Benz Patent-Motorwagen
The birth of the automobile: the first practical internal combustion vehicle.
- Power
- 1 bhp
- Top speed
- 10 mph
- Est. value
- $35k–$115k
About the Benz Patent-Motorwagen
Widely recognised as the world's first production automobile, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen was the first vehicle designed from the ground up to be powered by an internal combustion engine rather than a converted carriage. It features a lightweight steel-tube frame, three wire-spoked wheels, and a horizontal flywheel to stabilise the single-cylinder engine's output. While Karl Benz was the engineering mind, his wife Bertha proved the car's viability by completing the first long-distance road trip in 1888. Driving this pioneer requires managing a tiller for steering and a hand lever for the belt-drive transmission, offering a visceral connection to the dawn of motoring.
Benz Patent-Motorwagen specs
The Benz Patent-Motorwagen produces 1 bhp (1 kW) and 1 Nm (1 lb-ft) of torque. It has a top speed of 10 mph (16 km/h).
| Make | Benz |
|---|---|
| Model | Patent-Motorwagen |
| Trim | 0.9 |
| Years | 1886–1894 |
| Type | Classic |
| Body style | Roadster |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | About 25 built |
| Original price | About $1,000 when new |
| Engine | 0.95-litre single-cylinder |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 954 cc (1.0 litres) |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated |
| Power | 1 bhp (1 kW) at 400 rpm |
| Torque | 1 Nm (1 lb-ft) |
| Redline | 450 rpm |
| Top speed | 10 mph (16 km/h) |
| Transmission | Single-speed belt drive |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 265 kg (584 lb) |
Typical figures for the standard car; options, markets and model years vary. Where our specs come from
How much is a Benz Patent-Motorwagen worth?
A typical Benz Patent-Motorwagen is estimated to be worth $35,000 – $115,000 (about £26,000 – £86,000).
Its original price when new was about $1,000.
Values are directional estimates for a typical example, not appraisals. Condition, mileage, history and specification all change what a real car is worth. Pound figures use the exchange rate of 3 November 2026. How values are estimated
Benz Patent-Motorwagen rarity in CarSpot
The Benz Patent-Motorwagen is a Unicorn card in CarSpot, with a rarity score of 100 out of 100. The rarest tier: hypercars, one-offs and cars built in tiny numbers, typically fewer than about 500. A Unicorn card is worth 320 XP.
Each model's tier starts from a 0–100 score based on its value plus its power or production numbers. Once enough players have spotted a model, how often it is spotted can move it up or down one tier. How CarSpot rarity works
Rarity is a collectible game mechanic, not an assessment of real-world scarcity or value.
Benz Patent-Motorwagen fun facts
- The original fuel was Ligroin, a petroleum spirit that Bertha Benz had to purchase from pharmacies during her historic 106-kilometre journey.
- Karl Benz initially used a three-wheel design because he was unsatisfied with the steering systems available for four-wheeled vehicles at the time.
- The engine's massive horizontal flywheel was designed to avoid the gyroscopic effects that a vertical flywheel might have on the vehicle's steering.
