Frankfurt Auto Show visitors get rides in replicas of the 1886 Benz Motor-Wagen

But my favorite part of the whole show involved not a new car, but one that was 121 years old. Mercedes had several replicas of the 1886 Benz Motor-Wagen, the first car. Young ladies in period costume were driving them around and giving rides to pretty much anyone who asked.

“Hey, can I have a ride?” I asked.

“Yes, of course,” said the girl, who identified herself as Bertha Benz.

Now you’d have to be a real Benz-O-Phile to know that Bertha was the real name of Karl Benz’ real wife. While Karl got the patent to the Motor-Wagen in 1886, it apparently hadn’t caught on, “Bertha” explained while we chug-chugged around the plaza between buildings of the Auto Show. So one day, August 5, 1888, without asking her husband’s permission, Bertha loaded their two sons onto the Wagen and drove 66 miles from Mannheim to Pforzheim.

The engine was a one-cylinder longitudinal horizontal layout that cranked an enormous flywheel. To start it you grabbed the flywheel and spun it. It fired every fourth stroke, spinning a drum around which was wrapped a belt that then spun the drive shaft and the big spoked wheel. Steering was by a tiller, the pinion of which operated a tiny rack that turned the lone front wheel.

They made one stop at a pharmacy in Weisloch for gas. The pharmacy was where you bought gas in those days. The stop made the Weisloch pharmacy the first gas station. They stopped two other times. Once she had to use her hair pin to unclog the carburetor and once she fixed an electrical cable with her garter. All true, Bertha explained as we motored between Hall 3 and Hall 5.

There we were surrounded by the highest-tech automobiles the world had ever seen and the one that got my attention was the oldest and possibly lowest-tech car ever made.

We saw AutoWeek news editor Gritzinger and chased him around. Almost got him, too.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070912/FREE/309120002/1024/FREE

david989 - 9/13/2007 9:55:26 AM

-3 Boost

Its amazing that an unreliable and unsafe POS like this is still allowed to drive. People could have been killed if this thing crashed against a wall. I don't see how this car could be special. It is so slow and primitive. How the hell was Benz was known for safety and innovation with such a primitive car? The engine is loud and unrefined and it has like what? A 1 speed transmission? Pathetic and overrated junk.

Kinger - 9/13/2007 11:36:34 AM

+5 Boost

Hilarious, I know you're baing sarcastic but just on the very slight chance you are actually legitimate... it's 121 years old for crying out loud.

david989 - 9/13/2007 1:05:46 PM

-1 Boost

Sarcastic? Me? Never. I am as serious as you can get.

Consider this. This is the first Mercedes right? Slow, unprotected, unreliable, overpriced, terrible handling...

Now consider one of the first Lexus cars, the LS400. See the difference? Basically Lexus was and is far more advanced than Mercedes. Benz first car was this thing, Lexus first car was the LS400 and it was instantly class leading, fast, reliable, lowest emissions, stable at 200 mph+ and so much more.

Htay7500 - 9/13/2007 2:50:30 PM

+2 Boost

lmao, this is the 1st car in the world you idiot. 1886 is totally different than 1989. theres nothing special. oh the sarcasm.

Kinger - 9/14/2007 10:43:12 AM

+1 Boost

Well, corrected I stand, clearly you are legitimate david989.

ICON - 9/13/2007 1:36:52 PM

+2 Boost

Thanks for the article. How is that for lineage?

w209w114 - 9/13/2007 3:47:38 PM

+1 Boost

Wow. Bertha was a real trooper!!!

She unclogged the carburator with a hair pin and fixed an electrical cable with her garter? DAMN!

My girlfriend cant even change a tire. Much less point out anything in the engine bay.