Super “Weird” Appearance of the World’s First Car
More than 132 years ago, the Benz Patent Motorwagen became the first car in the world to use an internal combustion engine and was officially patented. The car built by Karl Benz and his colleagues stunned the world when it debuted.
Unique and Different Design
Few people know that when it was born, the car that laid the foundation for the car manufacturing industry had an appearance that had nothing to do with modern cars today. The Benz Patent Motorwagen has a very distinctive design with 3 large wheels, similar to a horse-drawn carriage, and runs twice as fast as a normal walking speed.
Specifications
The car is equipped with a 954 cc engine, 2/3 horsepower capacity, and has a maximum speed of 16 km/h. This engine is an internal combustion gasoline engine, combined with an electronic ignition system, quite similar to modern cars. The wheels were made of wood, the fuel tanks, and the manual drum brakes on the rear wheels.
History and Conservation
The original version of this car is currently preserved at the German national museum. The cars were restored by Mercedes-Benz’s classic car restoration center Classic Center, after purchasing the cars remanufactured in 2002, also by Mercedes.
This unique car model was produced in only 25 units between 1886 and 1893. This is considered the beginning of the Mercedes-Benz brand as well as the world automobile manufacturing industry.
Replication and Restoration
In 2001 and 2002, a small number of replicas of the Benz Patent Motorwagen were produced for exhibition and museum displays. Recently, Mercedes-Benz’s Classic Center classic car restoration center bought such a Benz Patent Motorwagen (Replica product).
Heritage and Love
Because of its history, the car is widely loved around the world. Many people have tinkered with the drawings of the Benz Patent Motorwagen to make similar cars. The car has an internal combustion engine and electronic ignition system quite similar to modern cars.
Historical value
In 1886, the Benz Patent Motorwagen cost $150, equivalent to about $4,086 at current prices. This car is not only a means of transport but also a symbol of innovation and technical progress, laying the foundation for the development of the automobile industry worldwide.
