BENZ PATENT MOTOR CAR
Let’s start with the very beginning, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen from 1885 – or at least a replica of it – which is considered to be the first truly practical car ever. The engine was all the way in the back, was 954 cc in size, had one cylinder and not yet full horsepower.
In 1888, the Patent-Motorwagen achieved world fame when Bertha Benz, the wife of its inventor Carl Benz, took it on the first long-distance journey in the history of the automobile, from Mannheim to Pforzheim. A ride of 80 kilometers as the crow flies.
FORD T
When we talk about the beginning of automotive history, we can’t ignore this Ford T. With the Model T, Ford managed to make the production process of a car a lot simpler – and therefore cheaper – from manual production to the assembly line.
The Ford T was therefore accessible to many American middle-class families, and until 1972, 45 years after it went out of production, it was the world’s best-selling car with 15 million units sold. Then the Beetle took over that title from him. But more on that later.
AUSTIN 7
From America to England, where this Austin 7 had to compete with the Ford T. It succeeded, because on the British market this became the affordable car for the general public. In fact, the very first cars BMW and Lotus ever built were reworked versions of this Austin 7. Look it up.
FIAT TOPOLINO
This 1936 Fiat Topolino was one of the smallest cars in the world at the time and at 3.20 meters long it is indeed quite compact. If you’re wondering why they actually call the famous 1950s Fiat 500 ‘Nuova 500’ or ‘New 500’, here’s why. This Topolino is actually nothing more or less than the original Fiat 500.
CITROËN 2CV
At the Motor Show, they clearly opted for cars that made mobility accessible to a large audience, because this Citroën 2CV or 2PK revolved around simplicity: simple construction, simple steering and easy maintenance. After the Second World War, this 2CV was a hit, resulting in enormous delivery times. A bit like today.
RENAULT 4CV
If Citroën had the 2 HP, then Renault had to have the 4 HP. This 4CV, for chevaux vapeur or fiscal horsepower, was developed just like the Citroën during the Second World War and sold after the war. After a few years it became the most popular car in France. Our breakdown assistance service Touring even called on this 4CV for their services for an entire period.
VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
If you are talking about cars that were developed during World War II and became a huge success after the war, you can ignore this Volkswagen Beetle. We don’t have to tell you about the history, but that this is one of the most sought after copies: one from just after the war, with split rear window and flared indicators. It was also built in Brussels.
LAND ROVER SERIES 1
There are such cars that remain in production for decades. The Beetle for example, but also the Land Rover Defender. It only went out of production in 2016, and actually had its roots in this Land Rover Series I from 1948. According to Rover, it had to resemble the Willys Jeep in terms of philosophy, but was mainly intended for agricultural use. Hence the name Land Rover.
HONDA S800
We associate the arrival of Japanese brands in Europe with the 1970s and 1980s, but this Honda S800 already came to Europe in 1967. As a coupe and convertible, with a 0.8 liter four-cylinder that reached no less than 10,000 rpm. That’s what you get with a reputation as a motorcycle builder.
TOYOTA COROLLA
Another Japanese pioneer in our region is Toyota. They also came to Europe in the 1960s with the Corolla, and were the trailblazers for the Koreans in the 1990s and the Chinese today. We don’t have to tell you the history of the Corolla: more than 50 million have been sold worldwide to date.
MINI COOPER
Speaking of popular guys, when you talk about 1960s car history, you can’t ignore the original Mini. The first generation became world famous for its ingenious design to combine minimal outdoor space with maximum interior space. The sequel is history, both in the rally and in the last 20 years at BMW.
CITROEN DS
But according to many, the icon of the 1960s and one of the most beautiful cars ever built is this Citroën DS. It was not only the design that made this DS so remarkable, but also its technology: the hydraulic transmission, the power steering, disc brakes and later also the rotating headlights, and especially the hydropneumatic suspension. According to many, it has never been matched, not even by Citroën itself.
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
In 1974, another important chapter of automotive history began: that of the Volkswagen Golf. It was initially intended as a successor to the Beetle, but quickly conquered its own place in the C-segment. Today we are eight generations of Golf, with three-door models, five-door models, breaks, convertibles, GTIs, R-models, electric Golfs and hybrids. And then we will undoubtedly forget one more.
BMW i3
In the end, this exhibition makes a significant time jump to 2013. Not that the decades before that are not interesting, but because ten years ago electrification started to become a turning point in history. This BMW i3, for example, was one of the pioneers of the time and only went out of production last year.
TESLA MODEL S
We conclude this overview of 100 editions of the Motor Show with this Tesla Model S. Ten years ago, this Tesla was one of the few pioneers who could be called truly successful and became an important challenger for the established names, especially the premium brands. Ten years later it is still in production, and the CEO of the brand is not to be left out of the news.
