1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen
It is both an homage and a unique opportunity to own an otherwise unobtainable piece of history—the very first automobile.
When Karl Benz applied for a patent on January 29, 1886 for his "vehicle with gas engine operation," little did he realize that his invention would change the world. Patent DRP 37435 is regarded as the birth certificate of the automobile. With test drives carried out in the autumn of 1885, the Benz Patent Motor Car was the world's first automobile.
Exact in the tiniest details, this replica serves as the perfect centerpiece of any significant Mercedes-Benz collection or as brilliant static art in your living room. The vehicle is drivable just as the original was and will delight both the driver and onlookers with its unique operation. It is both an homage and a unique opportunity to own an otherwise-unobtainable piece of history . . . the very first automobile.
The finish work on this model is absolutely show quality in every way. From the beautifully finished wood to the polished brass and flawless paintwork, it truly is a piece to be displayed as art rather than as a transportation appliance. It’s fascinating to see the primitive ancestors of many components that we may still recognize today, including the carburetor, differential and a very early version of the CVT (constantly variable transmission). It has no miles and has been housed in a private museum.
This is 1 of only 175 black replicas produced and built exclusively for Mercedes-Benz of America. Each Mercedes-Benz dealer was allocated only one to be displayed in their dealership in 2006 for the anniversary of the first Benz. This is a limited edition that is available for sale only infrequently.
Many authorities note that these Bentley-built replicas have become a commodity in and of themselves, with a stable, known value to collectors. Because of their primitive nature, very few are actually driven, and many, like this one, remain in factory-fresh condition. It is not unreasonable to assume that their values will continue to remain steady for the foreseeable future—as “Sports Car Market” magazine puts it: “Unless a stahlrad wagen replica owner's club forms and puts on a wine and cheese tour in Bordeaux that would make these cars the flavor of the month, they will always sell for the cost of production. And compared to most "instant" collectibles, that's a smokin' deal.”
