Experts from the Historical Automobile Club have presented a valuable archival image of the first car that appeared in Kyiv at the end of the 19th century. This concerns the French model Panhard&Levassor 5 ½ HP, which arrived in the city in 1897 and became a symbol of the beginning of the automotive era in Ukrainian territory.
This is reported by Finway
The History of the First Car in Kyiv and Crimea
The first report of a car’s appearance in Kyiv was published by the newspaper “Kievlyanin” on June 30, 1897. Thanks to the research conducted by the Historical Automobile Club, the make and model of the vehicle have been accurately identified. The uniqueness of this find lies in the fact that this is the only preserved photo of the historical car to date.
Interestingly, the photo was taken not in Kyiv, but in Yalta: in 1900, the Panhard&Levassor 5 ½ HP was transported to Crimea, where it became the first car on the peninsula. It was there, in August 1900, that Prince Alexei Romanov drove it with his family, and this moment is captured in the photo.
Details of Operation and Historical Documents
It is known that the car was operated in Crimea until 1905, after which it was decommissioned. The documents found alongside the photograph add further value. Among them is a letter from 1897 requesting to expedite the delivery of the car to Kyiv.
“A letter from 1897 has been preserved, requesting to expedite the delivery of the car.”
Copies of the discovered archival materials will be kept in the Exhibition Hall of Ukrainian Automobile and Motorcycle Technology in Kyiv, allowing everyone interested to learn about the history of automotive transport development in Ukraine.