The world's first long-distance car journey – BBC REEL

In 1888, Bertha Benz, wife of automotive inventor Karl Benz, set off on a groundbreaking trip. A pioneer and investor in her own right, Bertha took the world's first combustion engine-powered car on the world's first long-distance car journey.

The 100km journey was full of inventive problem-solving. Bertha made numerous stops to source fuel, fix the carburettor and the brakes. Her trip became a vital road test of the car's good points as well as highlighting teething issues.

Video by Next Stop Stories
Executive produced & narrated by Howard Timberlake

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#bbc #bbcreel #car #history

[pipedevnull]

It was the Benz children who coined the phrase “Are we there yet?”

[Kenan-Z]

It seems that Bertha was a very brave and smart woman. She had the soul of a real pioneer. I can't imagine what she would have done if she had lived nowadays.

[EcoEnvious]

She invented the road trip!!! I wonder what kind of snacks they had along the way.

[ki]

It seems Bertha was a better mechanic than most garage mechanics today

[jasonp.]

I thoroughly enjoyed this segment. A really fun and human scale event right at the dawn of the automobile. Charmingly captured by the film team, nice work.

[Zenny]

Bertha Benz has long been my hero! She had real gumption.

[NinjaNuggets]

She was technically the first actual driver.

[mymizie]

What a wonderful woman ... I admire her so much.

[GoonGuy]

I like to imagine if her sons her arguing she’d snap at them and say “Don’t make me make you kids turn this thing around“ then they shut up

[shaylow]

What an incredible woman! Thank you for sharing this story!

[NTSVEN]

An invention that changed the way we commute.

[Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Now THIS would make for an interesting movie.

[kittipobglanarongran]

Wonderful Museum. I’m proud to drive the Mercedes Benz car in Thailand.

[Eduardo-uoqs]

Great video BBC
Congratulations
Rio-Brazil

[TheRoyalBavarian]

As a decendent of a Bavarian family I take pride in the fortitude of Bertha Benz. She is certainly the mother of German engineering.

[velavanlaack]

She was might be is the most successful angel investor

[amiralozse]

what an incredible story!
this brave an ingenious woman should be called Bertha Balls

[khalidalali]

What an incredible story, and what a wonderful couple they were.

[beakittelscherz]

Next time an USAmerican asks me if "we have even Cars in Germany" i'll send this little video over🇩🇪😂😜

[charlessands]

Bertha Benz died in 1944 at the age of 95 years and 2 days.