Wheels: Emil Jellinek Mercedes

You might not recognize the name of Emil Jellinek, but he made some pretty significant contributions to early motoring. One of three brothers, Emil wasn’t a particularly good student, nor very intellectual, though his two brothers went on to become distinguished university professors.

Emil was born in 1853 and spent time as a racing car owner and driver. He also spent time as a diplomat due to his family’s influence, eventually settling back in Austria where he was born. Vienna is where he and his wife had their third child and first daughter, Adrienne Manuela Ramona Jellinek, known as Mercedes.