The world's first diesel car from 1886 in Limassol!

The world’s first diesel car was a three-wheeled vehicle that looked more like a large tricycle. Of course, it is thanks to this contraption that we are all able to move around so easily and quickly today. The great-grandfather of Mercedes Benz, therefore, has made its way to Limassol in 2019, giving everyone a chance to see the creation of Carl Benz up close and see the evolution cars have enjoyed to the present day.

The car was built with its diesel engine placed behind the seat, and instead of a steering wheel, it had a lever that turned the wheels to the left and right.

The car’s first major journey was undertaken by its inventor’s wife, Bertha Benz, who decided to drive it along with her 2 teenage sons, in order to inspire the public’s trust in her husband Carl’s invention. This first journey, in 1888, covered a total of 180 kilometers, and took days to complete.

The engine delivers 1 horsepower and it can run up to 16 km/h. The car's interior consists of a leather seat and a wooden floor, as it was accustomed to carriages at the time. 

Carl Benz’s model was declared a World Heritage Artefact by UNESCO, and 180 carbon copies were reproduced and distributed to the world’s biggest museums. One of these copies has made its way to Limassol, and it has taken up residence in the Cyprus Historic and Classic Motor Museum. Indeed, it is the only car that has official vehicle registration, which means it is eligible to be driven around the island.