Visitors to this year's Malahide Classic and Vintage Car Show, organised by Malahide Lions Club, will have the chance to view a full-size, fully-working replica of the world's first motor car, the 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen, writes Trish Whelan.Exact in every detail to the original patented design created by Karl Benz some 128 years ago, the car was engineered by apprentices at the Mercedes-Benz headquarters in Stuttgart and is one of a very limited number produced by them to mark the centenary of the motorcar. It is now in the ownership of Motor Distributors Limited, concessionaires for Mercedes-Benz in Ireland.
Also on display at Malahide will be some 100 classic and vintage cars that, collectively, portray how the motorcar has evolved over a century since it was invented. Last year, around 3,000 visitors attended the event when the centerpiece exhibit was Ireland's first motorcar, a Benz Velo Comfortable imported into Ireland by Dr Colohan, then owner of what is now the Grand Hotel.
Entrance to the event, which takes place in Malahide village on Sunday, 18 May, is €5 per adult or €10 per family with proceeds going to St Francis' Hospice in Raheny and other charitable causes.
Note: Brian Byrne and myself are pictured with this particular car at the Irish launch of the Mercedes-Benz CLS at the Ritz Carlton Hotel some years ago.
