The new exhibition, First Motors of Russia, opens on a fresh calendar in VDNKh, inviting families to explore on weekends and discover a shared curiosity about the early days of automotion.
The tale of the first self-propelled carriage arriving in Russia dates back to 1894, a period when automobiles were still rare across the globe. Yet Russia, eager to keep pace with foreign powers, expanded its fleet rapidly. By the dawn of the twentieth century, Imperial Russia boasted about 12,000 motor vehicles in service, marking a decisive step into the era of mechanized mobility.
In Russia, the automotive scene grew not only through imports but also through domestic production. Brands and companies that left a lasting imprint include Yakovlev, Lessner, Leitner, Duks, and others. The Russian-Baltic coachworks plant created the celebrated Russo-Balts, while Ivan Puzyrev’s factory produced cars bearing the founder’s name. These efforts helped shape a uniquely Russian chapter in early car manufacturing.
All these chapters come to life in pavilion No. 54 of the Special Purpose Garage Museum. Its historic interiors showcase a curated collection drawn from the storage rooms of the Polytechnic Museum, offering visitors a tangible link to the era’s design and engineering ethos.
The exhibition centers on the domestic Russo-Balt, proudly standing as the lone surviving passenger car of its brand. Its presence anchors a narrative of innovation and resilience in the Russian automotive saga.
Alongside Russian milestones, visitors encounter intriguing relics from around the world—an audacious three-wheeled German Phenomobile, a classic French De Dion-Bouton featuring a front-seat passenger arrangement that faces the driver, and a British City and Suburban electric car created for Empress Maria Feodorovna. These artifacts illustrate the global scope of early motoring and the varied approaches to design and propulsion.
The exhibition will continue to welcome guests through late October, extending an opportunity to trace the evolution of transportation one century at a time.
Attribution: Special Purpose Garage Museum