A Brief History Of The Motor Car

---

Benz Patent Motorwagon Replica 1886

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MOTOR CAR

No one is quite sure when or who invented the first motor vehicle we know that Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz built experimental cars as early as 1885 and that Benz was the first to manufacture and sell his vehicles to the general public. However, as early as 1873 an Austrian engineer built three gasoline driven cars that were tested and achieved a speed in excess of five miles an hour... (The average speed of a horse and buggy). Earlier still around 1838 passenger steam carriages were in city use in France and England. There were various attempts to develop workable steam vehicles for private use with four principle manufacturers, "Serpollet" in France and "White"..."Stanley" and "Doble" in the USA. The last two were still manufacturing and selling steam vehicles in the 1920's.

As early as 1899 a Belgian designed and drove an electric car that reached 65.7 mph and won the title of achieving the Land Speed Record. Four years later Gobron Brillie (French) achieved a speed of 103.56 mph, six years later at the famous Brooklands race track in England a, six point four liter, six cylinders Napier set a new record of averaging 75 mph over a twenty four hour period. The idea of setting new records was simple, the car got full media coverage and in consequence would be purchasers (Mostly wealthy people), would be introduced to the performance of the name not that it made much difference as in most countries road conditions did not encourage fast or even moderate driving outside of the cities. Speed limits in most populated areas were around Fifteen to Twenty miles an hour.

Mercedes-Simplex 40 PS 1902

In 1901 the first Mercedes four cylinder car was produced, often known as the first modern car with such features as a pressed steel frame, gate gear change and the then new honeycomb radiator. It would be another twenty two years before the name Benz was added to the product when the Benz Company became part of the Mercedes operation.

Oldsmobile 1901

The first American car was built by the Duryea brothers in 1893 however, Ransom Eli Olds produced the "Oldsmobile" at the turn of the century better know was the "Gas Buggy", single cylinder engine with a two speed gear drive with a chain transmission. Not very practical for the roads of that period but it was ideal for city transport. In 1904 the car was brought up to modern standards with the replacement of the tiller steering with a steering wheel! Top speed claimed to be twenty miles an hour. There was a famous song of the time dedicated to this car I will leave you to guess the title.

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Barker Seven Passenger Tourer 1907

In a previous article I have given the reader an introduction to the Ford Motor Company so I will skip that and move on to the most well known car in the world the "Rolls Royce" designed to be the most perfect car in the world which of course it never was but it did come close with the first entry, the seven point seven liter "Silver Ghost" that was introduced in 1907 and was produced for the next nineteen years. The name was chosen because of the almost silent engine when it car was being driven, in fact this became the principle selling point in company with luxury refinements and a life time guarantee.

Peugeot Bebe BP1 Two Seater 1914

Moving from one extreme to another the 1913 "BeBe Peugeot" (France) was the first of the miniature cars with a 850 cc engine and a top speed of 35 mph. Such vehicles as the Fiat 500, the Mini the Austin Seven were inspired by this vehicle years later. Peugeot went on to be one of the most successful manufacturers in Europe and is still turning out attractive vehicles.

Next time we will look at the post World War One period when vehicle manufacturing came of age especially here in the USA.

BACK TO TOP