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Who invented the automobile?

Last updated on: July 20, 2006 11:19 IST
Vintage cars

From horse-drawn vehicles to steam powered engines to cars that make James Bond drool, the global automobile industry has seen sea change. Take the rediff biz quiz to find out how much you know about vintage cars.

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1. Who invented the world's first automobile?
a) Karl Benz
b) Rudolf Diesel
c) Nicolas Cugnot

2. Who invented the 1st electric vehicle?
a) Robert Anderson
b) Thomas Davenport
c) Gaston Plante

3. Who developed the 1st kerosene engine?
a) George Brayton
c) Siegfried Marcus
b) Nikolaus August Otto

Wrong! Try again..
Wrong!
The correct answer is George Brayton.
In 1873, George Brayton, an American engineer, developed an unsuccessful two-stroke kerosene engine (it used two external pumping cylinders). However, it was considered the first safe and practical oil engine.
Around 1870, in Vienna, capital of Austria (then, the Austro-Hungarian Empire), inventor Siegfried Marcus put an internal liquid fuel engine on a simple handcart.
In 1876 Nikolaus August Otto invented and later patented a successful four-stroke engine, known as the 'Otto Cycle.'
Charles Franklin Kettering invented the first automobile electrical ignition system and the first practical engine-driven generator.
Correct!
In 1873, George Brayton, an American engineer, developed an unsuccessful two-stroke kerosene engine (it used two external pumping cylinders). However, it was considered the first safe and practical oil engine.
Around 1870, in Vienna, capital of Austria (then, the Austro-Hungarian Empire), inventor Siegfried Marcus put an internal liquid fuel engine on a simple handcart.
In 1876 Nikolaus August Otto invented and later patented a successful four-stroke engine, known as the 'Otto Cycle.'
Charles Franklin Kettering invented the first automobile electrical ignition system and the first practical engine-driven generator.

4. Henry Ford's 1st car was...
a) A delivery wagon
c) Model T Ford
b) Neither

Wrong! Try again..
Wrong!
The correct answer is Neither.
On June 4, 1896 in a tiny workshop behind his home on 58 Bagley Avenue, Henry Ford put the finishing touches on his gasoline-powered motorcar. He dubbed his creation the 'Quadricycle,' because it ran on four bicycle tires. This ultimately led to the founding of the Ford Motor Company in 1903.
On January 12, 1900, the Detroit Automobile Company released its first commercial automobile -- a delivery wagon -- designed by Henry Ford. The first production Model T Ford was assembled at the Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit on October 1, 1908.
Correct!
On June 4, 1896 in a tiny workshop behind his home on 58 Bagley Avenue, Henry Ford put the finishing touches on his gasoline-powered motorcar. He dubbed his creation the 'Quadricycle,' because it ran on four bicycle tires. This ultimately led to the founding of the Ford Motor Company in 1903.
On January 12, 1900, the Detroit Automobile Company released its first commercial automobile -- a delivery wagon -- designed by Henry Ford. The first production Model T Ford was assembled at the Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit on October 1, 1908.

5. Who produced the 1st internal combustion engines for cars?
a) Gottlieb Daimler
b) Henry Royce
c) Karl Benz

Wrong! Try again..
Wrong!
The correct answer is Karl Benz.
The Benz Motorwagen, built in 1885, was patented on January, 29 1886 by Karl Benz as the first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine.
1888, a major breakthrough came with the historic drive undertaken by Bertha Benz. She drove an automobile that her husband had built for a distance of more than 106 km (approximately 65 miles).
Bertha Benz's historic drive is celebrated as an annual holiday in Germany with rallies of antique automobiles.
Correct!
The Benz Motorwagen, built in 1885, was patented on January, 29 1886 by Karl Benz as the first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine.
1888, a major breakthrough came with the historic drive undertaken by Bertha Benz. She drove an automobile that her husband had built for a distance of more than 106 km (approximately 65 miles).
Bertha Benz's historic drive is celebrated as an annual holiday in Germany with rallies of antique automobiles.

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