Daimler's first 3-wheeled automobile (1886). It has a single cylinder engine of about 4 horsepower. It runs on benzene (gasoline) bought at the local drug store.
Daimler's first 3-wheeled automobile (1886). It has a single cylinder
engine of about 4 horsepower. It runs on benzene (gasoline) bought at
the local drug store.
A better view of the motor. The cylinder lays horizontally in line with the axis of the car. The crankshaft can be seen exposed here, with the rod journal pointing to the left and the counterweights to the right. The crankshaft lies in the vertical axis, with the flywheel hung from below. The crank is right out in the open, with the main and rod bearings lubricated locomotive style with oil cups. Bevel gear drive turns the power 90 degrees and drives the large drum which takes power forward by way of a large belt to a lay shaft equipped with chain sprockets. Two chains then drive the rear wheels. There is no differential.
Cooling is by total loss. The water jacket around the cylinder is connected to a can of water (visible above the crankshaft) which eventually boild dry as you drive. They frequently used more water than gasoline when driven.
Ignition is by a spark plug fired by a "vibrator" coil, which could be heard buzzing noisily each time the crank was at the right position.
Carburetion is by a system that looks a lot like an oil lamp stuck in the path of incoming air, which evaporates gasoline (rather than atomizing it as in common vacuum carbs that came out later) into the incoming air stream. The fuel tank is the brass vessel to the left of the motor.
This is a genuine example, over 106 years old, and we heard it run for a few minutes. It could be cranked up by manually flinging the flywheel.
Side view of a slightly later Benz. This one is equipped with a very
narrow angle V-twin, with the crankshaft now transverse (parallel to the
rear axle) and the cylinders vertical.
A later, larger Daimler, with a more powerful single cylinder and
additional cooling tanks on either side. These cars shared much with
railroad engineering, and were only good for a 100 km trip or so before
you were tired and the car needed a tuneup.
Another Benz.
The first car in the world with pneumatic tires, a 1902 Benz. Pneumatic
tires were invented by a Scottsman named Dunlop.
One of the early racing machines, with a mammoth inline 6 cylinder motor.
One of the earliest "Rennwagens" (racing cars). Its amazing what 11
litres of displacement (in 4 cylinders!) can do for you.
