Automotive History -- Nicholas-Joseph Cugnot

Has anyone ever told you that the Benz Motorwagen was the first car?  Well, if they did, they are very wrong.  There were, in fact, many cars before the Benz Motorwagen, but the car I am about to tell you about was the very first.  I am, of course, talking about the Cugnot Steamer.
          In 1965, Nicholas-Joseph Cugnot conceived the idea of a self-propelled land vehicle.  He worked on his idea for four years, and, in 1769, finally showed it to the public.  He claimed that it could carry up to four tons, and travel at a top speed of 4.8mph, but, at least in practice, in only ever got up to the speed of 2.25mph. It could seat four people, but could only go short distances before needing to have the boiler refilled, and the entire thing restarted.  Thus, it had a very short range, and bad reliability.  The boiler was bad quality, even for its time.  It also had bad stability, due to the fact that it only had three wheels.
          The Cugnot Steamer is most famously known, however, for being involved in the first car crash.  In 1771, it was reported that Nicholas-Joseph Cugnot drove his Steamer into a wall in France, breaking right through it, and then was arrested for dangerous driving.
            So there you have it.  The first car in the Automotive History series, and one that should be remembered.