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There is no single unqualified “first” in the early history of four-wheel drive. Ferdinand Porsche’s Lohner-Porsche electric vehicle was presented in 1900 and is described by Porsche Holding and Germany’s patent office as the first all-wheel-drive car. The Spyker 60-HP followed as a different milestone: the Louwman Museum calls it the first petrol-driven car with four-wheel drive. One used electric motors at the wheels; the other used a petrol engine and transmission.
Ferdinand Porsche’s electric all-wheel-drive milestone
In 1900, Ferdinand Porsche presented an electric vehicle with wheel-hub motors at the Paris exposition. Porsche Holding describes it as the world’s first four-wheel-drive car, while the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) identifies a four-hub-motor version of the Lohner-Porsche electric car as the first all-wheel-drive car.
The key distinction is its propulsion: electric motors were located in the wheel hubs. This is not the same system as a petrol engine powering both axles through a transmission. The DPMA’s account of Ferdinand Porsche’s work is available at Ferdinand Porsche; Porsche Holding’s account is at Ferdinand Porsche.
The Spyker 60-HP: the first petrol-driven four-wheel-drive car
The Spyker 60-HP was commissioned by Jacobus Spijker as a racing car for the 1903 Paris–Madrid race. It was not ready in time for the event and was presented in Paris in December 1903. The Louwman Museum credits Belgian engineer Joseph Valentin Laviolette with the car’s six-cylinder engine and transmission design, which drove both the front and rear wheels.
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- Revell Plastic Model Car Kit #85-4521 is skill level 4 and contains 109 parts. Recommended for ages 12 and up.
- Assembled Dimensions: 7.00"x3.13"x2.19"
- 3.2-liter flat six engine. Positional front wheels & movable engine cover. Fuchs style wheels & optional front chin spoiler.
- Choice of left or right-hand drive version and either US or Euro spec front turn indicators and rear bumper guards.
- Molded in white and clear with soft black tires. Paint and glue not included.
The museum describes the car’s distinction this way: “This was the first car in the world to be equipped with a six-cylinder engine, the first petrol-driven car with four-wheel drive and the first car with a braking system connected to all four wheels.” That braking feature is separate from the Lohner-Porsche’s wheel-hub-motor layout. The Louwman Museum’s Spyker 60-HP collection entry documents the car.
Why the Spyker’s date needs qualification
The English-language Louwman page identifies the Spyker as a 1903 racing car, while the museum’s Dutch account says it was presented in 1903 but was probably built in 1902. The earlier construction date is therefore probable, not settled; its Paris presentation in December 1903 is the clearer milestone. See the museum’s Dutch Spyker 60HP account.
Rank #2
- This plastic model requires assembly and painting. Adhesives, tools, paints, etc., sold separately
- 1/24 scale unpainted plastic assembly kit
- Size when assembled: total length 7.5 inches (190 mm), total width 3.3 inches (85 mm), total height 2.2 inches (
- The air vents are opened on each part of the body and equipped with rectifier fins to create an impressive appearance
- Decals show carbon, dashboard, mesh seat and door upholstery
How the two milestones differ
| Vehicle | Propulsion | How power reached the wheels | Purpose and chronology | Claimed milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lohner-Porsche electric car | Electric | Wheel-hub motors; the DPMA identifies a four-hub-motor variant. | Presented at the Paris exposition in 1900. | First all-wheel-drive car, according to Porsche Holding and the DPMA. |
| Spyker 60-HP | Petrol | A transmission drove both front and rear wheels. | Commissioned for the 1903 Paris–Madrid race; presented in Paris in December 1903 after missing the race. The museum says it was probably built in 1902. | First petrol-driven car with four-wheel drive, according to the Louwman Museum. |
Where to see these cars
The Louwman Museum documents the Spyker 60-HP in its collection. The Porsche Museum lists the Lohner-Porsche Semper Vivus among its exhibits; its exhibition page provides museum context. Current visiting logistics are not established here, so check each museum directly for up-to-date access details.
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- Don't miss your chance to add one of the fastest production cars to you model collection with this 129-pc model kit
- Model Scale 1:24
- Recommended for ages 12 and up
- Paint and glue sold separately
Rank #3
- Scale: 1: 24.
- Length 179 mm.
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