The original stationary gasoline engine developed by Carl Benz was a one cylinder two-stroke engine, which was shown for the first time on New Year's Eve, 1879. Benz had so much commercial success with this engine that he was able to devote more time to create a lightweight car powered by a gasoline engine, in which chassis and engine formed a single unit.
The primary feature was a compact high-speed single cylinder four stroke engine installed horizontally at the rear. Details included an automatic intake slide, a controlled exhaust valve, high voltage electrical vibrator ignition with a spark plug, and water /thermo siphon evaporation cooling.