Laurin & Klement Voiturette A (1905-1907)

Before venturing into automobile production, Laurin & Klement were known for their bicycles and motorcycles. The first car produced by Laurin & Klement was manufactured from 1905 to 1907. This easy to drive two-seater automobile, debuting on October 29, 1905, reached speeds of up to 40 km/h, powered by a 7-horsepower gasoline two-cylinder engine. The 44 units of the L & K Voiturette A were sold for a competitive 3,600 crowns each. For context, the average worker earned 2 crowns a day at the time. Gasoline cost 66 hellers per kilogram, and the Voiturette A consumed around four kilograms per 100 kilometres. The chassis consisted of a ladder frame supporting two rigid axles with semi-elliptical leaf springs, and power was transmitted to the rear wheels via a cardan shaft, chains were also available on request. The Voiturette A model was followed by the Voiturette B model, which had its engine capacity increased to 1399cc, and of which 200 units were produced.

The first Laurin & Klement car model from Mladá Boleslav

Officially licensed for road use on January 18, 1906, the Voiturette A made its public debut at the Prague Motor Show on April 15 of that year. This vehicle laid the foundation for Laurin & Klement's subsequent development, with the product range expanding rapidly. It soon entailed other vehicles featuring two-cylinder engines, among them not only passenger cars but also commercial vehicles, and racing cars. In 1907 the FF type featured an in-line eight-cylinder engine.