The history of transport is full of myths, but the question of who exactly created the first car has a very specific answer, confirmed by patents and historical documents. For a long time, humanity dreamed of a mechanism that could move without the help of horses or a steam engine, and this dream began to come true in the second half of the 19th century. It was then that the German engineer Karl Benz introduced the world to a three-wheeled car with an internal combustion engine, which became the progenitor of all modern cars.
Before this revolutionary device, various steam-powered self-propelled guns existed, but they were bulky, slow, and difficult to maintain. The real breakthrough came with the invention of an efficient liquid fuel engine, which made it possible to create a compact and reliable vehicle for personal use. In this article we will look at the details of the invention, the technical characteristics of the first car and the reasons why Benz received the status of the father of the car.
Karl Benz and his patent No. 37435
The official date of birth of the car is considered January 29, 1886, when Karl Benz received a patent for a "Gas Engine Vehicle". It was not just a document, but the foundation for the entire future automotive industry. An engineer from Mannheim worked on his brainchild for several years, trying to create a reliable and economical motor that could replace a horse in a cart.
His invention, called Motorwagen, was a three-wheeled carriage with a tubular frame. The engine was located horizontally above the rear axle and drove the rear wheels through a system of belts and chains. For that time it was an incredibly complex device, combining elements of mechanics, chemistry and thermodynamics.
Why three wheels?
It was not by chance that Karl Benz chose the three-wheeled design. At the time, four-wheel steering required a complex steering axle that would have been too heavy and unreliable for the lightweight engine. The third wheel at the front solved the steering problem, making the design simpler and more maneuverable for the first experiments.
It is important to note that Benz did not just assemble the parts, he developed key components without which the operation of a modern internal combustion engine is impossible. Among them were liquid cooling system, a carburetor for mixing fuel with air and electric ignition from a magneto. All these components worked in harmony to ensure a stable, albeit slow, engine operation.
Karl Benz's 1886 patent officially establishes his status as the creator of the first automobile with an internal combustion engine intended for public roads.
Technical characteristics of Benz Patent-Motorwagen
The first car in the world bore little resemblance to modern cars, but its technical solutions were revolutionary. The engine with a displacement of less than one liter developed power comparable to that of one horse, which gave the name to the unit of measurement. However, the efficiency of this engine was significantly higher than that of steam analogues of that time.
The frame design consisted of curved steel pipes, which provided the necessary rigidity with minimal weight. The fuel tank was located above the engine, and gasoline was supplied by gravity through a wick carburetor. The ignition system was primitive but workable, using an electric spark to ignite the mixture.
| Parameter | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Single cylinder | Volume 954 cc cm, 4 bars |
| Power | 0.75 hp | At 400 rpm (later 1.5 hp) |
| Maximum speed | 16 km/h | In ideal conditions |
| Weight | 250 kg | Excluding driver and fuel |
The transmission consisted of a two-speed belt drive and a chain-driven differential. The braking system was a simple band brake acting on the rear axle. Steering was done via a tiller, similar to a ship's tiller, rather than the steering wheel we are used to today.
Please note that early versions of Motorwagen did not have reverse gear. To reverse, the driver had to physically push the car or turn it around manually, which created certain difficulties in tight spaces.
Bertha Benz: the world's first auto traveler
It is impossible to talk about the history of the first car without mentioning the role of the inventor’s wife, Bertha Benz. While Karl doubted the commercial success of his brainchild and was afraid of public demonstration, it was she who took the initiative into her own hands. In August 1888, without her husband's knowledge, she made the world's first long-distance automobile journey.
Bertha and her two sons rode on Motorwagen the distance is about 106 kilometers from Mannheim to Pforzheim. This path was full of obstacles: bad roads, lack of gas stations and skepticism from others. It was Bertha who thought of purchasing fuel from pharmacies that sold naphtha and came up with the idea of using a pin to clean the fuel line.
During this trip, she also invented brake pads by asking a shoemaker to hem the soles of leather brake pads for better grip. Her journey proved the practical applicability of the car and attracted public attention, which became a turning point in the fate of the company Benz & Cie.
⚠️ Attention: During the first trip, Bertha ran out of fuel, since no one realized that the car could travel so far on one tank. This event marked the beginning of the appearance of the first gas stations.
Gottlieb Daimler and parallel developments
While Karl Benz was working in Mannheim, Gottlieb Daimler and his partner Wilhelm Maybach were creating their own car in nearby Stuttgart. They independently came up with the idea of using an internal combustion engine to drive the crew. Their first car Daimler Motor Carriage, appeared in 1886, almost simultaneously with Benz's patent.
Daimler and Maybach focused on creating a more powerful and faster engine, which they initially planned to use for boats and airships. Their four-wheeled vehicle design was more traditional and resembled a conventional horse-drawn carriage, minus the shafts. This difference in approaches determined the development of two branches of the automotive industry.
Unlike the three-wheeled Benz, Daimler's car had four wheels and a more advanced steering system. However, it was Benz who managed to formalize all the rights earlier and launch mass production. Later, in 1926, Benz and Daimler merged to form the concern Daimler-Benz, known today as Mercedes-Benz.
☑️ Key differences between Benz and Daimler
The evolution of automotive thought until 1886
The idea of a self-propelled carriage did not appear out of nowhere. Back in 1769, the French engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot created a steam tractor Fardier for transporting guns. This machine was huge, awkward and barely controllable, but it proved the very possibility of movement without horses.
In the 19th century, steam cars became a relative phenomenon in England and France. They were even used as public transport. However, steam engines required long warm-up times, large quantities of water and fuel, and often frightened horses with noise and steam, which caused legal restrictions.
It was the advent of a compact and efficient internal combustion engine running on liquid fuel that was the critical factor that allowed the car to become a mass product rather than a curiosity for rich eccentrics. Benz's predecessors created the concept, but it was he who found the technological niche that worked.
Why is Benz considered the inventor?
The question of priority is often controversial, since Daimler and other engineers worked in the same direction. However, historians and patent offices give primacy to Karl Benz for several reasons. Firstly, his 1886 patent is the most complete and describes the car as a complete system, and not just an engine on wheels.
Secondly, Benz immediately began mass production and sale of its cars, turning the invention into a commercial product. He did not stop with the prototype, but continued to improve the design, adding new features and improving reliability. Thirdly, it was his car that was preserved and presented to the public in its most complete form.
Today is original Motorwagen kept in the German Museum in Munich, symbolizing the beginning of a new era. Benz's invention changed the face of cities, the economy and the way people lived around the world, making distances travelable in hours rather than days.
⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse the first car with the first steam tractors. The key difference is the use of an internal combustion engine and suitability for use on ordinary public roads without special road preparation.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
Is it true that the first car was steam powered?
Yes, steam self-propelled guns appeared long before gasoline ones, back in the 18th century. However, they were bulky, required a lot of preparation and were not considered personal transport. The first one by car with an internal combustion engine is considered a Benz Patent-Motorwagen.
How much did Karl Benz's first car cost?
The first models cost about 600 marks, which at that time was approximately the annual salary of a skilled worker. Later, with the start of mass production, the price dropped, making the car more affordable.
Where can you see the first car in the original?
The original of the first car from 1886 is in the German Museum (Deutsches Museum) in Munich. Also copies and later models can be seen in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
Why did the first car have three wheels?
The three-wheel layout was chosen to simplify the steering and differential design. Making a reliable four-wheel steering axle with the primitive materials of the time was more difficult and expensive.