Museum to celebrate 140 years of the automobile with Benz Patent-Motorwagen exhibition
PIECE OF HISTORY
The 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the world’s first automobile. A replica goes on exhibition at the George Museum soon.
Image: Supplied
The Southern Cape Region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of South Africa is set to celebrate a monumental milestone in automotive history — the 140th anniversary of the motorcar. This occasion will be marked by the exhibition of an exact replica of the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the world’s first automobile, at the George Museum from December 15 to January 5.
The original Motorwagen, crafted by visionary inventor Carl Benz in 1885 in Mannheim, Germany, was patented on January 29, 1886 and made its public debut at the renowned Benz & Cie. factory just a few months later. At an impressive top speed of 16 km/h, the Motorwagen represented a revolutionary leap forward in transportation. Between 1886 and 1894, approximately 25 units of this pioneering vehicle were produced, with Benz later developing two subsequent models — No. 2 and No. 3.
The original 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the world’s first automobile, and a replica.
Image: Supplied
No in-depth account of the car's evolution would be complete without mentioning Bertha Benz, whose tenacity and insight led to the world's first automotive publicity breakthrough. In August 1888, she embarked on a daring journey with her sons, Eugen and Richard, travelling from Mannheim to Pforzheim in Motorwagen No. 3. This extraordinary feat demonstrated the vehicle's practicality and proved it was more than a mere novelty; it firmly established the Motorwagen’s relevance in modern history.
The patent application for the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the world’s first automobile.
Image: Supplied
The upcoming exhibition in George will also feature the historic replica during the annual Vettoer organised by the Southern Cape Old Car Club and will be highlighted at the 2026 George Old Car Show. Visitors can look forward to seeing the replica alongside other classic models, including a 1901 Benz Ideal from the Crankhandle Club and a 1913 8/20 PS Benz Tourenwagen belonging to notable collectors Waldo and René Scribante.
This significant replica is generously on loan from the Mercedes-Benz South Africa East London Plant, further illustrating their dedication to preserving and promoting the heritage of automotive innovation. The club encourages all automobile enthusiasts to step back in time and witness a piece of history that laid the groundwork for the contemporary automotive industry.
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