Exactly 140 years ago, in 1886, Karl Benz received a patent for what is widely considered the world’s first practical automobile, forever changing how we move.
From “Devil’s Cart” to Global Phenomenon
Table of Contents
A look back at the birth of the automobile adn a surprisingly similar Russian attempt.
- Karl Benz patented his first automobile in 1886, a three-wheeled vehicle with a 0.85-horsepower engine.
- A decade later, Russian inventors Yakovlev and Frese created a four-wheeled vehicle inspired by Benz’s design.
- Early automobiles faced skepticism,even from figures like Nicholas II,but ultimately paved the way for modern transportation.
- The essential design elements of a car – wheels, engine, and seating – were established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Dubbed an “infernal machine” or “devil’s cart” by some, the initial reaction to Benz’s invention was a mix of horror and delight.Horses reportedly shied away from the sputtering, self-propelled vehicle, while onlookers were captivated. “Its engine is in the back. As much as 0.85 horsepower. Those. There isn’t even one!” remarked Dmitry Popov,a guide at a museum complex,highlighting the modest power of the pioneering machine. The early car lacked many of the safety features we take for granted today – no roof, no seat belts, and even a rudimentary dashboard.
A Russian Response
Ten years after Benz’s breakthrough, russian inventors yakovlev and Frese presented their own take on the automobile, heavily influenced by the German design. Their vehicle, often called an ATV due to its four wheels, represented a notable modernization of the horse-drawn carriage.
the Russian car boasted features like a leather sofa, a suede roof, and a horn for signaling.It also packed a more substantial two horsepower and a transmission designed to handle the challenging Russian roads. Despite these advantages, sales were nonexistent.Even Tsar Nicholas II reportedly declined to embrace the new technology, a testament to the widespread skepticism of the era.
The Evolution of Transportation
Over time, doubt gave way to acceptance, and the once-awkward automobile became an indispensable part of daily life. the growing demands of society fueled the growth of new types of ground transport, including buses, trucks, fire engines, and racing cars. experts agree that the pioneering work of Benz and his contemporaries laid the foundation for both the Russian and international car markets.
“In those days, at the end of the 19th century, a general understanding of the geometry and shape of the car was already being established. The turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. And basically the basic idea is that four wheels are a car. Plus an engine, a sofa, and then a roof. It was all laid out in those days,” explained Popov.
Today,modern roads are filled with electric,super,and hypercars,alongside vehicles powered by fossil fuels. And who knows,perhaps the future holds even more ambitious possibilities – conquering the vastness of the universe,all from behind the wheel of our favorite car.
