Historic rally celebrates first cars

The 1894 Benz Victoria, owned by Karl-Heinz Rehkopf, pictured at the start of last year's London to Brighton veteran car run, will be the oldest car to enter this year's rally. Photo / Supplied

The Royal Automobile Club will celebrate November's London to Brighton veteran car run with two companies arguably credited with the birth of the motoring industry, Mercedes-Benz and Bosch.

Both German companies mark their 125th birthdays and will sponsor the 115th anniversary of the world's longest running motoring event.

On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz filed an application in Berlin for a patent on his three-wheeled motor car.

This date has long since been considered the official birthday of the motor car while the first Mercedes-Benz brand name vehicles were produced in 1926, following the merger of Carl Benz' and Gottlieb Daimler's businesses.

Robert Bosch opened the Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering in Stuttgart in November 1886.

The earliest Bosch overseas agency was established in Britain in 1898.

The company's first significant technology, low tension magneto ignition, was used for stationary combustion engines and subsequently adapted in 1897 for automotive applications.

The "magneto from Bosch" was highlighted by Carl Benz as the solution for the "problem of problems".

Bosch has continued to develop automotive innovations such as electronic engine management, the ESP anti-lock braking system and common-rail diesel technology.