It will be history replayed when the Replica of the 19th century Benz Motorwagen hits Coimbatore streets on October 14 on its maiden journey to Chennai.
The 1886 Benz Motorwagen Replica will commence its non-stop 500-km Heritage Motor Drive to Chennai to set a new record. This might be the longest distance covered by a replica horseless carriage in the world says G.D. Gopal, the Managing Trustee vehicle of the Gedee Car Museum. Developed by Karl Benz, this two-seater vehicle powered by a gasoline engine created history two years after it rolled out.
Bertha Benz, wife of Karl, embarked on her first long automotive journey from Mannheim to Pforzheim. The distance covered was 194kms and the journey demonstrated the vehicle’s feasibility.
The Gedee Car Museum, which has proposed this Heritage Motor Drive, plans to cover almost three times the distance Bertha did, nearly two centuries after her car ride.
Trial run
The promoters of the event attempted a trial run of the vehicle from Coimbatore to Salem covering a distance of 164kms in June this year. “This drive gave us the confidence to undertake the 500km journey,” said Mr. Gopal. “And this will be the first non-stop drive by a vintage vehicle,” he added.
Manvendra Singh Barwani, the Maharana of Barwani, Indore, is expected to flag off the voyage.
The 1886 Benz Motorwagen Replica will commence its non-stop 500-km Heritage Motor Drive to Chennai to set a new record
