Carl Benz’s first stationary gasoline motor was a two-stroke, one-cylinder unit that ran for the very first time on New Year’s Eve, 1879. Benz’s first gasoline engine was a one-cylinder, two-stroke team that ran for the first time on New Year’s Eve, 1879.
The two-seater car, completed in 1885, was characterized by a compact four-stroke single-cylinder engine with high speed installed horizontally on the rear. It also featured a tubular steel chassis, a differential, and three wire-spoked rims. Engine output was 0.75 horsepower (0.55kW). Details included an automatic inlet slide, a controlled exhale valve, a high voltage electrical vibrator ignition, a spark plug, and water/thermosiphon evaporation cooling.
The first automobile
Carl Benz filed a patent on January 29, 1886, for his “vehicle with a gas-powered engine.” The patent number 37435 is considered the birth certificate for the automobile. The newspapers published the first report of the public debut of the three-wheeled Benz Patent Motor Car model number in July 1886. 1.
More Information
The Forerunners of the Automobile
The Benz Patent Motor Car
The Benz-Patent as part of the World Documentary Heritage
Mercedes-Benz Museum: Visitor information
Bertha Benz’s long-distance trip (1888).
Bertha Benz, her sons Eugene and Richard on their long-distance journey with the Benz Patent Motor Car in August 1888.
Bertha Benz, her sons Eugen (15) and Richard (14), and their wife Bertha Benz embarked without the knowledge of her husband on a long-distance trip in August 1888. They took a few detours on their way from Mannheim to Pforzheim, where Bertha Benz was born. Bertha Benz showed the world the practicality and efficiency of the automobile with this 180-kilometer journey, including the return journey. Her daring, and that of both her sons, and the decisive stimulus that resulted would have made it impossible for Benz & Cie. to grow from a small automobile company in Mannheim into the largest auto plant of the time.
Double-pivot steering, contra engine, planetary gear transmission (1891 – 1897)
Carl Benz patented the double-pivot steering system in 1893. This solved one of the most pressing problems for automobiles. The first Benz to use this steering system, the Victoria with a three-hp engine (2.2-kW), was built in 1893. It was followed by slightly larger quantities of cars with different body styles. The Benz Velo, a lightweight, compact vehicle that was durable and affordable, was built in 1200 units as the world’s very first production vehicle.
The “twin engine”, consisting of parallel horizontal units of single-cylinders, was developed in 1897. However, this design proved to be unsatisfactory. The “contra engine,” in which the cylinders are arranged opposite to each other, was developed immediately afterward. The horizontally opposed piston engine was born. This unit was always installed at the back by Benz up until 1900. It generated 16 hp (12 kW).
Carl Benz first filed a patent for the double pivot steering in 1893. The Benz Patent Motor Car Victoria was the vehicle that had the feature.
Double-pivot steering, contra engine, planetary gear transmission (1891 – 1897)
Carl Benz patented the double-pivot steering system in 1893. This solved one of the most pressing problems for automobiles. The first Benz to use this steering system, the Victoria with a three-hp engine (2.2-kW), was built in 1893. It was followed by slightly larger quantities of cars with different body styles. Benz Velo, a compact, lightweight, and durable car, was built in 1200 units as the world’s very first production vehicle.
The “twin engine,” consisting of parallel horizontal units of single cylinders, was developed in 1897. However, this design proved to be unsatisfactory. The “contra engine,” in which the cylinders are arranged opposite to each other, was developed immediately afterward. The horizontally opposed piston engine was born. This unit was always installed at the back by Benz up until 1900. It generated 16 hp (12 kW).
