Benz, 1886, Motorwagen, Modell 1

Benz & Co. “Modell 1”, 1886

In 1885 Karl Benz (Germany 1844-1929), almost at the same time of the other German technician Gottlieb Daimler, built a tricycle with a petrol-driven engine which he tested himself, around Mannheim streets, where people were amazed by seeing it.

The carriage “without horses” was about to be invented.

The “Velociped” is considered the first petrol-fuelled car in the world and was designed in three different versions from 1886 to 1888.
The third model became famous because of Benz’s wife, named Bertha, who drove it on August 1888, from Mannheim to Pforzheim, with her two sons.

The car shown in the Museum is a perfect replica of Modell 1, named “Velociped”, patented on January 29th, 1886 with the n° 37 435.

Benz didn’t only fit the engine to a carriage, replacing the horses, but he was the first who imagined a purpose-built chassis. The 1-speed “Velociped” working was very simple: the four-stroke horizontal monocylinder engine, without carter, lubricated by oilers and with ignition by Ruhmkorff coil and evaporation carburetor, transmitted the power to a secondary shaft with differential through a leather belt. The motion was transmitted to the wheels through the chains.

This first model produced 0.75 bhp at 400 rpm, could reach the incredible top speed of 16 kph!

The car was part of the prestigious “Collection de Mercedes du Musée de Schiffdorf”, following the premature passing of the collector Rolf Meyer it was then bought by Luciano Nicolis.

Historic photos from Wikipedia.

WATCH THE VIDEO Bertha Benz: The Journey That Changed Everything, Mercedes-Benz.

2019, 100 MITI Exhibition.