Early petrol motors, historical artwork. The first commercially successful petrol-driven motors were built in the second half of the 19th century by the Belgian Etienne Lenoir. Nicolaus Otto improved upon this design and in 1876, along with automobile pioneers Daimler and Maybach, produced a 4-stroke petrol engine. At top left and top right are two of Otto's engines, whilst at bottom left is a petrol motor boat, with its engine at bottom right. Taken from Brockhaus Konversations Lexikon 1895.