Benz Patent Motorwagen– First Automobile

"Benz & Co. Rheinische Gasmotoren-Fabrik" Company was founded in 1885. One of this brand founders, Carl Friedrich Benz, began building automobile with internal-combustion engine. He used chassis with three wheels, equipped with wood spokes and rubber hoop.

The company’s first engine was meant for industrial purposes and gave only 120-180rpm – rather few for moving a whole vehicle. Benz’s second invention was 4-stroke engine with 950 cubic capacity, 0.75 h/p power and 400 rpm. The construction of the engine included valves instead of a slider, battery ignition and closed cooling system. In addition the engine was arranged between rear wheels and was given horizontal fly-wheel.

The engine drive was carried out via binary chains. Thevehivle weighted 263 kg and was able to reach 16 km/h of average speed. In 1885 the first automobile in world was ready for start and Benz made the first test trip in it. Afterwards the car would be named “Benzina”. Next year “Benz and K” Company took out their first patent for a car with gasoline engine.


Thanks to Parisian Emilio Rodecker, representative of Benz Company in France, the name of Benz Patent Motorwagen became more famous in France than in Germany! One day Berta Benz, the wife of Carl Benz, decided to “popularize” this invention in Germany too. One morning they moved the automobile out the garage, started the engine and drove it for 90km (54miles) to Phoriheim city, where their grandmother lived. At the end of day Carl received telegram from them, saying “Good Luck in Foriheim!”

In 1888 at the industrial exhibition, that took place in Monaco, an improved Motorwagen model earned a gold medal. Benz was driving his car throughout Monaco’s streets and afterwards got the first driving license in the world in Baden on the 1st August, 1888.

From 1888 to 1893 there were produced 15 vehicles of that successful model. Now you can find the original first Benz car in Unterturkheim museum of Mercedes – Benz, in Stuttgart.