Rare Car Archive

Makes › Opel Germany › Patent Motor Car · Rare production · 1899–1901

Opel
Patent Motor Car

First Opel car, 65 produced.

Still being researched: why it matters, identification guide, full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · OPEL PATENT MOTOR CAR 1899–1901
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
?ProductionNot yet verified
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
Not yet verified
Years
1899–1901
Engine
Single cylinder, horizontal, mounted at the rear, open crankcase · 1,545 cc / 1.5 LFactory: 1,545 cc
Power
2.57 kW / 3.5 PSFactory: 3.5 PS
Top speed
20 km/hFactory: 20 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Friedrich Lutzmann
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed Production figure not yet verified.
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

No production figures recorded yet.

History

Friedrich Lutzmann showed his Patent Motorwagen at the first International Motor Car Exhibition (IAA) in 1897. In 1899 Adam Opel’s sons bought his Dessau works, and the car became Opel’s first automobile.

In 1901 a modified Motorwagen won a hill climb at Königsstuhl near Heidelberg, averaging 26 km/h.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Patent Motor Car.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutSingle cylinder, horizontal, mounted at the rear, open crankcase1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Cylinders11 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Displacement 1,545 cc / 1.5 LFactory: 1,545 cc1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry. The same page also states 1,5 Liter.
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 2.57 kW / 3.5 PSFactory: 3.5 PS1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Power atNot yet verified
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxNot yet verified
GearsNot yet verified
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
WheelbaseNot yet verified
Length 215 cmFactory: 215 cm1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Width 144 cmFactory: 144 cm1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Height 135 cmFactory: 135 cm1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 20 km/hFactory: 20 km/h1 Independently researchedApproximate figure ('ca.'). From an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Opel Patent Motorwagen System Lutzmann Level D Sachsen-Anhalt-Wiki
    • einem Zylinder im Heck liegend und offenem Gehäuse
    • einem Zylinder im Heck liegend
    • Hubraum: 1545cm
    • hatte 3,5 PS
    • Länge: 215 cm
    • Breite: 144 cm
    • Höhe: 135 cm
    • Höchstgeschwindigkeit von ca. 20 km/h
    Accessed 2026-11-13

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