The birth of the automobile can be traced back to the late 19th century, with key inventors such as Karl Benz, who is often credited with creating the first practical gasoline-powered car in 1885. His invention, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, marked the beginning of a transportation revolution. Early automobiles were a far cry from the sleek, efficient machines we know today. They were often large, clunky, and required a great deal of manual effort to operate. State News Time