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Benz Patent-Motorwagen

The first car: a rear-engined open two-seater, ancestor of every roadster.

Illustration: CARZGT body-style drawing (not to scale).
Years1886–1893
BodyRoadster
LayoutRear engine
ErasThe pioneers

Why it is in the archive: Chapter zero: the first car was an open two-seater.

Versions

Specs are metric. Power is shown in PS, hp and kW.

954 cc single
Engine954 cc single-cylinder (ligroin)
InductionNaturally aspirated
Power0.68 PS · 0.67 hp · 0.50 kW
source figure: 2/3 bhp @ 400 rpm
Gearboxsingle-speed belt drive
DriveRear-wheel drive
Weight340 kg
Power to weight500.1 kg/PS · 2 PS/t
Length2,700 mm
Width1,400 mm
Height1,450 mm
Wheelbase1,450 mm

Also in this era

Mercer 35 RaceaboutMercer 35 RaceaboutMercer · 1910–1914Austro-Daimler Prince HenryAustro-Daimler Prince HenryAustro-Daimler · 1910–1914Bugatti Type 13Bugatti Type 13Bugatti · 1910–1926
Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIIIHispano-Suiza · 1911–1914Vauxhall Prince HenryVauxhall Prince HenryVauxhall · 1911–1914Stutz BearcatStutz BearcatStutz · 1912–1925

Where the facts come from

  1. Wikipedia: Benz Patent-Motorwagen — accessed 2026-10-30