The motor car emerged in the 1880s, when several inventors in Europe fitted light internal combustion engines to wheeled carriages. Karl Benz built the Patent-Motorwagen in Mannheim and patented it in 1886, and Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Stuttgart developed a fast, high-speed engine used in their own vehicles. In 1888 Bertha Benz made the first long-distance journey in a car, driving about a hundred kilometres to demonstrate its practicality. Steam-powered road vehicles had existed earlier, for example Nicolas Cugnot's in 1769. Cars remained expensive until Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908 and the moving assembly line in 1913, which brought them within reach of ordinary families. The automobile reshaped cities, industry and daily life across the world.
Before and after
- 29 July 1883Birth of Benito Mussolini
- 12 August 1883The last quagga dies in Amsterdam
- 19 August 1883Birth of Coco Chanel
- 14 November 1883Publication of Treasure Island
- 1884Car
- 1884Founding of Leicester City F.C.
- 1884Publication of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- from 1884 to 1966Basutoland
- from 1884 to 1920German colonial empire
More in Science & technology
- 1766Discovery of hydrogen
- 1771Discovery of oxygen
- 1789Discovery of carbon
- 1825Discovery of aluminium
- 18 August 1868Discovery of helium
- 1898Discovery of krypton
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.