THE RECORD
What changed
Benz's 1886 patented vehicle was an early practical petrol car; Bertha Benz's journey demonstrated its use.
EVIDENCE
What remains
Vehicles, drawings, road records and production figures show system growth.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why it matters
It widened personal mobility while locking in oil dependence, crashes, sprawl and emissions.
OPEN QUESTION
Where interpretation begins
No one invented the car alone; electric and steam vehicles competed, and access was unequal.