Iconic Piece of Mercedes-Benz History Hits the Auction Block
Considered the first automobile, the Benz Patent Motorwagen made history—and a legacy.
In 1888, one woman went for one road trip, with one cylinder…and it forever changed the landscape of automobiles. That woman was Bertha Benz, wife of Mercedes-Benz co-founder Carl Benz. The car that Bertha piloted was the Benz Patent Motorwagen. It was the first car created by the automaker, it made an indelible mark on automotive history and development.
Now, you can own this iconic ride. One of the 1886 Mercedes Motorwagens is offered for sale at R.M. Sotheby’s online Palm Springs Auction. Carl Benz’s revolutionary Motorwagen was a three-wheeled carriage powered by a small single-cylinder two-stroke engine
Carl completed the Motorwagen in 1886, but he was faced with doubts and a few bad test runs. As a result, the vehicle sat gathering dust in the barn. Until Martha decided to get this show on the literal road. She took the motor vehicle out and proved it to be ready to roll after an epic 111 mile journey across Germany.
After that, Carl wasted no time in applying for a patent. It was a first on many fronts. Not only was it the first patent filed for a vehicle powered by a gas engine; it was also the first patent fired for an automobile, period.
Naturally, this vehicle doesn’t quite stack up to today’s Mercedes-Benz in terms of horsepower: the single-cylinder engine produces 3/4 horsepower. So we imagine this wouldn’t make the cut as a daily driver.
Prior to hitting the auction block, this model of the 1886 Motorwagen was displayed at the Cayman Motor Museum. This would certainly be a great find for any collection. And it is impressive how beautifully maintained this model is. The copper fuel and oil tanks and polished brass are not only aesthetically pleasing, they’re pretty fascinating.
Considering the Motorwagen, we think, “We’ve come a long way, baby.” But as far as we go, it is always fascinating to go back to the start. From Karl’s spark of ingenuity, to Martha’s grit and guts; Mercedes-Benz has an inspiring story.
The price for owning one of the few remaining Motorwagens is very reasonable, currently at about $60-80K. In light of Coronavirus, all bidding will be conducted online if you’re interested in some online shopping.
And to see more about the Motorwagen’s virgin flight, check out this video by Mercedes-Benz.
Photos: R.M. Sotheby’s
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