The Southern Cape Region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of South Africa has announced the exhibition of an exact replica of the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the world's first automobile, in celebration of the upcoming 140th Anniversary of the motorcar.
Originally built by Carl Benz in 1885 in Mannheim, Germany, the Motorwagen was patented on 29 January 1886 and publicly unveiled on 3 July 1886, achieving a then-remarkable top speed of 16 km / h. Carl Benz later developed two further versions — Models No. 2 and No. 3 — with approximately 25 Motorwagens produced between 1886 and 1894, says Mercedes.
No story of the automobile is complete without Bertha Benz, whose determination and vision provided the world's first automotive publicity breakthrough. In August 1888, Bertha took the Motorwagen No. 3 — accompanied by her sons Eugen, aged 15, and Richard, aged14 — on the first-ever long-distance journey in an internal combustion vehicle. Her trip from Mannheim, through Heidelberg, to Pforzheim aimed to prove the practicality of the new invention and cement the Motorwagen's place in history, adds Mercedes.
The replica 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen is on display at the George Museum from 15 December until 5 January 2026. It is also featured in the annual Vettoer organised by the Southern Cape Old Car Club, and later form a highlight of the 2026 George Old Car Show. There it will appear in a Benz showcase alongside a 1901 Benz Ideal (Crankhandle Club) and Waldo and René Scribante's 1913 8 / 20 PS Benz Tourenwagen, says Mercedes.
This historically significant replica is kindly on loan from the Mercedes-Benz South Africa East London Plant, aiming to underscore its commitment to preserving and sharing the origins of automotive innovation, concludes Mercedes.
For more information, visit www.mercedes-benz.co.za. You can also follow Mercedes Benz South Africa on Facebook, X, or on Instagram.
*Image courtesy of contributor