1900 Benz 20HP Rennwagen

First Benz car with inclined steering column:This racing car, developed by Georg Diehl and equipped with a horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine with an output of 20 hp, was the first Benz racing car with an inclined steering-column and a steering wheel instead of the customary horizontal steering handle. This car, driven by Benz' 25-year-old chief mechanic Mathias Bender, won the 48 km Frankfurt international circuit race on 29 July 1900 with a driving time of 1:00:38, i.e. at an average speed of 47.5 km/h. Fritz Scarisbrick came 2nd with the 16 hp two-cylinder model.

Story by DaimlerChrysler