manually! But in the Daimler model Stahlradwagen a two-speed gearbox has already appeared.

Electric cars of the 19th century: forgotten competitors of gasoline cars

Few people know, but electric cars appeared before gasoline ones. For example, in 1881 a Frenchman Gustave Trouvé presented a three-wheeled electric car at the Paris Exhibition, and in 1888 a German engineer Andreas Flocken created a four-wheeled Flocken Elektrowagen. Advantages of electric vehicles of that time:

• ⚡ Easy to control (no need to start the engine manually).
• 🔇 No noise or vibration.
• 🚫 No exhaust gases (relevant for cities).

However, they also had serious drawbacks:

⚠️ Attention: Batteries of the 19th century had extremely low capacity. For example, Flocken Elektrowagen could drive just 10–15 km on one charge, and the charging time was 5–6 hours. For comparison, Benz Patent-Motorwagen on gasoline covered up to 100 km.

By 1900, electric vehicles accounted for about 30% all cars in the USA, but with the development of gasoline engines and the advent of the electric starter (1912), they practically disappeared from the market. Today, a century later, electric cars are experiencing a rebirth.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the first car in the world

Why is Karl Benz considered the inventor of the automobile, and not Henry Ford?

Henry Ford didn't invent the car — he revolutionized its production by launching the first assembly line in 1913 Ford Model T. Benz was the first to create practical car with petrol engine and received a patent for it in 1886. Ford appeared on the scene 20 years later.

How much did Benz's first car cost?

In 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen cost about 600 gold marks (approximately $150 at the exchange rate of that time). For comparison, the average salary of a worker in Germany at that time was about 500 marks per year. That is, a car was a luxury available only to the rich.

Are there any surviving examples of the first car?

Yes, it has reached this day several original Benz Patent-Motorwagen:

• 🏛️ One copy is stored in German Museum in Munich.
• 🚗 Other - in Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
• 💰 In 2011, the replica was sold at auction for $3.5 million.

What was the top speed of the first cars?

The speed characteristics of the first cars were modest:

• Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1886) — 16 km/h.
• Daimler Stahlradwagen (1889) — 18 km/h.
• Panhard et Levassor (1891) — 20 km/h.

For comparison: a modern pedestrian walks at a speed 5 km/h, and the cyclist - 15–25 km/h.

Why were the first cars three-wheeled?

Three wheels (two in the back, one in the front) were used for several reasons:

• 🔧 Simplicity of design: No differential required for the rear axle.
• 💰 Cheapness: One wheel at the front reduced the cost.
• 🚲 The Impact of Bicycle Technology: Benz used spoked wheels and a chain drive like a bicycle.

Four-wheeled models appeared later, when engineers learned to solve problems with steering and transmission.