Underneath its elegant exterior, this 1900 Benz boasts Benz’s Contra engine, a horizontally-opposed twin-cylinder delivering 9-10hp, and a four-speed transmission. Benz’s claims of the dos-à-dos reaching speeds of 20-25mph on level ground and scaling gradients of up to 20% attest to its engineering prowess.

A limited number of Benzes were crafted with the cataloged four-seater dos-à-dos body, and among them stands this particular gem. Its remarkable history sets it apart: when just a few years old, the initial owner of this 1900 Benz, Frederick Adolphus Hendy of Southampton, entrusted it to the local firm Andrews Coachworks. A unique front-end body was crafted there, with a seat tailored for his young daughter or granddaughter, born in 1896.