How the Laurin & Klement Voiturette A Was Started and Driven

Learn how Laurin & Klement’s first car, the 1905 Voiturette A, was started and operated, based on details shared by Skoda about early automotive technology.

The Voiturette A, the first automobile built by Laurin & Klement, was more than an early technical experiment—it became the starting point of car production in Mladá Boleslav, a tradition that continues today. Introduced in 1905, this compact vehicle with a two-cylinder 7 hp engine set the direction for the future development of the brand.

Its arrival followed a clear evolution: from bicycles to motorcycles and finally to automobiles. By the time the Voiturette A debuted, Laurin & Klement had already gained experience with engines, allowing them to build a fully functional car rather than a prototype. The model established the company as an automaker and positioned it within the Austro-Hungarian market.

Operating such a car, however, required far more effort than modern drivers would expect. Starting the engine involved a sequence of manual steps: opening the fuel valve, pumping oil to the engine bearings by hand, moving to the front of the car to release the exhaust valve using a decompressor, and finally turning the crank to start the engine. Before ignition, the driver also had to adjust the carburetor linkage via a lever on the steering wheel to stabilize engine speed.

Driving controls were equally different from today’s standards. Two levers were positioned to the driver’s right—one for gear shifting and the other for the rear-wheel handbrake. The pedals handled clutch and braking functions, but acceleration was controlled through a lever on the steering wheel. Despite its simplicity, the car could reach speeds of up to 40 km/h, matching the expectations of its era.

The vehicle’s construction reflected early automotive engineering principles: a ladder frame, rigid axles, and leaf spring suspension. Its approximately 1005 cc engine was paired with a three-speed gearbox, and the car weighed around half a ton, driving the rear wheels.

With a price of around 3,600 crowns, the Voiturette A was not accessible to the average worker, whose daily income was about 2 crowns. Even so, the model achieved commercial success, with at least 44 units sold across the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

This success strengthened Laurin & Klement’s position in the market. Within a few years, the company became a leading manufacturer in its segment, and by 1908, a significant share of voiturette-class cars in the region originated from Mladá Boleslav. The company’s growth eventually led to its integration into Škoda in 1925, shaping the foundation of the modern brand.

In this context, the Voiturette A stands not just as a historical artifact, but as a decisive step—from small-scale production to a lasting automotive industry that has continued for more than a century.