Steam tricycle

The first steam tricycle – and probably the first true self-propelled land vehicle – was Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot's 1769 Fardier à vapeur (steam dray), a three-wheeled machine with a top speed of around 3 km/h (2 mph) originally designed for hauling artillery.

The Long steam tricycle appears to be one of the earliest preserved examples, built by George A.

Long around 1880 and patented some time around 1882; an example is on display at the Smithsonian Institution.

Although numerous orders were reportedly placed, British law made such vehicles essentially illegal on the public roads.

A small steam tricycle was built by Albert, Comte de Dion in 1887.