Benz Mylord Victoria

The quality of Karl Benzs automobiles is clearly evident from this car: even though it is over 120 years old, it is still in beautiful condition.

With its leather hood, leather mudguards, 'dos-à-dos' seating arrangement, the twin-cylinder Mylord was regarded as a 'super-luxury' model in its day. Legend has it that in 1893 Karl Benz called his first four-wheeled car ‘Victoria’ to celebrate his victory over a problem with the steering by inventing and patenting double-pivot steering technology. It is more likely, however, that the car was named after the Victoria, a type of carriage, something that was quite common in those days. Nevertheless it was the first time a production car had been given a distinctive model name. In 1897 Benz introduced a flat-twin ‘Kontra-Motor’ which was more powerful and smoother-running that the original single-cylinder engine. This type of engine later became known as a ‘boxer’. Karl Benz, who disliked change, refused to alter the basic design of his cars despite falling sales.