In 1885, Karl Benz, a pioneering German engine designer and automobile engineer based in Mannheim, achieved a groundbreaking feat in automotive history. He designed and built the Benz Patent Motorwagen, widely recognized as the Karl Benz First Automobile specifically engineered to generate its own power for propulsion, distinguishing it from mere motorized carriages of the time.
The Benz Patent Motorwagen was innovative in its construction and mechanics. This three-wheeled vehicle featured a rear-mounted engine and incorporated numerous novel inventions. Its frame was constructed from steel tubing complemented by woodwork panels, showcasing the engineering practices of the era. Benz himself designed the steel-spoked wheels, which were fitted with solid rubber tires. Steering was managed through a toothed rack mechanism that controlled the front wheel, which was unsprung. The rear suspension utilized fully-elliptic springs along with a live axle and chain drive on both sides. A simple yet effective belt system acted as a single-speed transmission, modulating torque between a disc and drive disc.
Powering this karl benz first automobile was the Benz 954 cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine. In its initial configuration for the Patent Motorwagen, this engine produced ⅔ horsepower (½ kW) at 250 rpm. Later evaluations by the University of Mannheim indicated its potential to reach 0.9 hp (0.7 kW) at 400 rpm. Remarkably light for its time, the engine weighed approximately 100 kg (220 lb). While its open crankcase and drip oiling system might seem unconventional to modern mechanics, its employment of a pushrod-operated poppet valve for exhaust would be recognizable even today. A substantial horizontal flywheel played a crucial role in stabilizing the power delivery from the single-cylinder engine. An evaporative carburetor, regulated by a sleeve valve, managed power output and engine speed.
The Benz Patent Motorwagen secured its place in history when it was officially patented on January 29, 1886, under the German Reich Patent number DRP-37435, aptly described as an “automobile fueled by gas.”
Early versions of this karl benz first automobile presented control challenges, evidenced by a collision during a public demonstration. However, by the early summer of 1886, successful road tests were conducted. Benz continued to refine his invention, leading to the Motorwagen Model 2 in 1887 with several improvements, and subsequently the Model 3, featuring wooden wheels, which was showcased at the Paris Expo in the same year. These advancements solidified the Benz Patent Motorwagen’s legacy as the foundational karl benz first automobile, marking the dawn of the modern automotive era.
