Siegfried Marcus: The Unsung Pioneer in the Car Industry

Siegfried Marcus, a Jewish inventor born in 1833 in Malchin, Germany, is often overlooked in discussions about the history of the car industry. Marcus began working as an apprentice mechanic at the age of 12 and later moved to Vienna, Austria, where he worked as a technician and eventually started his own business manufacturing electrical and mechanical equipment.

Marcus is credited with building the first car using a gasoline engine in 1875, around 10-15 years before Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach, and Carl Benz put utility vehicles into service. While these three individuals are considered pioneers in the car industry, Marcus’ contributions deserve recognition as well.

Around 1860, Marcus began building self-propelled vehicles and experimenting with gasoline. He invented the world’s first carburetor in 1864 and continued to improve his designs. His first vehicle had a 4-stroke gasoline engine and could reach speeds of up to 16 km/h. Later versions of his vehicles included steering mechanisms, brakes, and clutches.

Despite his significant contributions to the car industry, Marcus became a victim of Nazi propaganda after his death in 1898. His inventions were destroyed, his name erased from educational books, and public memorials to him dismantled. However, some of his work remains preserved today at the Vienna Technical Museum.