Бывший гараж

“A ‘steam car’ in 1903? In Tsarist Russia?” you might wonder. Right here at the Бывший гараж, that seemingly anachronistic notion was a reality. The Imperial Garage, also known as the Бывший гараж, housed Nicholas II’s collection of automobiles. The garage officially opened in 1906. It began with just five imperial cars. But it quickly expanded as the Tsar’s fascination with automobiles grew. He even had a special lane built on the road to Peterhof for his exclusive use. Can you imagine the Tsar speeding past in his Delauney-Belleville, leaving everyone in the dust? The garage also stored cars for other members of the imperial family and high-ranking officials. By 1910, the garage held around 50 vehicles. The collection included a variety of makes and models, from luxurious limousines to sporty roadsters. Some of these cars were custom-built for the Tsar, complete with special features like bulletproof glass. Others were gifts from foreign dignitaries. The garage employed mechanics, chauffeurs, and other staff to maintain the vehicles and keep them in top condition. The Tsar’s favorite car was a Delaunay-Belleville, which he often used for trips to Peterhof. He also owned a Rolls-Royce, a Mercedes, and several other high-end brands. The Imperial Garage was more than just a place to store cars. It was a symbol of the Tsar’s embrace of modern technology. It also represented his love of speed and luxury. But with the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the Tsar’s carefree days of motoring came to an end. He and his family were placed under house arrest, and the garage was converted to military use. Many of the cars were requisitioned for the war effort, and some were even sent to the front lines. Sadly, the Tsar and his family never used the garage again. They were executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918, and their cars were dispersed or destroyed. The Imperial Garage, once a symbol of modernity and luxury, became a reminder of a bygone era. Today, the Бывший гараж stands as a quiet testament to the Tsar’s fascination with the automobile. It echoes a time when the rumble of an engine was a novelty, not a constant presence on the streets of Saint Petersburg.