Benz Velo
Year:
1895
Manufacturer:
Benz
Number Produced:
Unknown
Specifications:
Single cylinder, 110mm bore, 110mm stroke
1045cc (1.5 hp at 760 rpm)
Top speed 30 km/h (18.75 mph)
Description:
This vehicle was purchased by Mr Nicolas Oates of Christchurch while in Paris in 1900. He took it to England and it is believed the Benz was actually assembled for him by the Raglan Cycle Company. After driving over 1,000 miles there he had it shipped to his home town in New Zealand where it arrived shortly before the turn of the century.
The remarkable car which is considered to be the oldest car in New Zealand, still starts on the first pull of the flywheel and was considered years ahead of its competitors with a mechanically operated inlet valve.
The vehicle has been restored to its original specifications as supplied by the Daimler-Benz museum in Stuttgart, and is one of only two remaining models of this year in the world.
The Benz is a 1.5 horsepower one cylinder rear engine machine. The motor runs very slowly with 750 r.p.m. being about maximum. The two speed transmission has no reverse and final drive is by belts and chain. The handbrake works on the solid rear tyres and the foot brake works on small drums inside the rear wheels. This design varied only slightly from 1893 to 1901.