History

Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz were born in southern Germany about 10 years and 60 miles apart. Although it's doubtful these two boys ever met or even knew what the other was doing, they were both fascinated by machines.

Daimler was the first man to create a recognized internal combustion vehicle and the first to incorporate a practical transmission system. Shortly after the patent for this combustion motor was applied for, Carl Benz was granted a German patent covering a three-wheel motor car.

In 1866 Daimler built a four-wheeler Victoria-type motor driven carriage. By 1890 the demands for this engine made expansion necessary. A corporation was formed, the Daimler Motor Company. Benz and several associates were also forming a corporation, the Benz & Company, in Mannheim, Germany.

In the first recorded auto race sponsored by the Petit-Journal of Paris in 1894, Daimler built engines were the first three winning cars. Over the years the Daimler built cars continually gained prestige for their high-speed performance.

Daimler continued his automotive research and was credited with many inventions prior to his death in 1900. He left control of his company to his chief engineer Wilhelm Mayback.

Emil Jellinek of Vienna, a wealthy banker-sportsman, was very impressed by the success of the Daimler motor in racing competition. In the early 1890's he purchased controlling stock interest in Daimler. Jellinek encouraged Daimler to create what was to be the most powerful car of its day. In 1900 the 4-cylinder Daimler was completed. The car was christened in honor of Emil Jellinek's beautiful daughter, Mercedes. The new car was an immediate sensation.

Following the war, the social unrest and a falling economy made automobile production increasingly disastrous. After a few attempts to merge Benz and Company with Daimler Motor Company an agreement was made and the two companies merged on June 28, 1926.