1893 Benz Velocipede

01

Artifact Overview

Karl Benz exhibited his Velocipede at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. His automobile incorporated several impressive features for its time like a water-cooled engine, a carburetor, a gearbox, and a rear-axle differential. Benz manufactured more than 1,200 Velocipedes between 1894 and 1902, and many historians describe his "Velo" as the first production car.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Automobile

Date Made

1893

Creators

Place of Creation

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

30.1740.5

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Metal
Wood (Plant material)
Leather

Color

Brown
Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 48.5 in
Width: 50 in
Length: 83 in
Wheelbase: 52.5 in
Diameter: 33.75 in

Inscriptions

Marked inside rear deck in red paint: BENZ / MODEL / 1888