Antique

Benz Patentwagen
1886

Resembling a cross between a park bench and a tricycle, the Patentwagen was the foundation for the car. In early 1886, German engineer Karl Benz filed the first patent (hence the name) for a gasoline-powered motorized vehicle, and he changed history. Naturally, it looks a lot like a horse-drawn carriage, as that's how people got around back then, and that's what Benz had to work with. Although the four-cycle engine puts out less than one horsepower, it has a massive flywheel to harness the energy that is generated, and it makes for surprisingly smooth takeoffs. Even the most basic things, like lights, doors, a roof, not to mention any sort of electronics or safety gear, were all in the future. Hence, the view from the seat is wonderfully unobstructed. Herr Benz would later get together with Gottlieb Daimler, and together they formed what is today known as Mercedes-Benz. The Patentwagen is a transportation icon and certainly among the most significant automobiles ever built.

Behind the Wheel:

All of the original models have long since gone to that junkyard in the sky. The only option is to buy a 2002 replica (or, even easier, load up Gran Turismo 4 on your computer, as the P-Wagen is one of the vehicle choices).

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz