On the Trail of the First Car: Stuttgart, Mannheim and Ladenburg

On the Trail of the First Car: Stuttgart, Mannheim and Ladenburg

This is the world’s very first car. Well, technically a replica. It’s the Benz Patent Motor Car. The automobile was born in 1886. The creator: Carl Benz. It’s more comfortable than I thought, but very, very loud. Today I’m taking you on a
journey to trace the roots of this ground breaking invention – the car. Our first stop: Mannheim – the
city where Carl Benz built his motorcar. In Ladenburg I’ll visit
the Carl Benz Automuseum. And finally, I’ll drive part of what’s
known as the Bertha Benz Route – the very first long distance trip in an automobile that was actually done by a woman. And here in Stuttgart, I’ll explore
the Mercedes-Benz Museum to find out what the future of the
automobile might look like. Back then it wasn’t as simple
as just turning the ignition key. This invention revolutionized
transportation around the world, a big step forward, even if it’s not so great for the environment. Today, there are more
than 1.5 billion cars worldwide. And this year alone, nearly 90 million
more will likely be added. Carl Benz started a long tradition
of car making and the world’s oldest brand still exists. Today it’s Mercedes-Benz. For my small journey in the
footsteps of the first car, I’m borrowing something special. No, not the Benz Patent Motor Car. That one doesn’t even reach one horsepower and only manages 16 kilometers per hour. Way too slow. That’s why I went for something
with a little more power, the legendary Mercedes W126. In the 1980s, this model was the
undisputed world leader in the luxury car segment, And still to this day, it’s the most
produced luxury sedan in the world. So I’m off to explore
car history in this beauty. But first a quick
stop at the museum shop. Soon you’ll see why. This little souvenir is
for two very special people. Alright, here we go: about 130 kilometers north from Stuttgart. First to Mannheim and then on to Ladenburg. Both cities are located between
Stuttgart and Frankfurt am Main. Here in Manheim there is a huge
monument to the famous inventor and car builder. Because it was in Mannheim that
Carl Benz built his very first car. The building of his first company,
called the Mechanical Workshop, was destroyed in World War Two. The only thing left is a silhouette
of the Patent Motor car, a reminder of the place where
automotive history was made. I’m hoping to get deeper insights in Ladenburg at the Dr. Carl Benz Automuseum. Winfried A. Seidel, a passionate car
collector, founded this museum here in a very special location. Here too, you’ll find replicas of
Carl Benz’s very first motorcars. And also faithfully reconstructed:
his original workshop from Mannheim. This was the factory in Ladenburg — shown here in the only surviving photo. Worldwide, only three vehicles
still exist that were originally built here in Ladenburg. Two of them are on display in
this museum, carefully restored. But it wasn’t just Carl. His wife, Bertha Benz, also played a
key role in the invention of the car. And in Ladenburg, Carl Benz lived in what is now the Carl Benz House
until his death in 1929. In the garden, the Benz family
had a garage built, designed like a small watchtower. It’s probably the very first garage in the world. Carl and Bertha Benz also
found their final resting place here in Ladenburg. Carl Benz invented the car,
but his wife Bertha made the first long distance drive on this very road – the Bertha Benz Route. This route commemorates
Bertha’s historic trip back in 1888. She drove a little over
100 kilometers, from Mannheim through Heidelberg all the way
to her hometown Pforzheim. With her two sons and
without telling her husband. Bertha’s journey showed incredible courage, because at the time it was a huge risk. In the small town of Wiesloch,
Bertha made a halt. This monument remembers
her legendary pit stop. Bertha had to refuel right here
at the local pharmacy, so this is the world’s first gas station. In total, including the
way back, Bertha covered more than 200 kilometers. She needed over 100 liters of water just to cool the engine. And she overcame many other
challenges along the way. Bertha Benz’s trip caused a sensation. Interest in her husband’s motor car
skyrocketed – and the foundation of a global empire was laid. I’m back at the Auto
Museum in Stuttgart. The name Benz still stands for
automobile engineering today and has shaped mobility across
many segments for decades. Cars became more
comfortable, safer and faster. After the era of gasoline and diesel engines the electric age has of course, started here too. But what does the future of mobility look like? At Mercedes-Benz, Kai Jardner
is the man in charge of such questions. His job title: Futurist. Now you know who built the first car and where. What do you think the world
would be like without cars? And how will we get around in the future? Drop a comment and let me know.

Join us on a fascinating road trip through automotive history! We visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, explore Mannheim — where Carl Benz built the first car — and follow the Bertha Benz’s legendary journey along the Bertha Benz Memorial Route. In Ladenburg, we meet a car collector whose museum showcases rare vintage models and Benz originals. A must-watch for history and car lovers!

00:00 Intro
01:05 Stuttgart, the Benz Patent Motor Car and Mercedes-Benz
02:16 Mercedes W 126
03:29 Mannheim, Carl Benz Memorial and Carl Benz’s first workshop
03:53 Ladenburg, Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz
06:06 The Carl Benz House
06:45 The Bertha Benz Memorial Route
09:59 Stuttgart, Mercedes-Benz Museum
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