THE FIRST CAR BROUGHT TO LIMASSOL IN 1907
STEAM POWER
British administrators were the first to import steam-powered vehicles to colonial Cyprus in the latter part of the 19th century. Intended for a select few, the steam automobiles, proved unreliable and difficult to maintain, and of course, they needed roads. By the early part of the 20th century, most of these vehicles lay redundant in Cyprus and the horse and cart was still the main mode of transport on the island. This dramatically changed however, when a wealthy Cypriot doctor from Limassol with French connections, imported the first petrol driven car to Cyprus in 1907.Â
A DOCTOR FROM LIMASSOL
Many believe that the British were the first to import petrol powered vehicles to the island, but this accolade belongs to a Cypriot doctor from Limassol. Doctor Ioannis Pierides, became the first person to bring a car in the conventional sense to the island, when he eagerly collected his shiny new Peugeot Type 69 Bebe from the port of Larnaca in 1907. The doctor had seen these vehicles first hand during his time in Paris a year earlier and he immediately saw the potential of this new mode of transport. His bright red two-seater car arrived with an extra tank of fuel and a manual designed to teach people how to drive. After slight deliberation, and a quick review of the driving manual, the doctor set off for his journey back to Limassol. The journey however, took him more than the best part of half a day to complete because of difficult refuelling stops, the state of the roads, and the doctor’s inexperience at the wheel, but he persisted and arrived in Limassol before nightfall.
A CAR REVOLUTION THAT BEGAN IN 1907
The doctor’s new automobile aptly became the talk of the town and became the main subject of discussion amongst locals. This was the first time many of them had witnessed a motorized vehicle of this sort, and the little red car often aroused great curiosity, bringing admiring glances whenever the car was spotted. The car initially had its critics, but eventually became a status symbol amongst the wealthy elite as well as a sign of social standing and success. In general, terms, the people of Limassol embraced the new invention, but many also ridiculed the doctor for spending so much money and time on what they considered an adult toy. Little did they know that the forward thinking doctor had marked the beginning of the automobile era in Cyprus and that the arrival of the car was a groundbreaking moment for the island’s transport history.
LEARNING TO DRIVE
The immediate impact of the doctor’s car was significant in shaping the future of transportation on the island and his choice of car was well suited for the island’s lifestyle. The little red open top Peugeot was a marvel of engineering for its time, and its sleek two-seater design and powerful engine left people amazed by the speed and efficiency of the car. Petrol cars represented modernity and progress, creating fervour amongst the people of Limassol. The simplicity also aided its popularity and the doctor himself later admitted that he could read French fluently and that driving his new car was simple to learn on the day using the manual provided with his new car. This along with the prestige led to other prominent contemporary residents of Limassol following the doctor’s example, and the doctor’s peers soon began to import their own vehicles of choice casting the future dye for the petrol automobile industry in Cyprus.
THE PEUGEOT TYPE 69 BEBE
The prototype of the Peugeot Type 69 Bébé first appeared at the Paris Motor Show in 1904. The car was classed as a super-mini, which was a completely new concept at the time. The renowned Ettore Bugatti designed the modern, robust car and production began in Audincourt, France in 1905. The car used a 3-speed manual transmission and its total length, which extended to just 2.7 metres as well as its weight of only 350 kilos made the 652cc single-cylinder engine seem more powerful than it really was reaching speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour. Even though the car employed state of the art technologies of the time , such as rack and pinion steering and a driveshaft instead of a chain, the selling price was deliberately kept as low as possible, to promote the car to people such as doctor Ioannis Pierides.
A LEGACY
The little Peugeot along with Doctor Pierides vision and insight played a key role in shaping the future of transportation in Cyprus and opened the doors for the introduction of more petrol vehicles arriving on the island in mass quantity thereafter. The car went on to revolutionise the way people moved around the island and it also paved the way for the modernisation of Cypriot society, which eventually gained the freedom of the open road. This ultimately led to the decline of traditional modes of transport, such as horse and cart, donkey, camel and bicycles, and transformed the way people moved around on the island. The arrival of the first petrol driven vehicle marked the beginning of a new era of travel on the island that granted a certain freedom of travel to the masses. The new mode of transport was a pivotal moment that went on to also impact on the economy of Cyprus, not only setting the stage for the modernization of the Cypriot transport system, but also paving the way for the development of the automotive industry in the country. As the growth of the new automotive industry on the island expanded, it provided new job opportunities for both mechanics and drivers. The influx of cars also led to the construction of new roads and infrastructure, creating even more jobs, ultimately making travel more efficient and convenient for everybody. The new popular way for people to travel was faster, more convenient, and more accessible. The arrival of the first petrol car in Cyprus was a watershed moment for the history of transport on the island and paved the way for the introduction of buses and taxis at a later date, revolutionising the way people travelled on the island.
Very interesting article about the 1st car imported in Cyprus.. I read somewhere else that about the same year (1907) the British official responsible for land registry office imported a car for his trips around the countryside ..