can be fascinating. From knowing who invented the traffic light to when speed limits were first posted and which car museums are must-sees, true car history buffs always love learning more about their favorite subject.

So buckle up, because we're going for a ride through the history of some of the oldest cars in the world that still run!

Before cars had steering wheels, steering was done using a lever.

1895 Panhard et Levassor

That's right, the 1895 Panhard et Levassor was one of the first vehicles to have a steering wheel rather than just a steering lever. This vehicle is actually the newest model on our list.

According to

Hotcars

, engineers and friends Panhard and Levassor crafted their second car with an engine in the front, instead of the rear engine they’d originally tried. The two-cylinder engine cranks out 4 horsepower even today.

The stylishly curvy vehicle featured an exposed seat up front for the driver. A cozy semi-enclosed rear compartment (complete with a rain guard) kept the passengers comfortably out of the weather.

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1879 Benz Motorwagen

MORE: The Mercedes-Benz Star Logo: Celebrating 100 Years

Long before there was ever a Mercedes-Benz, there was a Benz Motorwagen. This was Carl Benz's first motorized vehicle and it debuted way back in 1879. This three-wheeled wonder looks remarkably like an oversized tricycle, albeit with a bench seat for two.

This beautifully restored wood, metal, and leather model was finished in 1886 and runs perfectly today. However, don't expect it to break any speed limits. Its rear-mounted engine only boasts a modest 0.75 horsepower.

1769 Cugnot Steamer: the oldest car in the world

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Well, it may not necessarily be the oldest car, but it’s definitely the oldest vehicle. The 1769 Cugnot Steamer was a French military vehicle designed to make transporting cannons and other field artillery easier. It was the first self-propelled vehicle and it still runs today—after a bit of tinkering and elbow grease, that is.

It features a large flat platform atop three wooden wheels and it's powered by an enormous steam engine on the back end. The ponderous boiler was cranky and reportedly required a great deal of attention to keep it running. However, the fact that this beast ran at all is remarkable. Especially when you consider that the first steam locomotive didn't debut until 35 years later.

Modern cars are lasting longer

now than they used to. However, they're unlikely to last as long as the vehicles on this list. In 2021, the average age of vehicles on the road was 12.1 years. That's an improvement on previous years, but still a long way from the 100-plus-year mark that most of these beauties set.

Even with a reliable car, it’s best to prepare for the worst with your car insurance. Let the friendly experts at

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Car History

Written By

Hannah DeWitt · Expert Insurance Writer

Hannah is a recent college graduate with a degree in English Creative Writing from Seattle Pacific University. Currently located in Washington State, she's interested in applying her craft in news areas across new subjects, using her skills to stretch her comfort zone. Outside of writing articles about cars and insurance, Hannah is drawn to Creative Nonfiction writing, though she loves a good fiction book. In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading, playing basketball, sunny hikes in the PNW, and flexing her creative muscles through art.

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