Mercedes-Benz - celebrating the 125th anniversary of the automobile - January 29, 1886

Mercedes-Benz will be celebrating the 125th anniversary of the January 29, 1886, filing of Karl Benz’s patent on his three-wheel “gas engine-powered vehicle,” which has been historically considered as the very first practical automobile. The two companies that would combine in 1926 to become Mercedes-Benz – Benz & Cie. and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft – would go on to build a few decent cars in the years that followed…

The automaker is kicking off a year-long celebration that will be held under the banner “125! Years of Innovation,” and some of the perks for fans of these über-German automobiles can be found on their special website. There you’ll find videos, downloadable wallpapers and iPhone and iPad apps. You can even see the original patent, number 37435,  filed in Berlin.

Mercedes-Benz will be sponsoring exhibitions of cars, art and historic automobilia in their Customer Centers and Galleries in Germany; a list is posted, so if you’ll be traveling overseas, you might plan a stop.

A number of prominent concours d’elegance will be hosting special Mercedes-Benz classes in 2011, and the Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car Show – to be held on August 6 on the beautiful grounds of the Saratoga Auto Museum in Saratoga Springs, New York – is no different, as Hemmings will have a special SL class in honor of the anniversary.

Anniversary Event in Germany

On 29 January 2011, Daimler is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the day Carl Benz filed his patent with a ceremonial act. Besides international guests from the automotive industry, politics, business and society, Chancellor Angela Merkel is also expected in Stuttgart as the guest of honour. The event celebrating the patent’s publication marks the start of an action-packed anniversary year, with all sorts of activities revolving around the motor car’s 125th birthday.