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The First Car in History Had 3 Wheels, a Gasoline Single-Cylinder Engine, Went 16 Km/H, and the Test Drive Was Done by a Woman; Meet the Motorwagen

Written by Ruth Rodrigues
Published on 05/08/2025 at 11:46
Descubra como o Benz Patent-Motorwagen, criado por Karl Benz em 1885, se tornou o primeiro carro da história e revolucionou a forma de se locomover. Fonte: Wikipedia
Descubra como o Benz Patent-Motorwagen, criado por Karl Benz em 1885, se tornou o primeiro carro da história e revolucionou a forma de se locomover. Fonte: Wikipedia
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Discover How the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, Created by Karl Benz in 1885, Became the First Car in History and Revolutionized the Way of Getting Around.

The first car in history was built at a time when individual mobility was limited and slow. It was in 1885 that German engineer Karl Benz presented to the world an innovative creation: the Benz Patent-Motorwagen.

With a simple design, three wheels, and a single-cylinder gasoline engine, the vehicle could reach speeds of up to 16 km/h.

Although it seems modest by today’s standards, it represented a true technological revolution at the end of the 19th century.

The Motorwagen was patented on January 29, 1886, under the name “gas-powered vehicle,” officially inaugurating the automotive era.

The Boldness of Bertha Benz and the First Test Drive of the Motorwagen

If Karl Benz was the inventor, Bertha Benz was the one responsible for proving to the world that the car had practical utility.

In 1888, without informing her husband, she made the first long-distance car trip in history. She left Mannheim and traveled over 100 kilometers to Pforzheim, Germany.

During the journey, she had to deal with several unexpected events. She used a hairpin to clean the carburetor and even improvised insulation with simple materials.

This boldness captured the attention of society and the press at the time, establishing the Motorwagen as a functional vehicle and not just a technical curiosity.

From the Motorwagen to the Popularization of Cars

The first car in history paved the way for rapid and intense evolution in the automotive sector.

From handcrafted production, the market advanced to mass manufacturing, led by Henry Ford and his Model T, launched in 1908.

Over time, automobiles became more accessible, transitioning from status symbols to essential items in people’s lives.

Today, the automotive industry offers vehicles equipped with artificial intelligence, electric motors, and integrated digital systems, features unimaginable in Karl Benz’s time.

Where Is the First Car in History Today?

The Motorwagen is a true historical relic. Different museums house some original models, such as the Deutsches Museum in Munich and the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.

They represent not only the beginning of modern mobility but also the bold vision that forever transformed the way we move around.

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Ruth Rodrigues

Formada em Ciências Biológicas pela Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), atua como redatora e divulgadora científica.

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