The question of who exactly created the very first car often causes heated debate among historians and car enthusiasts around the world. Many people mistakenly believe that Henry Ford is the founder of the car, but this is a deep misconception, since he only introduced conveyor production, making transport accessible to the masses.
In fact, the history of the creation of a vehicle with an internal combustion engine dates back to the end of the 19th century in Germany. It was then that engineering minds began to look for alternatives to steam engines and horse-drawn carriages, striving for greater autonomy and efficiency of movement.
Today we will figure out how events developed more than 130 years ago, and find out whose name should be at the top of the list of great inventors who changed the face of civilization.
Official recognized inventor and his patent
The official date of birth of the car is considered to be January 29, 1886, when Karl Benz received imperial patent number 37435. This document granted him the exclusive right to a “gas-powered carriage”, which became the prototype of all modern cars. Three-wheeled Motorwagen was equipped with a single-cylinder 0.95 liter engine.
Benz's invention was not an overnight success; The first trips caused fear and bewilderment among ordinary people. However, it is Karl Benz managed to combine the chassis, engine and transmission in one design, creating a self-sufficient mechanism that does not require an external energy source such as steam.
Interestingly, Karl Benz's first car reached a speed of only about 16 km/h, which at that time was considered a dizzying and life-threatening speed.
It is important to note that the invention of the internal combustion engine did not in itself make the device a car. Benz was the first to think of creating a magneto ignition system and a wick evaporation carburetor, which allowed the engine to operate stably in motion.
Karl Benz is considered the creator of the first car, since it was he who received the first official patent for a self-propelled carriage with an internal combustion engine in 1886.
Parallel developments by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach
While Karl Benz was working in Mannheim, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach were working a few tens of kilometers away, in the city of Cannstadt. These engineers took a slightly different path, trying to create a universal engine that could be installed on various types of transport.
In 1886, almost simultaneously with Benz, they built Motorcar (or Grandfather Clock Car), which looked more like a converted horse-drawn carriage. The main difference between their approach was their focus on high revs engine, which made it possible to develop more power with low weight.
Daimler and Maybach were the first to use a V-shaped cylinder arrangement, which became a revolutionary solution for compact power plants. Their four-wheeled carriage was born a little later than the Benz three-wheeler, but was technically more advanced in terms of layout.
Historical justice requires mentioning that the Benz and Daimler companies subsequently merged to form the concern Mercedes-Benz, which is still a symbol of engineering excellence.
Forgotten Pioneers: Etienne Lenoir and Siegfried Marcus
Before Benz and Daimler made their presence known, there were other daredevils whose names often remain in the shadows. One of them was the Belgian mechanic Etienne Lenoir, who back in 1860 created an internal combustion engine and installed it on a three-wheeled cart.
This device, known as Hippomobile, could indeed move, but its design was extremely inefficient. The engine ran on lighting gas, did not have a lubrication or cooling system, and the efficiency was only about 3-4 percent.
⚠️ Attention: Etienne Lenoir did not create a full-fledged car in the modern sense, since his vehicle did not have a tank for liquid fuel and ran on gas from a cylinder, which made it extremely inconvenient for practical use.
Another forerunner was the Austrian Siegfried Marcus, who built a powered cart in the 1870s. Although some sources credit him with creating the first automobile, there is very little documented evidence of the successful operation of his car as a regular transport.
However, the contributions of these engineers cannot be denied: they proved the possibility of using explosive combustion of fuel to create mechanical motion, paving the way for more advanced systems.
Technical characteristics of the first Benz Patent-Motorwagen
To understand the scale of engineering thought of that time, it is worth considering in detail the structure of Karl Benz's creation. It was a three-wheeled carriage with a large rear wheel and two smaller front wheels, steered through a kingpin.
The engine was located horizontally above the rear axle and drove it through a system of belts and chains. The lack of a differential was compensated for by allowing one of the rear wheels (in earlier versions) to rotate independently, although the final 1886 model used a chain drive.
☑️ Key components of the first car
The fuel system was primitive: gasoline evaporated in a surface-type carburetor, and ignition was carried out using an open flame wick, which had to be constantly monitored. The engine was cooled by natural air convection and a large flywheel.
Despite its apparent simplicity, this mechanism contained everything fundamental elements modern car: piston engine, ignition system, carburetion, clutch and gearbox (albeit a very simple one).
| Parameter | Characteristics of Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1886) | Modern analogue (average) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 cylinder, 954 cc cm | 4-8 cylinders, 1.6-3.0 l |
| Power | 0.9 hp at 400 rpm | 100-300 hp |
| Maximum speed | 16 km/h | 180-250 km/h |
| Transmission | Leather belt and chain | Automatic / Robot / CVT |
| Brakes | Mechanical (shoe on flywheel) | Ventilated disc |
The role of Bertha Benz in popularizing the invention
You can’t talk about the creation of the first car without mentioning Bertha Benz, the inventor’s wife. It was she who became the world's first test driver to make a long trip in a car without her husband's knowledge.
In 1888, taking her two sons with her, she set off from Mannheim to Pforzheim, covering a distance of about 106 kilometers. This trip was full of adventures: I had to buy gasoline in pharmacies (it was sold as a clothes cleaner) and clean out the fuel pipes with a pin.
What happened during Bertha's trip?
Bertha Benz used a pin to unclog a clogged fuel line, invented brake pads (by covering them with leather from a shoemaker) and proved that the car was suitable for long-distance travel.
The success of this trip convinced Karl Benz of the need for improvements: additional gears were added, brakes were improved and the wheel design was changed. Bertha also insisted on installing a gear lever, which made operation more convenient.
Her courage and practicality played a decisive role in the public's acceptance of Motorwagen not as an outlandish toy, but as a serious vehicle.
Evolution of the automobile after 1886
After receiving the patent, the development of the automotive industry began at a rapid pace. If in the early 1890s cars were the preserve of rich eccentrics, then by the beginning of the 20th century they began to appear on the streets of major cities in Europe and America.
The advent of pneumatic tires, steering wheel type (instead of a tiller), closed cabins and an electric starter turned the car into a comfortable means of transportation. Engineers from different countries began to compete to create faster and more reliable models.
Did you know that the first driver's license was issued to Karl Benz because his car frightened horses and caused noise complaints from Mannheim residents?
By 1900, the word “car” had already become firmly established in the lexicon, and the industry began to acquire related services: gas stations, workshops and road signs. The path from Benz's three-wheeled cart to modern electric vehicles and self-driving cars took just over a century, but the foundation was laid then.
Today, looking at the complex safety and comfort systems, it is difficult to imagine that it all started with a primitive unit that could barely accelerate to the speed of a running person.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why is Karl Benz considered the creator of the first car, if there were others?
Karl Benz is considered the creator because he was the first to receive an official patent for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine (1886), which was designed originally as a car rather than as a converted carriage. Its design was the most holistic and suitable for mass production.
How much did the first Benz Patent-Motorwagen cost?
The cost of the first car was 600 marks in gold. For comparison, the annual salary of a skilled worker at that time was about 500-600 marks, so the car was available only to very wealthy people.
Where is the very first car now?
Original first Patent-Motorwagen 1886 was destroyed by fire, but a restored copy of 1888 survived, which is in the Deutsches Museum in Munich. Replicas are also kept in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
Did the first car have reverse gear and brakes?
Initially, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen did not have a full-fledged gearbox with reverse gear. The braking system was extremely primitive and consisted of a wooden shoe that was pressed against a large engine flywheel or wheel rim to slow down.