What Did the First Car Look Like?

Written by

CarParts.com Research Team

Automotive and Tech Writers

Updated on July 4th, 2025

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Summary
  • The Benz Patent Motor Car was a two-seater with two wheels at the back and one in front.
  • The world’s first car was developed by Carl Benz in 1886.
  • It had a single cylinder, four-stroke engine with a tubular steel frame, as well as a differential and three wire-spoked wheels.

Q: What Did the First Car Look Like?

A: The first car looked more like a tricycle than it did a gasoline-powered machine. It was a two-seater vehicle with two wheels at the back and one in front.

The first car didn’t have windshields, doors, turn signals, or a round steering wheel.

Carl Benz received the patent for his three-wheeled vehicle with engine gas drive on January 29, 1886. The Benz Patent Motor Car had a single cylinder, four-stroke engine with a tubular steel frame, as well as a differential and three wire-spoked wheels. 

The first car didn’t look like much compared to today’s modern vehicles, but it already had an automatic intake slide, a controlled exhaust valve, electrical vibrator ignition, and water evaporation cooling. 

As for the engine, it produced 0.75 hp or 0.55kW. 

The first car didn’t have windshields, doors, turn signals, or a round steering wheel. It also needed to be hand-cranked to get the engine going. 

It wasn’t until 1908 that Ford’s 1908 Model T redefined the idea of a modern car. The Model T was arguably one of the most popular automobiles. Because it was mass-produced, it was more affordable for the average person.

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