Women’s automobile movement on the territory of Ukraine originated at the end of the 19th century. Among the first motorists were representatives of noble families and opera divas.
The first female driver in Ukraine got behind the wheel of a car 127 years ago. This was established by the experts of the Historical Automobile Club, according to Auto-Consulting.
Peugeot Type 11 1896 – Anna Abalemek had the same car
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As part of the study, automotive historians determined that on March 23, 1896, Princess Anna Abalemek (maiden name Gizhitskaya) ordered a Peugeot Type 11 from Odessa. Documents about this were preserved in the French archive. The car was delivered to her in June and she became the first motorist in the territory of the Russian Empire.
The Peugeot Type 11 was a fairly new model at the time, having been produced in 1895. In total, 27 of these cars were assembled with a 1.6-liter two-cylinder Daimler engine. By the way, it was the first Peugeot in Ukraine.
An 1898 Daimler owned by Baron von Meck
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Photo: Auto-consulting
In addition, the identity of other motorists of those years was established in the Historical Automobile Club. So, since 1898, Galina von Meck, the daughter of the founder of the Kyiv club of motorists, Baron Nikolai von Meck, sat behind the wheel of a car. There are even photos of her Daimler car. In 1911, she Galina von Meck took part in the race St. Petersburg – Kyiv – Simferopol.
Solomiya Krushelnytska and her Fiat Zero
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Nadezhda Sukhomlinova from Kherson was a member of the Odessa Automobile Club. She first drove a Benz car and then acquired Berliet.
Important
A unique 95-year-old Mercedes from a Ukrainian designer went under the hammer for $730,000 (photo)
Solomiya Krushelnitskaya was an avid motorist. The Ukrainian opera diva even traveled to different cities in her Fiat Zero.
The prima of the Budapest Opera Shari Fedak was also fond of driving. She comes from Beregovo and is considered the first motorist in Hungary. The singer also appreciated Peugeot and once gave a French car to her father.
Hetman Skoropadsky used Elena Bronitskaya’s Rolls-Royce
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In addition, historians have noted an interesting fact: Hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky’s famous Rolls-Royce also originally belonged to a woman. It was acquired by Elena Bronitskaya from Brusilov, but during the war the car was requisitioned.
Focus previously reported that the best women’s cars of 2023 have been selected.
We also wrote that Ford recorded an original video for Women’s History Month.
