1903 Benz Parsifal Touring Car
THF88895 / 1903 Benz Parsifal Touring Car
01
Artifact Overview
Karl Benz's Parsifal signaled the transition from the concept of a motorized carriage to a modern automobile. Unlike a motorized carriage, Benz positioned the engine in the front of the vehicle as opposed to under the seat. This allowed the car to be built closer to the ground, which provided better handling for drivers and easier accessibility.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1903
Creators
Place of Creation
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
30.1725.3
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Metal
Wood (Plant material)
Leather
Color
Brown
Black (Color)
Red
Dimensions
Height: 59 in
Width: 53.25 in
Length: 118.5 in
Inscriptions
On hubs: BENZ MANNHEIM
Keywords |
|---|
02
Related Content
SetAmerican Auto Industry, 1805-2010
- 21 Artifacts
This vehicle is the oldest surviving American automobile. In the 1860s, a small steam carriage running under its own power -- without horses! -- was so startling that people paid to see it driven. It was a curiosity, not transportation. By the time its inventor, Sylvester Roper, died in 1896, new innovators were transforming horseless carriages from curiosities into practical vehicles.