RushExperts
  • More Articles
The Story Of The First Car Ever Made

The Story Of The First Car Ever Made

Hugo Walker  | 1 year ago
Historians continue to debate what the world's first car actually was since many of the earliest automobiles bear virtually no resemblance to what we would consider to be a car today. However, the invention considered by most to be the first car ever produced is the Patent-Motorwagen, conceived and built by the German engine designer and automotive engineer, Karl Benz, of Mercedes-Benz fame. Not only was the Motorwagen the world's first production vehicle, but it was also the very first functional vehicle, built with the first-ever gasoline engine. The automobile was an instant success and cemented Mercedes as the market-leader of the automotive world. This is the story of that car - the first car ever made.

Karl Benz

Karl Benz
Wikimedia Commons
Karl Friedrich Benz was born on 25 November 1844 in Mühlburg, Germany. Interestingly, Benz's father was a locomotive driver, although he sadly passed away when Karl was just two years old, so he was raised alone by his mother, Josephine. Despite growing up in near poverty, Benz excelled at school and went on to graduate from the University of Karlsruhe in mechanical engineering. From early on in his professional life, Karl Benz showed off his prodigious talent with numerous inventions and, in 1883, co-founded a new company producing industrial machines that would eventually become the birthplace of the Motorwagen.

The Motorwagen's Beginnings

The Motorwagen's Beginnings
Wikimedia Commons
On July 20, 1872, Benz married Bertha Ringer, also an automotive pioneer and engineer. Bertha would become an integral part of the Benz success story, investing in her soon-to-be husband's business before becoming his long-term business partner. After selling their Iron Foundry and Mechanical Workshop in Mannheim, Karl and Bertha founded a new company that produced industrial machines: Benz & Companie Rheinische Gasmotoren-Fabrik, better known as Benz & Cie. It was here that Benz indulged in his long-held passion of designing a horseless carriage and, coupled with the company's static gas engines, the Benz Patent Motorwagen was born.

When Was The Motorwagen Built?

When Was The Motorwagen Built?
Shutterstock
Karl Benz finished the first version of his Motorwagen in 1885, and, crucially, had it patented on 29 January 1885 as 'motorcar fuelled by gas'. The first car ever made continued to be released in different iterations over the next few years, with the Model 3 making its debut at the 1889 World's Fair in Paris. In 1894, Benz released the Benz Velo, which had 4 wheels and is considered the world's first large-scale production motorcar.

The Production Process

The Production Process
National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images
Karl Benz had actually working on the Motorwagen in parts since the 1870s, finally witnessing its release in the middle of the following decade. Unsurprisingly, given that this was the first car ever produced, production was incredibly slow - certainly by modern standards, at least. Between 1886 and 1893 Benz completed 25 Motorwagens, meaning a production rate of approximately one automobile every 3 months. This slow output was rectified, however, upon the release of the follow-up Benz Velo in 1894, of which 1,200 were eventually produced.

Design Of The Motorwagen

Design Of The Motorwagen
flickr
The Benz Patent Motorwagen was an innovative design masterpiece. A three-wheeled automobile with a rear-mounted engine, it was primarily constructed of steel tubing with woodwork panels. The steel-spoked wheels and rubber tires were designed by Benz himself, and steering was controlled by a toothed rack that pivoted the front wheel. A belt system provided a single-speed transmission and elliptic springs were used at the back with a chain drive and beam axle on both sides of the vehicle.

Fuelling The Motorwagen

Fuelling The Motorwagen
Shutterstock
Karn Benz may have patented his Motorwagen, but in 1886 there was virtually no access to combustible fuel in Mannheim. Having to think on their feet, the team at Benz & Cie instinctively turned to the crude base washing gasoline that was typically available in pharmacies, making pharmacies the unlikely first-ever gas station! It's worth noting that the very first Motorwagen didn't feature a fuel tank, but was introduced on Models 2 and 3.

How Much Did It Cost?

How Much Did It Cost?
Wikimedia Commons
Somewhat surprisingly, the price tag for the Motorwagen was incredibly affordable. Given how sophisticated and time-consuming the automobile was, a price of 600 German Goldmark's was a real bargain - this was the equivalent of $150 in 1886 or $4,500 in 2021. To give some context, the lowest ever price of the Ford Model T, generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, was $260 in 1925 during the boom of the assembly process, which is the equivalent of just under $4,000 in today's money.

Success Of The Motorwagen

Success Of The Motorwagen
Shutterstock
By all standards, the Benz Patent Motorwagen was a roaring success and it led to the expansion of Benz & Cie. Karl and Bertha's business grew exponentially, boasting 430 employees by the end of the 19th Century, making it the largest automaker in the world. Production was on an upward trajectory, Benz & Cie producing an impressive 572 units in 1899 alone. The Motorwagen paved the way for successful follow-ups, including the four-wheeled Benz Velo and the Hildebrand-Wolfmuller motorcycle. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.

💖 If you liked it, you should share it

✍ WRITTEN BY

Hugo Walker

With a background in music and an interest in all things creative, UK-based Hugo is a writer with half a decade’s experience crafting entertaining, accessible content. While his day-to-day role is within the world of tech, Hugo is equally at home writing about everything from sporting heroes to unmissable TV shows.

Join Our Newsletter
Start your day with RushExperts
DMCA
Privacy policy
About
Terms of use
Contact us
CCPA Notice
Don't sell my personal information

Copyright © 2023 Kueez Entertainment