Thursday, July 03, 2008

Today In History: Smallest Car Show Ever.

On this day in 1886, Karl Benz unveiled his Patent Motorwagen in Mannheim, Germany.

Attendees of modern car shows wouldn't have recognized the scene. Parking was free, there was no awful traffic around the venue, and not one booth bimbo was hawking car wax by suggestively rubbing a fender.

8 comments:

Jeffro said...

No wimmen in bikinis?

We've come such a long way since then.

theirritablearchitect said...

If you want to see the Patentwagen in person, or if you are just a serious gearhead, I'd suggest making a trip to the Benz museum in Stuttgart sometime before you die.

It's neat.

Tam, you'd love it.

Anonymous said...

"...and not one booth bimbo was hawking car wax by suggestively rubbing a fender."

Well of course not, given that implants, brightly colored spandex and slash and burn style groundskeeping hadn't been invented yet.

I don't know what's worse, girls that spend thousands to have something that looks like a volleyball was split and mounted in their chest (well, general area. one under the armpit, the other over the opposite rack of ribs, one pointed towards the floor and to the outside at a 45 degree angle, the other aimed skyward as if it's the opening day of dove season), or the boys that think they're the kitten's toes. Nothing says "I've never been with a good big pair" like drooling over implants.

Cue the dinged pride "I'm a gourmand, not a gourmet" style responses...

theirritablearchitect said...

"Well of course not, given that implants, brightly colored spandex and slash and burn style groundskeeping hadn't been invented yet.

Yes, but the traditional Dirndl was being worn at the time, and in my opinion, seeing die Fraeuleins talking it up around das Auto has its own appeal. Even now.

Anonymous said...

"Good beer and sausage. Why's every chick around here blonde?"

"Where do you think all those 'relocated' Swedes ended up?"

"Ahh. I dig the boob dresses."

Anonymous said...

Worst of all, no cool concept cars.

Fuzzy Curmudgeon said...

Why go to Germany to see a Benz? You can go to the Smithsonian and see Elwood Haynes' "Pioneer" vehicle instead, and not even have to leave the country.

(Just thinkin' American on the third of July.)

Tam said...

"Worst of all, no cool concept cars."

They were all cool concept cars back then. ;)

"You can go to the Smithsonian and see Elwood Haynes' "Pioneer" vehicle instead, and not even have to leave the country."

They've moved the Smithsonian back to America? Cool!
(I guess Heller was a start.)