Leonardo da Vinci was credited in 2004 with anticipating the car when a model of one of his drawings was hailed as the first self-propelling vehicle conceived. The wooden model, featured in an exhibition at Florence’s Science History Museum, is driven by springs. It is also the first projected vehicle with programmable steering. It took technicians 7 years to make it.
“It’s absolutely typical of Leonardo,” said Prof Carlo Pedretti, one of the world’s leading authorities on Leonardo (1452-1519). “He was always providing options with all his inventions.” Beside being one of the greatest artists of his day, Leonardo dreamed up a variety of extraordinary inventions.
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