Benz Velo

Lore & Background

Carl Benz's innovations led to the Patent-Motorwagen, a tricycle manufactured between 1887 and 1893. After perfecting two-wheel steering with suspension, Benz began making four-wheeled cars in 1893, including the larger Vis-a-vis and Viktoria models. The Benz Velo was a smaller, lighter vehicle that returned to light wire-wheels like those of cycles; it was a four-wheeled vehicle from the start, unlike the earlier three-wheel Patent-Motorwagen.

Reader's Guide

The Benz Velo holds significance as the world's first standardized serial production car, marking a shift from bespoke manufacturing to repeatable production. Its introduction in 1894 and continued production through 1902, with over 1,200 units built, demonstrated the viability of the automobile as a commercial product. The Velo participated in the world's first automobile race, the 1894 Paris-Rouen event organized by Le Petit Journal, where it placed fifth overall, proving that Benz's automobiles were safe and reliable. This race also gave birth to modern motorsport. The Velo was particularly popular in France, where Émile Roger built Benz engines and automobiles under license, and it was the first car introduced to South Africa, demonstrated to President Paul Kruger in 1897. Its design inspired numerous copies, including Marshall, Star, and Arnold automobiles, and influenced British inventors such as Frederick W. Lanchester, who used an electric starter first seen in the Velo.

Did You Know?

• 67 Benz Velos were built in 1894 and 134 in 1895.
• The Velo was officially introduced by Benz as the Velocipede.
• The Velo placed fifth overall in the 1894 Paris-Rouen race, the world's first automobile race.