In 1885, Karl Benz, a visionary German engine designer and automotive engineer based in Mannheim, achieved a groundbreaking feat in transportation history. He designed and built the Benz Patent Motorwagen, widely recognized as the first true automobile engineered to generate its own power, rather than simply being a motorized carriage. This invention marked a pivotal shift from horse-drawn vehicles and laid the foundation for the modern automotive industry.
The Benz Patent Motorwagen was a revolutionary three-wheeled vehicle featuring a rear-mounted engine and a host of innovative components. Its construction employed steel tubing with elegant woodwork panels. Benz meticulously designed the steel-spoked wheels and solid rubber tires himself. Steering was ingeniously managed by a toothed rack that pivoted the front wheel, which was unsprung. The rear suspension utilized fully-elliptic springs, a live axle, and chain drive on both sides. A basic yet effective belt system acted as a single-speed transmission, adeptly adjusting torque between a disc and drive disc.
At the heart of the first Motorwagen was the Benz 954 cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine. This newly developed engine produced a modest ⅔ horsepower (½ kW) at 250 rpm in its initial configuration. However, later evaluations by the University of Mannheim demonstrated its capability to reach 0.9 horsepower (0.7 kW) at 400 rpm. Remarkably lightweight for its era, the engine weighed approximately 100 kg (220 lb). While its open crankcase and drip oiling system might seem archaic to today’s mechanics, its use of a pushrod-operated poppet valve for exhaust was a forward-thinking design element. A substantial horizontal flywheel played a crucial role in stabilizing the power output of the single-cylinder engine. An evaporative carburetor, controlled by a sleeve valve, was used to regulate both power and engine speed.
The Benz Motorwagen’s significance was officially recognized on January 29, 1886, when it was granted patent DRP-37435, titled “automobile fueled by gas.” This patent solidified its status as the first automobile in history.
Despite its innovative design, the initial 1885 version of the Motorwagen presented control challenges, culminating in an incident where it collided with a wall during a public demonstration. Nevertheless, Benz persevered, and by the early summer of 1886, successful trials on public roads were conducted. Continuing his pursuit of improvement, Benz introduced the Motorwagen Model 2 the following year, incorporating several refinements. In 1887, the definitive Model 3, distinguished by its wooden wheels, was unveiled and showcased at the Paris Expo in the same year, marking a significant milestone in automotive history and establishing Karl Benz as the father of the modern automobile.
