The 2016 Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run—the world’s longest running motoring event—will celebrate inventor Karl Benz’s 130-year-old patent, granted on January 29, 1886, and the early days of German motoring when the annual pilgrimage of veteran cars recreates itself once again this November 6.
The Benz Patent Motorwagen (patent number 37435) was a two-seater, three-wheeler, powered by a single-cylinder four-stroke engine mounted at the rear. First tests revealed difficulties that were remedied by development so that successful tests on public roads took place in the summer of 1886. Two years and further improvements later, a Mk III version was offered for sale, becoming the world’s first commercially available automobile.
Alongside Benz, of which six examples took part in the 2015 Run, the organizers are hoping that other veteran cars from manufacturers such as Adler, Bergmann, (German-built) Daimler, Lutzmann, Mercedes and Opel will tackle the 60-mile run from London’s Hyde Park to Brighton. Registration for the 2016 Run opened on Monday, March 28.
For more details please visit sportscardigest.com/london-brighton-2016
