1899 Benz 8HP Rennwagen

First Benz car purpose-designed as a racing car.

With this car, Fritz Held won the class victory and the Great Gold Medal in the 193.2 km Frankfurt-Cologne endurance race at an average speed of 22.5 km/h; another 8 hp Benz, driven by Emil Graf, came 2nd. This car was successful again in 1899, its engine now tuned to 12 hp, when Fritz Held came 2nd in the Innsbruck-Munich race, and again in the Berlin-Leipzig race, where he and Richard Benz finished with the best driving time.

In 1900/01 a production racing car, based on this type, was on offer in the sales program at a price of 15,000 marks. This vehicle was fitted with a flat engine; its output had been increased to 16 hp, and it was equipped with a central lubrication, a water pump and a train of gear wheels with four forward and one reverse gear.

The weight of the car was 1150 kg. Driven by Fritz Scarisbrick from Hanau, this car finished its very first race in 2nd place. The 136 km mountain tour Eisenach-Oberhof-Meiningen-Eisenach was covered in 4 hours and 23 minutes, i.e. at an average speed of 30.1 km/h, and confirmed the advertising statement for this model which said: The car will manage any ascent.