The world's oldest original car

Carl Benz introduced the Patent Motor Car in 1886 and subsequently built several units of this three-wheeler, about 25 vehicles in total. The Model I was the original Patent Motor Car. It featured wire wheels and a number of design details adopted from advanced contemporary bicycle manufacture.

The modified Model II also was a three-wheeler originally but was converted to four wheels for test purposes. The car featured axle pivot steering which was also tested on this car - another significant step towards the modern automobile. It is assumed that just one unit was built of this model.

But Model III turns out to be the first automobile, of which a small series with varying bodywork versions is sold. The customer was, for instance, able to opt for a folding roof or for an additional vis-à-vis seat bench and thus for a total of four seats. The car had wheels with wooden spokes; the two driven rear wheels (diameter: approx. 125cm/49.2 inches) had steel linings while the steered front wheel (diameter: 80cm/31.5 inches) was lined with solid rubber. The wheelbase was some 1.58 metres (62.2 inches) long and the track width was 1.25 metres (49.2 inches).

The vehicle held by the Science Museum was built by Benz in 1888 and displayed at an exhibition of prime movers in Munich in the same year.

This unit is the oldest Benz Patent Motor Car that has been retained in its original condition, and is thus the oldest original automobile. What's more, it is most likely the first gasoline engined vehicle that was operated in England. It is fitted with the vis-à-vis seat bench and originally also featured a folding leather roof. Remarkable is a most innovative design feature which makes this type different to the original from 1886: The body is mounted on a separate frame which sits on the chassis. That construction simplified the work of the body maker.

Source: JUST CARS, August 2009, Collectors Issue #162