Henry Ford II with the 1885 Benz Scale Replica at Henry Ford Museum, April 1985

THF271197 / Henry Ford II with the 1885 Benz Scale Replica at Henry Ford Museum, April 1985 / detail
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Artifact Overview

Henry Ford II commemorated the centennial of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1985. Built in Germany by engineer Karl Benz in 1885, the Motorwagen generally is credited with being the first self-propelled vehicle designed around the internal combustion engine. The one-fifth scale model was given to Mr. Ford's grandfather, Henry Ford, on his 75th birthday in 1938.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Slide (Photograph)

Subject Date

April 1985

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

EI.1929.T.28220.C

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Color

Multicolored

Dimensions

Height: 2.000 in
Width: 2.000 in

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    Artifact

    Working Model of First Automobile, Gifted to Henry Ford in 1938

    The automobile's invention cannot be traced to any one person, place or moment in time. However, historians generally credit the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, built in Germany by engineer Karl Benz in 1885, with being the first self-propelled vehicle designed around an internal combustion engine. This one-fifth-scale replica was given to Henry Ford by Daimler-Benz Company on Ford's 75th birthday.