Year of Manufacture: 1905
Power: 7 horsepower
Displacement: 1,005 cm3
Number of Cylinders/Valves: 2/2
Weight: 520 kg
Condition: Drivable
Catalogue Number: 2
This car is one of the rarest exhibits in our collection and one of the rarest in the Czech Republic overall. It was the first automobile produced by Laurin & Klement, and the first mass-produced car in the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire at the time. The path to its creation was neither simple nor quick.
In 1894, two men named Václav—Klement and Laurin—began repairing bicycles in Mladá Boleslav. The following year, they began manufacturing them under the Slavia brand. The next logical step for this ambitious company was motorcycle production. By 1899, they had a motorcycle ready for production. Business wasn’t easy at first, but eventually they succeeded. Motorcycles sold under the Slavia brand gained great respect and became a strong commercial product. Thanks to this success, their small workshop grew into a thriving factory with an excellent reputation for quality products. By 1905, the Laurin & Klement factory offered nine types of motorcycles, ranging from two- to four-cylinder models, unmatched in the monarchy.
It was time for the next major step—car manufacturing. It was a long journey with many development stages. At the April motor show in 1905, Klement and Laurin presented a new V-twin engine, signaling that their own automobile was near. It was based on a motorcycle engine but already met the requirements of a real car.
By the end of that year, two fully functional automobiles had been completed (some period sources say even three). They were used for test drives and demonstrations, and photos appeared in the press. Interestingly, the company had to decide between chain and shaft drive for the rear axle. Today it seems amusing, but practical experience was lacking back then. After trials and customer feedback, they chose the more effective solution. The car was referred to by the French term “voiturette,” commonly used at the time for small, lightweight, often two-seater vehicles. The original model carried the designation “A.” The Mladá Boleslav “A” perfectly matched this class. It was type-approved on January 18, 1906, and officially introduced to the public at the 2nd Prague Motor Show in April 1906.
Mr. Laurin and Mr. Klement designed the vehicle with the idea that it should be a “people’s car,” affordable for a wider range of customers, which was rare at the time since cars were considered a luxury. In the end, they succeeded in creating a stylish, elegant, and technically advanced vehicle that many could afford.
The car featured a two-seat open body on a pressed metal ladder frame. The four-stroke V-twin SV engine at the front had a 1,005 cm³ displacement, 7 horsepower, and water cooling. A fan behind the radiator ensured effective cooling. The gearbox had three forward gears and one reverse. It used a cone clutch with leather lining and drove the rear axle. The axles were rigid, sprung with leaf springs, and the main brake operated on the transmission shaft. The car weighed around 520 kg and could reach a “dizzying” speed of 45 km/h. Fuel was delivered via an in-house carburetor, and lubrication was ensured by a splash system, with a manual oil pump available for backup—usually operated by the passenger.
The “voiturette” soon ventured into the world, winning numerous awards and medals at exhibitions in Vienna, London, and Milan. Between 1905 and 1907, about 44 of these cars were produced in Mladá Boleslav, along with several dozen engines. Almost simultaneously, in 1906, the model “B” began production, differing only in a larger 1,400 cm³ engine and increased power of 9 hp.
This completely unique car essentially laid the foundation for motorization in our region and marked the beginning of one of Europe’s major car manufacturers. Today, its successors under the Škoda brand continue the tradition of quality and successful vehicles built in Mladá Boleslav.
