Benz

Karol Benz was born in 1844. in Karlsruhe as the son of a train driver. He has been attending for several semesters! to the polytechnic, but he did not finish his studies and started working as a mechanic in a mechanical plant in Karlsruhe. 27-year-old Benz, wishing to become financially independent, he set up his own machine shop in Mannheim and started producing engines. When he found partners, transformed the plant into a joint stock company under the name Mannheimer Gasmotorenfabrik AG. Because the patent for the four-stroke engine was owned by Otto, Benz's first engines were two-stroke. Benz has long dreamed of building an entire car. Finding no support from his partners for their plans, withdrew from the company, he sold his shares and, with the help of the iron trader Max Rose, set up his own factory, Benz Co. Rhenish gas engine factory. At last, he had the conditions to make his dreams come true - to design and build his own car. Meanwhile, Otta's patent has expired. The Benz was therefore able to refine the four-stroke engine, which already had higher revolutions and lower curb weight, than the engines known at the time, therefore also suitable for use in a vehicle. For his first car with 1885 r. Benz chose a three-wheel chassis with one front wheel, steered by an ordinary crank.

Only in 1893 In the year, the first Benz four-wheeled car appeared, which was produced in short series under the name Victoria. The later type of Benz was the velo - the precursor to the more popular comfortable type. Both vehicles were two-seater. The four-seater models were named depending on the arrangement of the seats vis-a-vis (face to each other) or dos-a-dos (back to back).

In the first years of the 20th century, the Benz & Co. found herself in financial trouble and in 1903 r. Benz had to part with the Mannheim plant.

In day 29 June 1926 r. Benz company & Co. Rhenish automobile and engine factory, AG in Mannheim merges with the Daimler Motorengesellschaft in Stuttgart-Unterturheim and the world-famous Daimler-Benz AG plant is established..