In short
On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz received a patent for the Motorwagen, a three-wheeled vehicle powered by a single-cylinder gasoline engine—the first practical automobile designed for actual use. While steam-powered vehicles existed before it, Benz's design was the first to combine an internal combustion engine with a workable transmission and chassis, and crucially, the first to be manufactured and sold to paying customers.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
The Benz Patent-Motorwagen was a belt-driven motor tricycle with a single-cylinder four-stroke engine. It was developed over the period 1884 - 1887 by the German engineer Carl Benz and is widely regarded as the first practical automobile. It was also the first car to be put into production, being manufactured and sold between 1887 and 1893.
As it was happening
12 voices, 4383 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
Benz begins engine experiments
After leaving his previous engineering positions, Carl Benz founds his own company and begins work on a reliable gas engine suitable for vehicles.
Voices from this moment (1)
Benz begins engine experiments
Jan 1
“After leaving his previous engineering positions, Carl Benz…”
As it was happening
12 voices, 4383 days.
Day 0 · January 1, 1878
Benz begins engine experiments
After leaving his previous engineering positions, Carl Benz founds his own company and begins work on a reliable gas engine suitable for vehicles.
“After leaving his previous engineering positions, Carl Benz…”
- Benz begins engine experiments, Jan 1
Day 2557 · January 1, 1885
First Motorwagen prototype completed
Benz completes a working prototype of his motorized tricycle, featuring a horizontal single-cylinder four-stroke engine with electric ignition and belt-driven rear axle.
“Benz completes a working prototype of his motorized…”
- First Motorwagen prototype completed, Jan 1
Day 2950 · January 29, 1886
Patent granted
The German Imperial Patent Office grants Carl Benz patent number 37435 for his 'vehicle powered by a gas engine.' The patent covers the entire mechanical concept, not just individual components.
“Benz has solved a problem that seemed insoluble - stable…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - German scientific and academic correspondence, 1887, Apr 22
“I have created a vehicle that requires no horses, no…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - German technical press, 1886, Feb 15
“The Benz Patent-Motorwagen is no mere novelty.”
- Synthesized from period accounts - German industrial and mechanical journals, 1887, Jan 10
“Herr Benz has demonstrated ingenuity, but a three-wheeled…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Stuttgart technical correspondence, 1886, Mar 20
“This machine may run, but can it truly replace the…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - German trade union records and street-level testimony, 1887, Jun 1
“The German Imperial Patent Office grants Carl Benz patent…”
- Patent granted, Jan 29
Day 3470 · July 3, 1887
Public demonstration
Benz's wife Bertha and their two sons take an unauthorized public test drive of the Motorwagen in Mannheim, covering approximately 106 kilometers—the first long-distance automobile journey and an effective advertisement.
“Benz's wife Bertha and their two sons take an unauthorized…”
- Public demonstration, Jul 3
Day 3652 · January 1, 1888
First commercial sale
Benz sells the first Motorwagen to Émile Roger, a businessman from Paris, marking the beginning of automobile production and sales.
“Benz sells the first Motorwagen to Émile Roger, a…”
- First commercial sale, Jan 1
Day 4018 · January 1, 1889
Paris Exposition
Benz exhibits the Motorwagen at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, gaining international recognition and attracting orders from across Europe and beyond.
“Benz exhibits the Motorwagen at the Exposition Universelle…”
- Paris Exposition, Jan 1
Day 4383 · January 1, 1890
Production scaling
With growing demand, Benz expands manufacturing capacity. The company produces approximately 25 vehicles this year, up from just a handful in 1888.
“With growing demand, Benz expands manufacturing capacity.”
- Production scaling, Jan 1
The numbers.
3 numbers that anchor the scale.
By the numbers
The countable parts.
Engine displacement
0 cubic centimeters
Output
0.00 horsepower
First commercial sale
0
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Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.Benz Patent-Motorwagen
en.wikipedia.org