THE FIRST MOTORISED CARS IN CYPRUS RAN ON STEAM!
STEAM POWER
The first road vehicles to arrive in Cyprus were introduced by British colonial administrators in the latter part of the 19th century. These cars, however, were not conventional petrol-driven road vehicles. The cars were steam-powered, and they proved to be both unreliable and difficult to maintain. They also required roads that were virtually non-existent on the island at the time. Steam-powered cars, as a result, failed to make the required impact, and they even became somewhat of a local joke in certain circles across the island. Traditional means of transport, such as the horse and cart, continued to dominate as a result, and most of these vehicles lay idle by the Cypriot roadsides by the early part of the 20th century.
A DOCTOR FROM LIMASSOL
Things were soon to dramatically change, however, after a wealthy Cypriot doctor from Limassol, with French connections, decided to import the first motorised petrol-driven car to Cyprus in 1907. Doctor Ioannis Pierides had experienced similar vehicles of this type first-hand during his time spent in Paris a year earlier. With this in mind, he immediately saw the potential of this new mode of transport, and set about introducing the first one to Cyprus. After eagerly collecting his shiny new bright red Peugeot Type 69 Bebe from the port of Larnaca, the doctor from Limassol would be the first person to drive a petrol-driven car in the conventional sense in Cyprus.
AN EVENTFUL MAIDEN JOURNEY
The car arrived with an extra tank of fuel and an easy-to-read manual that was specifically designed to teach novices how to drive. After some deliberation and a quick review of this manual, the doctor set off for his journey back to Limassol. His maiden journey, however, took him more than the best part of half a day to complete. This was mainly attributed to numerous refuelling stops and the state of the roads, which at this point were not designed for cars. The doctor’s inexperience at the wheel was also evident, but he persisted, arriving in Limassol a few hours later.
LEARNING TO DRIVE
The immediate impact of the doctor’s car was significant in shaping the future of transport across the island. His choice of car also helped significantly, and the little red open-top Peugeot was very well suited for the island’s lifestyle and climate. The car he chose was also considered a marvel of engineering for its time, and the car’s simplicity also aided its popularity. The sleek two-seater design and powerful engine left most amazed by both its speed and efficiency. The doctor himself later admitted that driving his new car was simple to learn on the day. This helped to further boost the car’s ease of access and popularity.
THE TALK OF THE TOWN
This was the first time many residents of Limassol had witnessed a motorised vehicle of this sort. Arousing great curiosity from onlookers, the doctor’s car brought admiring glances wherever it was spotted, aptly becoming the talk of the town. Not all, however, embraced the new invention after it became the main subject of discussion in several circles. Several of Limassol’s elite initially ridiculed the doctor for spending so much money and time on what they considered to be a simple adult toy. Several also pointed at the fact that the British experiment with steam-powered cars had previously failed. All of these negative views, however, were soon put aside after the little red car became a city icon.
THE PEUGEOT TYPE 69 BEBE
The prototype of the Peugeot Type 69 Bébé first appeared at the Paris Motor Show in 1904. Designed by the renowned Ettore Bugatti, the modern, robust car was classed as a supermini, which was a completely new concept at the time. Full production of the car then began in Audincourt, France, in 1905. The car employed some state-of-the-art technologies of the time. These included rack and pinion steering and a driveshaft instead of a chain. The car used a 3-speed manual transmission and had a total length of just 2.7 metres. Its weight of only 350 kilos made the 652cc single-cylinder engine seem much more powerful than it actually was. The car would often reach recorded speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour, which was considered very fast at the time. Its price was deliberately kept as low as possible to promote the car to people such as Doctor Ioannis Pierides.
A NEW CAR REVOLUTION
The Doctor’s insight played a key role in shaping the future of transport in Cyprus. The doctor’s car, which initially had its critics, would go on to not only become a Limassol icon, but also a status symbol. This further helped to create much fervour amongst the wealthy elite, and the car’s prestige would eventually lead to other prominent residents across Cyprus to follow the doctor’s example. The doctor’s peers soon began to import their own vehicles of choice, casting the dye for the new automobile industry across the island. Cars went on to represent modernity and progress across the island, and they also became a sign of social standing and success. This process inadvertently marked the beginning of the automobile era in Cyprus.
A NEW INDUSTRY
The arrival of the first petrol car in Cyprus is regarded as a groundbreaking watershed moment for the island’s transport history, helping to pave the way for modernisation. The mass introduction of petrol-driven buses and taxis helped the development of a fledgling automotive industry that helped to revolutionise the way in which people travelled across the island. The introduction of petrol-based road vehicles also impacted local economies. As the growth of the new automotive industry expanded, it also provided new job opportunities for both mechanics and drivers. This also led to the construction of new roads and transport infrastructure, which in turn created even more jobs.
A CYPRIOT TRANSPORT LEGACY
The arrival of the first petrol-driven car marked the beginning of a new era of travel across the island. The car would eventually go on to grant a certain freedom of travel to the masses that was unavailable before. It can also be said that its introduction helped pave the way for the modernisation of Cypriot society as a whole. As more cars arrived in mass quantities, prices began to fall. This made the new status symbol affordable to the general public, marking the decline of other traditional modes of transport. Making traditional modes of transport redundant, this new popular way for people to travel was faster, more convenient, and more accessible. The car ultimately made travel more efficient and convenient for everybody who now had access to the open road.
KEY FACTS
Owner: The first owner of a petrol-driven automobile was Dr Ioannis Pierides from Limassol, who introduced a shiny new bright red, two-seater Peugeot Type 69 Bebe to Cyprus in 1907.
First Journey: After arriving in the port of Larnaca, Dr Ioannis Pierides, using the driver’s manual, took a 3.5-hour journey to Limassol.
Local curiosity: Also driven by the doctor’s son, Paris, to a local seafront spot called the Mimosa restaurant, the car caused great excitement and was a major topic of conversation among town residents at the time.
Popularity: Other wealthy locals, such as Panos Lanitis, Michalis Kolakidis, and Yangos Rosidis, soon brought their own cars to Cyprus.
