Beschreibung
For sale in our forthcoming auction 'Retromobile the Official Sale', on 2 February 2024 :
Unregistered
- High-quality replica
- Ex-Musée de la Colline de l'Automobile
- The very first motorcar!
- No reserve
On 29 January 1886, Karl Benz filed the patent (no. 37435) for his first "tricycle propelled by a gas engine". The 3rd of July that year saw the official presentation of the 'Dreirad Patent-Motorwagen', today considered the first car with an internal combustion engine.
The original car having disappeared, for its centenary in 1986, Mercedes-Benz decided to create a series of replicas produced by John Bentley & Sons in England, to be sent to museums and Mercedes' dealers and customers. This example was bought at a Sotheby's auction by the famous Musée de la Colline de l'Automobile in 1991 and acquired by our client when the collection was sold off at auction in 2004. It was described at the time as having the reference number 19 and being in working order. After this, this fine replica was displayed for a time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum; it has remained complete and in excellent condition. A more recent carburator has been fitted in the inside part of the original one. The quality of its execution commands admiration and makes this first milestone in the history of the car accessible to all; it is worthy of a place in the world's greatest collections.
