Karl Benz finishes his creation in 1885…

Karl Benz finishes his creation in 1885 and names it the Benz Patent Motorwagen.

It is the first automobile entirely designed as such to generate its own power, not simply a motorized-stage coach or horse carriage, which is why Karl Benz is granted his patent and is regarded as its inventor.

The success of Benz & Cie. had given Benz the opportunity to indulge in his old passion of designing a horseless carriage.

Based on his experience with, and fondness for, bicycles, he had used similar technology when he created an automobile.

It features wire wheels (unlike carriages' wooden ones) with a four-stroke engine of his own design between the rear wheels, with a very advanced coil ignition and evaporative cooling rather than a radiator.

Power is transmitted by means of two roller chains to the rear axle.