Which came first? · Counterintuitive

Which came first: the first car or Listerine?

Listerine came first, in 1879 (invented). The first car followed 7 years later, in 1886 (patented).

Older Than You ThinkOlder Than You ThinkWhich came first? Sixteen pairs, from obvious to "wait, really?"Quiz11 seconds a pairMobile & desktop
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  1. Second1886

    The first car

    invention · patented

    Karl Benz applied for a patent on his three-wheeled Motorwagen in January 1886, now counted as the first true car.

    Checked against Wikipedia and Wikidata

  2. First1879

    Listerine

    product · invented

    Listerine was invented in 1879 as a surgical antiseptic, long before it was sold for bad breath.

    Checked against Wikipedia and Wikidata

All which-came-first pairs · About Older Than You Think · Quiz games

Years from Wikidata, each checked against the item’s English Wikipedia article on 2026-10-18. A year stands for what its label says: a founding, a first patent, a premiere.