Automobiles have existed for over a century. But did you know that many of the earliest vehicles are still operational today? Learn about the oldest running cars in the world below!
La Marquise
Named after the mother of its inventory, La Marquise was first manufactured by Count De Dion in France in 1884. Like many of the first attempts at self-propelled vehicles, La Marquise was a huge nine-foot vessel that housed twin compound steam engines and could seat up to four.
It wasn’t the most practical method of transportation, as it took roughly half an hour for the engines to heat up and produce enough steam to move. It could then only travel roughly 20 miles, but it was still an incredible technological achievement for its time. In fact, Law Marquise is credited as winning the first-ever automobile race—a 20-mile trek from Paris to Versailles and back in 1887.
Benz Patent-Motorwagen
In many ways, you could consider the Benz Patent-Motorwagen as the oldest running car in the world, even if other vehicles on our list are older. Carl Benz (of Mercedes-Benz fame) is credited with inventing the first modern car as we know them and the first production automobile, the Patent-Motorwagen.
Created in 1879 and patented in 1886, the Patent-Motorwagen is much smaller than others on our list and was considered a massive leap forward in automobile technology. Roughly 25 of Benz’s inventions were manufactured, and restored versions are still available today that can still crank out the whopping 0.75 horsepower the car produced in its heyday.
Grenville Steam Carriage
Before the Benz and Marquise inventions in France and Germany, Great Britain had its automotive breakthrough with the Grenville Steam Carriage in 1875. Robert Neville Grenville invented the two-cylinder, steam-powered carriage with assistance from railway engineer George Jackson Churchward.
The Grenville Carriage was large and not very user-friendly, as it consisted of a massive steel chassis that could seat up to seven people, including the fireman responsible for maintaining the hot boiler. The Grenville Carriage was big but could still reach up to 18 mph and is still in working condition on display at the National Motor Museum in the United Kingdon.
The Cugnot Steam Tractor
Nicolas Joseph Cugnot is credited with inventing the first self-propelled vehicle in history, designing the Cugnot Steam Tractor in France in 1769. Whether you could call this a car is debatable, but it could still move on its own via a steam engine.
Its purpose was for the military to move artillery without horses, and while Cugnot and his assistant Brezin took years to create something that could tow up to five tons for a short period, they forgot one crucial thing—brakes! The 1769 Cugnot Steam Tractor has no brakes, but it still runs like it’s the 18th century at the Paris museum where it resides.
Where To Find Classic Cars Online
While we don’t have any ancient steam tractors to offer, we still have a wide selection of custom classic cars for sale at Ideal Classic Cars! Browse our inventory online or visit our showroom in Venice, Florida, to see our selection for yourself today!
FAQs
The oldest running car in the world is La Marquise, an 1884 model made in France. It has a steam engine and three wheels. The car was entered in an 1887 exhibition race from Paris to Versailles. It was the only competitor to show up.
What are some of the oldest cars? ›
These Are the 4 Oldest Running Cars in the World
- La Marquise. Named after the mother of its inventory, La Marquise was first manufactured by Count De Dion in France in 1884. ...
- Benz Patent-Motorwagen. ...
- Grenville Steam Carriage. ...
- The Cugnot Steam Tractor. ...
- Where To Find Classic Cars Online.
Peugeot (UK: /ˈpɜːʒoʊ/, US: /p(j)uːˈʒoʊ/, French: [pøʒo]) is a French brand of automobiles owned by Stellantis. The family business that preceded the current Peugeot companies was founded in 1810, and it is regarded as the oldest car company in the world.
How much is the La Marquise car worth? ›
The $4.6 million price tag includes a 10 percent buyer's premium, which goes to the auction company.
What is the world record for the oldest car? ›
The oldest functioning car is La Marquise, a steam-powered, four-wheeled, four-seater vehicle, manufactured by De Dion Bouton et Trépardoux (France) in 1884; three years later it won the world's first automobile race, powering along the 30.5-km (19-mile) track at an average of 42 km/h (26 mph) from Paris to Neuilly, ...
What is the oldest car sold? ›
The 1884 De Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout fetched a record-breaking $4,620,000 at auction in Hershey, Pennsylvania late Friday evening, according to CNN Money.
What is the oldest running model car? ›
La Marquise is the world's oldest running automobile, as of 2011. It is an 1884 model made by Frenchmen De Dion, Bouton and Trépardoux.
What is the oldest and rarest car? ›
The Rolls-Royce 15 hp was the first model of car produced by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce in Manchester, England, in 1904. A total of six Rolls-Royce 15 hp were made and only one is known to still exist—making it one of the oldest and rarest cars on the planet.
What is the world's first car? ›
On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent for his “vehicle powered by a gas engine.” The patent – number 37435 – may be regarded as the birth certificate of the automobile. In July 1886 the newspapers reported on the first public outing of the three-wheeled Benz Patent Motor Car, model no. 1.
What is the oldest concept car in the world? ›
The Buick Y-Job is historically considered the first concept car model and was produced in 1938.
The acronym BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH, which roughly translates to the Bavarian Engine Works Company. The name harks back to the company's origin in the German state of Bavaria.
What is the oldest super car brand? ›
Europe. The Lamborghini Miura, produced from 1966 to 1973, is often said to be the first supercar. By the 1970s and 1980s the term was in regular use, if not precisely defined.
Who owns most expensive car in the world? ›
Who owns the most expensive car in the world? Only three people own the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail. According to Daily Mail, one is owned by music power couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé. The second is owned by Mauro Icardi, Argentine footballer and Galatasaray striker.
What is the oldest car still around? ›
The oldest running car in the world is La Marquise, an 1884 model made in France. It has a steam engine and three wheels. The car was entered in an 1887 exhibition race from Paris to Versailles. It was the only competitor to show up.
What is the oldest living car ever? ›
What is the oldest cat to ever live? The oldest cat to ever live was Creme Puff, a Texas cat who lived to be 38 years old and 3 days. Creme Puff was born in August 1967 and died in August 2005, according to Guinness World Records.
How old is the oldest living car? ›
2022, GWR certified "Flossie" — a brown and black British kitty with diminishing eyesight and no hearing — as the world's oldest living feline at 26 years, 316 days. The cat has since celebrated its 27th birthday.
What is the oldest American car? ›
1865 Roper Steam Carriage: The Oldest Surviving American Automobile.
What is the oldest gasoline car? ›
On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent for his “vehicle powered by a gas engine.” The patent – number 37435 – may be regarded as the birth certificate of the automobile. In July 1886 the newspapers reported on the first public outing of the three-wheeled Benz Patent Motor Car, model no.
