The Heir in the driver's seat

[Forum Admin]

Those sources are incorrect Mike.  There are front shots of the little car, and you can clearly see the three point star symbol of Mercedes, plus we also have the records that the car was special built by Mercedes for Alexei. GD Ernst Ludwig was one of the early investors in Mercedes.

[Ausmanov]

Forum Admin, would it be at all possible to see a copy of those records? My father does up cars from that era and im curious to learn more about this car of Alexie's.

[bestfriendsgirl]

And while we're on the subject of the driver's seat, I have a question to which I've been unable to find an answer anyplace else ... did Nicholas II actually know how to drive a car? I read "The Tsar and His Cars" and searched photos, but I've never actually seen one of him behind the wheel. It strikes me as something he would enjoy. And, although I know it was very rare for women to drive at that time, did OTMA drive at all?

[Forum Admin]

No and No.

[bestfriendsgirl]

That surprises me, unless it was thought to be unseemly for the Emperor to drive himself. Cars were so new at the time that the protocol and ettiquette around them were still evolving, I guess.

[Gorseheart]

XD

[Condecontessa]

I've always wondered where that pic was taken. The ground looks sandy so I'm guessing either Spala or Livadia. It can't be Livadia because there is no record of the Imperial Family traveling to Spala at that time. I'm thinking Fall 1909 was when the pic was taken so it must be Livadia because they stayed there before the building of the New Palace.

[nena]

I've always wondered where that pic was taken. The ground looks sandy so I'm guessing either Spala or Livadia. It can't be Livadia because there is no record of the Imperial Family traveling to Spala at that time. I'm thinking Fall 1909 was when the pic was taken so it must be Livadia because they stayed there before the building of the New Palace.

Russian Source:

Цесаревич Алексей в автомобиле, фото 1909 г. Царское Село, фотограф К.Е. фон Ган.

Tsarevich Aleskei in the car, photo taken in 1909 at Tsarskoe Selo b K.  E. von Ghann.  Series with his donkey Vanka was taken by the same photographer at Tsarskoe Selo in 1909. There is home video of Alexei riding Vanka.

[Condecontessa]

Thank you nena

Could it have been early spring 1909 because he's wearing the winter sailor uniform. I don't know, I'm still convinced it's Livadia because he was wearing the same uniform on a pic with his sister Anastasia. And if it was Tsarskoe, where in TSarskoe?

[nena]

You're welcome. I understand your doubts, since I do have the same ones. I don't know for precise location of that photo really. The best I can find is that the photo was taken at 'Tsar's Village'. ;-)

[clockworkgirl21]

The women didn't drive at all? Even in little cars like Aleksey's?

I remember reading a letter from Tatiana to Alix, in ALP I think, where Tatiana was talking about driving around the park with Alix, and Alix asked T if she'd like to drive, and T said no. Tatiana explained she did want a turn behind the wheel, but for some reason, said no.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

[Condecontessa]

I can't recall the particular incident but I think the Empress asked Tatiana if she wanted to go for a drive as in a sleigh or carriage drive. You know how the Empress goes for a drive in the afternoons and in Massie's book it describes how there was a scramble to prepare her carriage.

[RealAnastasia]

The women DO drive back then, even here in Argentina a country very far from Europe and the USA's. It was very common to high class women to drive cars as it had been to drive tillburies and so on. Women from lower classes were not allowed to drive by their husbands, and in some cases, not even to be on horseback. My  great-grandpa remembered that only high class and cultured women would ride horses and drive cars when he was a boy.


But OTMA were not girls from lower classes.