HORSEPOWER & SASS

The first gasoline-powered car was built by Karl Benz in 1885 — back when “horsepower” still involved actual horses and the speed limit was “don’t spook the cow.

✓ TRUE FACT
Karl Benz developed a gasoline-powered vehicle and patented his Motorwagen in the mid-1880s, often cited as a foundational moment for the modern automobile. While other inventors were experimenting too, Benz’s design and patent are among the most historically significant.

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The first gasoline-powered car was built by Karl Benz in 1885 — back when “horsepower” still involved actual horses and the speed limit was “don’t spook the cow. | SmartAss Facts