The Benz Patent-Motorwagen, built all the way back in 1885 and patented the following year, is widely regarded as the first practical automobile ever made.
Not only did this three-wheeled, single-cylinder vehicle give birth to the car as we now know it, but it also played an important role in the evolution of the Mercedes-Benz company we know today, launched in 1926 when Carl Benz entered a merger with Daimler.
Since then, Mercedes-Benz has launched some of the most innovative vehicles the world has seen, particularly in its understated yet cutting edge S-Class range.
If you’ve ever wanted to reflect on just how far cars have come over the years, though, we’ve got the perfect weekend watch for you.
British technology YouTuber ‘Mrwhosetheboss’ recently had the chance to film with 140 years’ worth of cars from the Mercedes-Benz Museum heritage collection.
Starting with an 1889 example of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, he goes on to show the 1928 Mercedes-Benz Nürburg, 1954 Ponton, 1972 ‘W116’ S-Class, 1979 ‘W126’ S-Class, 1991 ‘W140’ S-Class, 1998 ‘W220’ S-Class, 2005 ‘W221’ S-Class, 2013 ‘W222’ S-Class, 2020 ‘W223’ S-Class and its 2026 facelift model, and the 2027 Vision V concept.
Not only does this video highlight how automotive technology has evolved over the years, from manual crank engines through to autonomous driving, it also highlights how the way cars have been designed and built has evolved as well.
Take a look at the full 35-minute video for yourself below:
