Pinoy Loves Wheels ( The Filipino Motoring Lifestyle Blog): Whom Should We Thank, Karl Benz or Henry Ford?

(Another Story I wrote for http://www.coolfastwheels.com. Publishing of stories originally from Pinoy Loves Wheels will begin on January 2013.)

Just a few nights ago, my girlfriend told me that we should thank both Mechanical Engineers and Chemical Engineers for the invention of the automobile. She told me without them, there will be no one to formulate the fluids, lubricants and fuels that we need to run our cars. And of course, who will create those internal combustion engines and suspension components that will complete the automobile?

The Cars That Moved The World. (left)Ford Model T. (right) Benz Patent Motorwagen.

After that sweet conversation of a couple who understands engineering and automobiles, it suddenly came into my mind, to whom should we say thank you for the automobile, is it to Henry Ford or to Karl Benz? Both men gave significant contributions to one of the most loved, and most desired means of transportation on earth–the automobile.

According to my research, the invention of the automobile started way back in 1769 by a French man named Nicolas Cugnot. His automobile is powered by a steamed engine, and the car runs on three wheels. And aside from Mr. Cugnot, names like Samuel Morey, Oliver Evans, and Richard Trevithick came out.

So, why did I write this piece? Only to recognize Karl Benz and Henry Ford and disregard the others? I wrote this because the former and the latter had revolutionized the automobile industry. Yes, there were inventors–or automotive engineers in this case–before them, but these entrepreneurial engineers took the risk to improve the automobile, made it usable for the people, and marketed it in the world. Imagine what will our lives be if these men didn’t revolutionize the automobile–I can hardly think of that. Ford and Benz are the gods of the automobile!

Karl Benz

This German engineer started envisioning a vehicle that would later become a horseless carriage when he was still in college studying Mechanical Engineering. And in 1885, he invented the first automobile entirely designed to generate its own power, not simply a motorized horse carriage. It is the reason why Benz was granted its patent in 1886, was recognized as the inventor of the first automobile. His invention was called the Benz Patent Motorwagen.

Benz also invented what gearheads would surely love to talk about, the clutch, the spark plug, the carburetor, the gear shift, the ignition system, the car battery and the radiator. And wait, there’s more, Karl also invented the two-stroke engine, his very own designed four stroke engine and the famous flat engine which is still used by Porsche and Subaru. Benz also designed the first truck in history in 1895. Cool, right? And his list of inventions related to the automobile goes on and on.

The first long distance travel in an automobile was done in a Benz Patent Motorwagen Model 3 by Karl’s wife, Bertha Benz. It covered a total distance of 194KMs from Mannheim, Germany to Pforzheim, Germany and back. From then on, the legacy of Karl Benz continued until this day.

Karl Benz gave a new meaning to land transportation by inventing the first car and the things that make it move. This guy could be considered as the “Ultimate Engineer”. Without his inventions, we will not be driving, racing and enjoying our cars today, especially those who were lucky enough to be able to do it in a Mercedes-Benz.

Henry Ford

In 1896, Henry Ford invented a vehicle he called the Ford Quadricycle while he was working for Thomas Edison. This invention had started his venture in creating automobiles. And in 1908, Henry Ford’s most significant contribution to the evolution of land transportation happened. Sir Henry introduced us to the first practical automobile for the masses–the Ford Model T.

The Ford Model T had its steering wheel on the left, where other car companies copied it. The entire engine and transmission were enclosed. The engine’s 4 cylinders were cast in a solid iron block, the suspension had two semi-elliptic springs, and the Model T has everything that had made this particular car very modern and user friendly back in its time.

The Ford Model T was relatively cheap, selling only for $825 in 1908, and its price fell every year that by the 1920s, it’s only selling for $240. A large number of Americans had learned to drive and had the privilege to own a Ford Model T. And the greatest thing about the Model T? It is easy to drive, easy to repair, and it can run up to 74Kph, which is very fast in that time.

Ford was able to produce 15 million units of the Model T, having the most number of mass produced automobile until it was surpassed by the cute Volkswagen Beetle in 1972.

Henry Ford revolutionized the automobile through the Model T by engineering it with practicality and reliability in mind, making it easy to drive and by making it affordable for the people, so that everyone can own and drive an automobile.

Look at how the Benz has evolved!

There we go, as we look back to the contribution of both men to enrich the automobile. We must thank Karl Benz first because he was the one who invented the first automobile with the technology that comes with the internal combustion engine to make it run and road worthy. Without Karl’s contribution, we, car enthusiasts, will not understand how our cars work, particularly in the car’s engine dynamics.

On the other hand, we must thank Henry Ford because he introduced us to a car that prioritizes practicality, reliability and affordability, he gave us the idea of the term daily driver. Henry Ford introduced as to the Model T, which every other car makers later on got their ideas to create their own automobile for the people, having cars such as the Toyota Corolla, and the Volkswagen Beetle as examples of the cars inspired by the Model T.

As I end this piece, it is clear that both men, gave equal contributions to what the automobile industry is today. Both Benz and Ford must be thanked without biases, because without their contributions, owning and driving a car wouldn’t be as satisfying and enjoying as it is now. Thank you very much, Sir Karl and Sir Henry!