1900 Benz Ideal 4.5 PS Single Cylinder VIS-À-VIS

The first internal combustion-engined car which performed with any degree of success was developed by German engineer Carl Benz and was a spindly three-wheeler with massive horizontally-mounted engine. Following Carl Benz's first faltering run in that car in the Autumn of 1885 the German Press wrote, 'this engine – vélocipede will make a strong appeal to a large circle, as it should prove itself quite practical and useful to doctors, travellers and lovers of sport.' This first effort developed not less than 0.9hp giving a top speed approaching 8mph. By 1892 Benz cars had four wheels and the Vélocipede (Vélo) introduced in 1894 had a single-cylinder engine developing 1.5hp.

The Velo was the best selling car of its day and engine refinements resulted in 3½hp being developed by 1895 or so. This highly successful 3½hp engine was to remain the backbone of production for Benz cars through to 1900. Many other manufacturers tried to imitate Benz's work. Benz meanwhile sold licenses to other European manufacturers such as Hurtu, Star and Marshall. The basic Benz design was to influence motor car production from 1885 to 1900 and only the arrival of the new 'Système Panhard' and also De Dion Bouton's fast-revving vertical engines were to sound its deathknell.

As with any manufacturer the product evolved over time, and they added models to the range but most adhered closely the Vélo theme. Catalogued from 1898, one of those was the "Ideal", a term which resonates in many languages and for those who wanted to get from point A to point B without a horse, it was most certainly just that. With the advent of the Ideal the body or coachwork now sat on a flat platform as opposed to the undulating Velo frame, across from the main two seats was a small additional seating space, albeit the passengers being rather exposed and out front was a small bonnet presumably to make it the car appear a little more like its front engined competitors. In this form, the Benz Patent Motorwagen would survive through to 1902, when its concepts gave way to more modern designs.

The Ideal of 1900 also featured an intermediary mechanical gearbox, which provided three speeds and reverse in the belt and chain final drive system. Solid tyres were still the order of the day in 1900 but suspension was good with full elliptic front and semi-elliptic rear springing and also a full elliptic transverse front spring.

This is a very fine example of the late Patent Motorwagen in single cylinder form and is almost certainly one of a number of these cars that were originally supplied new to Great Britain as it still wears its original supplier plaque from British Agents, Hewetson's Ltd. of London's Oxford and Dean Streets.

Descriptions & pictures by bonhams & en.wheelsage