Berlin’s winter streets become a stage for ambition in this moment from January 1908, when Koeppen poses beside his Protos car before heading toward the embarkment for New York. The bold “PROTOS” lettering on the radiator and the bulky lamps and spoked wheels speak to an era when automobile engineering was still new enough to look like a daring experiment. Wrapped in heavy coats and goggles, the driver’s gear hints at the cold, grit, and uncertainty that would define the journey ahead.
Crowds press in from every side—men in brimmed hats, uniformed onlookers, and curious children craning for a closer view—turning the departure into a public spectacle. Faces register excitement, skepticism, and wonder, as if the city itself is trying to decide whether this machine will triumph or fail. The tight street scene, framed by tall buildings, underlines how extraordinary such a send-off was at a time when long-distance motoring still felt like a bet against the world.
As part of the story surrounding the Great New York to Paris Auto Race of 1908, the photograph captures the threshold between everyday life and headline-making adventure. Before the transatlantic crossing and the punishing miles to come, there is only the car, its crew, and the fascinated crowd witnessing history in the making. For readers searching for early motorsport, Protos race car history, and Berlin’s role in the 1908 endurance race, this image offers a vivid starting point.