The world’s first truck was created in 1896. One of the greatest talents in inventions, Gottlieb Daimler, sought new areas of application for his invented internal combustion engine. So he invented the motorcycle, then went on with the motorized cart, the motorized fire hose, and then, almost inevitably, the first truck 125 years ago.
From then until today, the company named after the great inventor – Daimler AG, is considered a pioneer in technology and propulsion systems in the automotive industry. Pragmatism is behind the design of the first truck. It looked more like a cart with an engine and no towbar.
The engine, called the Phoenix, was a two-cylinder four-horsepower engine located in the rear and with a displacement of 1.06 liters, originally produced for a car. Daimler connected it to the rear axle with a strap. It had two coil springs that protected the engine from the vibrations to which it was sensitive.
The vehicle was mounted on hard steel wheels. Daimler steered the front axle with a chain. The driver was sitting in the front seat like in a carriage. The engine was in the back of the car. Fuel consumption was approximately six liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers.
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