This is a replica of the world’s first motor car built by Carl Benz. Although he drove his invention around his home town of Mannheim, Germany, the first long distance journey was completed by his wife, Bertha. 

Using an improved version and without her husband’s knowledge, in August 1888, Bertha took the car on a return trip to her home town of Pforzheim to try and demonstrate its viability as reliable transport. Accompanied by her two teenage sons, she took a route that totalled more than 120 miles.

During the daring journey, she had to make several emergency repairs; unblocking a fuel line with a hat-pin, employing a blacksmith to repair the drive chain, finding a cobbler to reline the brakes with shoe leather and even using her garter to insulate electrical wiring! She also bought ligroin (a petroleum spirit) from a pharmacy to top up the fuel.

The simple three-wheeled car is powered by a one-litre, single-cylinder engine, placed horizontally behind the seats. It develops less than one horsepower and weighs ‘about half a horse’. The crankshaft and flywheel can be clearly seen and drive to the wheels is by a belt and then chains.

Bertha Benz's courage and daring made sure that the motor car was a success on its release at the end of that summer, marking a key step towards modern motoring. It was the first commercially available automobile in history.

This working replica of Benz's carriage was donated to the Museum by Bonhams auctioneers.