Daimler and his lifelong partner Wilhelm Maybach are regarded as two workaholic inventors whose dream was to create small and high-speed engines to be mounted in any kind of locomotion device; patenting, in 1885, the prototype of the modern petrol engine, applied subsequently to: a bicycle --supposedly the first motorcycle--, a stagecoach and a boat. In late 1883, Daimler and Maybach developed the first of their engines. It was baptized the Grandfather´s Clock --Standuhr--, because Daimler's impression that resembled an old pendulum clock.

Soon after this, November 1885, Daimler installed a smaller version in a wooden bicycle, creating the first motorcycle --Patent 36-423: "Vehicle with gas or petroleum drive machine"--. It was named "riding car" --Reitwagen--. Maybach drove it 3 kilometers, from Cannstatt to Unterturkheim, reaching 12 km/h (7 mph).

In March 8, 1886, Daimler and Maybach brought a stagecoach --by Wilhelm Wimpff & Sohn-- secretly to the house, telling the neighbors that was a birthday gift for Mrs. Daimler. But indeed, Maybach supervised the installation into it of a larger Grandfather Clock. This "Reitwagen" became the first four-wheeled automobile --Karl Benz had built a three wheeled bike-car in 1885---; reaching 16 km/h (10 mph) with 1.5 hp. The engine-power was transmitted by a set of belts. It was tested again on the way to Unterturkheim.