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One hundred and thirty-seven years have passed since that memorable day when the German mechanic and inventor Karl Benz rode out of the gates of his house in an incredibly creaky, slow and gasoline-stinking carriage, which, by some unimaginable miracle, moved itself, without the slightest participation of horses. Benz's neighbors did not yet assume that they had witnessed a landmark event - the beginning of the automobile era.

Decades have passed since then, mankind has found a replacement for almost everything that was invented in the 19th century, but the car is still in strongest demand all over the world. Then, at the turn of the century many, many years ago, the leading global brands of the rapidly developing automotive industry were both the well-known Ford, Mercedes-Benz or Renault, and the long-gone Isotta Fraschini, Lorraine-Dietrich or Hispano-Suiza.

And the appearance of cars over almost a century and a half has changed beyond recognition. From clumsy strollers, noisy and smelling of smoke, with thin wheels on spokes and completely unsafe on the road, they have acquired swift streamlined shapes, artificial intelligence to assist the driver, while safety has become a key factor in the design of new models. Safety and beauty, of course.

Bored Panda has compiled for you a special selection of comparison illustrations of what the first or one of the first cars of famous contemporary brands looked like compared to some of their latest models. So please feel free to look at these photos, admire the evolution of engineering and design ideas, and do not forget to scroll to the very end and, of course, write your comments below. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!

#2

Audi Typ B (1910) vs. Audi RS7 Sportback (2019)

Audi Typ B (1910) vs. Audi RS7 Sportback (2019)

Dirk Wessner , Rutger van der Maar Report

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T. Smith
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really wish there was a late 70's or midway time-line photo in this series. Obviously where my heart lies but also to show a common drastic design change in most lines. Still fascinating!

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#3

Hyundai Pony (1975) vs. Hyundai Tucson (2022)

Hyundai Pony (1975) vs. Hyundai Tucson (2022)

julio lamadrid , Charles Report

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bElLa sTairZz
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

id say its a downgrade tbh, the newer models look souless, whereas the older ones have personality and an organic feel to them

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Interestingly, the first actual car thief in history had the same last name as its creator. And indeed, in 1888, Bertha Benz, the wife of the author of the first car in history, behind her husband's back and without informing the local authorities, got behind the wheel with her two teen sons and drove to a neighboring city to visit their relatives.

The journey of Bertha Benz took more than a hundred kilometers and became a real sensation all over the world. You can even say that it was Bertha who drew everyone's attention to her husband's invention, proving that a car is not a toy, but a real vehicle. By the way, during her trip, the woman bought gasoline at local pharmacies, where it was sold as a cleaning agent.

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#4

Citroen Type C (1921) vs. Citroen C5 Aircross (2019)

Citroen Type C (1921) vs. Citroen C5 Aircross (2019)

gerard , crash71100 Report

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Hugh Cookson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a 20 year love affair with Citroens - everything from CX's (3) to SM's (2) (the initials denote Sado Masochism) via a few BX's, a couple of XM's and a completely bonkers, bloody annoying and wonderful Safari that I converted into a lovely and very comfortable, small motorhome (OK, maybe not a motorhome but good for getting away for a weekend and not paying for hotels), which, having lavished about £1000 back in 1995, shorted something out one night and burst into flames 2 weeks after completing the year long project - burned the bloody garage down as well, bastard ...... Bugger.

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#5

Chrysler Airflow (1935) vs. Chrysler 300C Tourer (2019)

Chrysler Airflow (1935) vs. Chrysler 300C Tourer (2019)

dave_7 , crash71100 Report

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Notice how the new model evokes the front end of the older model? Like paying homage to the past by bringing it forward into the present.

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Eight years after Bertha Benz's memorable journey, the first ticket in the history of mankind for speeding was issued. The historic offender was Briton Walter Arnold, who was driving his car at an unimaginable speed of 8 miles per hour. There were no traffic rules then, so the police fined Arnold as if he was riding a horse-drawn carriage.

#7

Honda T360 (1963) vs. Honda CR-V Hybrid (2018)

Honda T360 (1963) vs. Honda CR-V Hybrid (2018)

Kzaral , Rutger van der Maar Report

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Crzwaco
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That Honda T360 looks pretty sweet. I would love to see an updated version of it, but keep the ascetic.

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#8

Jaguar D-Type (1955) vs. Jaguar F-Type R-Dynamic (2021)

Jaguar D-Type (1955) vs. Jaguar F-Type R-Dynamic (2021)

Hugh Llewelyn , Alexandre Prevot Report

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Fabian Bernard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First Jaguar was the Swallow, also a licence produced Austin Seven. Then came the SS90

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#9

Bentley 3 Litre (1919) vs. Bentley Continental GTC (2016)

Bentley 3 Litre (1919) vs. Bentley Continental GTC (2016)

David Merrett , Andrew Bone Report

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James016
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here is an all Bentley drag race featuring a Bentley Blower which is 93 years old. https://youtu.be/-GSoqzDkVDc

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By the way, despite the fact that Walter Arnold was the first driver fined for speeding, he never became the first racer in history - after all, the first car race took place a year before his incident. The race was the idea of ​​H.H. Kohlsaat, the publisher of the Chicago Times-Herald.

Hoping to promote this new industry and sell more papers, Kohlsaat announced "A Prize for Motors," with a $5,000 purse for "inventors who can construct practicable, self propelling road carriages." The race was originally planned to run from Chicago to Milwaukee, but bad roads forced a shorter course, and it became a 54-mile course from Chicago to Evanston and back.

The official race was held on Thanksgiving Day in temperatures around 30 degrees Fahrenheit, with 6 inches of fresh snow and drifts of up to 24 inches. Almost 80 entrants had been promised, but only 11 agreed to run in such weather, and just six cars arrived at the start line. Only two entrants finished and the winner of the first race ever was J. Frank Duryea.

#10

BMW Dixi (1928) vs. BMW Z4 (2022)

BMW Dixi (1928) vs. BMW Z4 (2022)

Jimmy Baikovicius , Hugh Llewelyn Report

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Fabian Bernard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Dixi was a licence product of the Austin Seven ( So was also the french Rosengart LR2)

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#11

Dodge Model 30 (1918) vs. Dodge Viper RT/10 (2018)

Dodge Model 30 (1918) vs. Dodge Viper RT/10 (2018)

Martin Vahning , Alexandre Prevot Report

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#12

Mazda R360 (1960) vs. Mazda MX30 (2020)

Mazda R360 (1960) vs. Mazda MX30 (2020)

FotoSleuth , Dennis Elzinga Report

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Chucky Cheezburger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look at that lil thing! It's like a go-cart. I bet it would be fun to drive if it has some pep.

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Today, the automotive industry continues to evolve as every year there are faster, smarter and safer cars, more and more like futuristic land-based versions of spaceships. But no matter how technically perfect they were, it all started then, one hundred and thirty-seven years ago, in the quiet German town of Mannheim, when Karl Benz, scaring away all the surrounding dogs and to the delight of the neighboring children, rolled out his home-made unit onto the road, marking the birth of a new era.

#13

Fiat 3HP (1899) vs. Fiat 500X (2015)

Fiat 3HP (1899) vs. Fiat 500X (2015)

sv1ambo , Karlis Dambrans Report

#14

Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1885) vs. Mercedes-Benz EQS (2022)

Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1885) vs. Mercedes-Benz EQS (2022)

F. D. Richards , Alexandre Prevot Report

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Ralph K.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The first motor car in the world, and the first city-to-city-drive was made by Bertha Benz from Mannheim to Pforzheim in a day (today it's about an hour ride).

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#15

Porsche 356 (1948) vs. Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe (2021)

Porsche 356 (1948) vs. Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe (2021)

photobeppus , photobeppus Report

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#17

Buick Model B (1904) vs. Buick Envision Premium (2020)

Buick Model B (1904) vs. Buick Envision Premium (2020)

Steve Brown , Greg Gjerdingen Report

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Wilf
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Good job Mr Buick. It'll look great when you've finished it".... "It IS finished"..... "oh, I see...."

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#18

Renault Type AX (1908) vs. Renault Arkana (2021)

Renault Type AX (1908) vs. Renault Arkana (2021)

Alexandre Prevot , RLGNZLZ Report

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Strahd Ivarius
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Renault ads a few years ago you had a guy coming to a Renault repair shop with a car like the Type AX for maintenance...

#19

Ford Quadricycle (1896) vs. Ford Puma (2019)

Ford Quadricycle (1896) vs. Ford Puma (2019)

Cars Down Under , Rutger van der Maar Report

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Jen F
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like I'd have to wear my finest top hat and monocle in a quadricycle

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#20

Toyota Model Aa Sedan (1936) vs. Toyota Corolla Cross (2022)

Toyota Model Aa Sedan (1936) vs. Toyota Corolla Cross (2022)

Cars Down Under , RLGNZLZ Report

#21

Volvo OV4 (1927) vs. Volvo XC90 (2019)

Volvo OV4 (1927) vs. Volvo XC90 (2019)

Paul Sanders , crash71100 Report

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James016
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s the old XC90. Not the current one. Plus they have just announced the EX90 EV

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#22

Chevrolet Series H-2 (1914) vs. Chevrolet Tracker 1.2 Turbo LS (2022)

Chevrolet Series H-2 (1914) vs. Chevrolet Tracker 1.2 Turbo LS (2022)

Cars Down Under , RLGNZLZ Report

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Epona
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, did people in 1914 not care about wind or rain or hail or snow? I know movies/TV shows from that era/set in that era show that drivers and passenger wore "car coats" that were heavy, thick wool or leather treated with oil to make it waterproof, but still.

#23

Mitsubishi Model A (1917) vs. Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (2021)

Mitsubishi Model A (1917) vs. Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (2021)

Rutger van der Maar , Rutger van der Maar Report

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Epona
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not for overweight people then, the 1917 car? I like it. Very sleek!

#24

Nissan Datsun Type 16 Coupe (1937) vs. Nissan X-Trail (2022)

Nissan Datsun Type 16 Coupe (1937) vs. Nissan X-Trail (2022)

Cars Down Under , Masahiko OHKUBO Report

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