All the way back to 1885. A two-seater vehicle by Carl Benz featured compact high-speed single-cylinder four-stroke engine, steel-spoked wheels and solid rubber tires of Benz’s own design. The engine output was 0.75 hp (0.55 kW). Details included an automatic intake slide, a controlled exhaust valve, high-voltage electrical vibrator ignition with spark plug, and water/thermo siphon evaporation cooling.
The Benz Patent-Motorwagen was luxury at its finest from the start having dark green framing and ironwork, varnished wood platform, a wooden tool box, with polished brass and copper.
