The First Automobile – IOTW Report

The First Automobile

Daimler: 1885–1886- The first stationary gasoline engine developed by Carl Benz was a one-cylinder two-stroke unit which ran for the first time on New Year’s Eve 1879. Benz had so much commercial success with this engine that he was able to devote more time to his dream of creating a lightweight car powered by a gasoline engine, in which the chassis and engine formed a single unit.

daimler.com

The major features of the two-seater vehicle, which was completed in 1885, were the compact high-speed single-cylinder four-stroke engine installed horizontally at the rear, the tubular steel frame, the differential and three wire-spoked wheels. The engine output was 0.75 hp (0.55 kW). Details included an automatic intake slide, a controlled exhaust valve, high-voltage electrical vibrator ignition with spark plug, and water/thermo siphon evaporation cooling. more here

13 Comments on The First Automobile

  1. “One cylinder, two stroke motor” idea mysteriously came to 12 year old Carl Benz late at night when he was thinking of Lilly Langtree…I might be wrong…..

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  2. I was behind that on my way into town this evening to pick up a pizza. That and a forklift and haybaler.

    But at least there were no bicyclists. I hate those city slickers.

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  3. If you are only considering gasoline powered vehicles, I guess you can say this was the first.
    Some French guy named Cugnot built a steam powered one over 100 years earlier. He also had the first vehicle collision.

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  4. @jethro.
    First aircraft accident killed an army guy and nearly the pilot, Orville Wright, at fort Myer prez Grover Cleveland wanted to board that flight but was a 300 pounder. I think.

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  5. I’ve watched enough television to know that the Flintstones were driving before Benz existed. First functional gasoline powered vehicle would be more accurate.

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