On September 27 and 28, the Old Car Land technical festival will kick off at the ‘Wheels of History’ museum in Kyiv, traditionally attracting fans of classic automotive and motorcycle technology.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Unique KMZ Collection for the Factory’s Anniversary
This year, a special event at the festival will be a large exhibition of motorcycles from the Kyiv Motorcycle Plant (KMZ) in honor of the company’s 80th anniversary. In 2025, it will be eighty years since KMZ was founded. The history of the factory began in 1945 on the basis of the former Armored Tank Repair Plant No. 8. The first product of the company was the light motorcycle Wanderer-1Sp, manufactured using equipment obtained from Germany as reparations. This model, known as the ‘Kyivan’ K1-B, as well as a motorcycle sidecar for war veterans K1-V, were produced until 1952.
Historical sources indicate that the KMZ K1-B ‘Kyivan’ motorcycle was almost a complete copy of the German Wanderer Sp1 from 1936 and was manufactured at the factory from 1945 to 1951. By 1949, the company began preparations for the production of heavy motorcycles M-72 – after specialists and equipment were relocated from Gorky to Kyiv due to the closure of the local motorcycle plant. Since then, motorcycle production has been concentrated in Kyiv, and by 1952, the first heavy M-72 motorcycles rolled off the assembly line. These models defined KMZ’s profile until the factory ceased operations in 2012.
“The KMZ K1-B ‘Kyivan’ motorcycle was almost a complete copy of the German Wanderer Sp1 from 1936 and was produced at the factory from 1945 to 1951. Preparations for the production of heavy motorcycles M-72 began in 1949 when specialists and equipment were relocated to Kyiv from Gorky after the closure of the local motorcycle plant. Since then, motorcycle production has been concentrated in Kyiv. By 1952, the first heavy M-72 motorcycles rolled off the assembly line here, and they defined the factory’s profile until its closure in 2012.”
Exhibition, Tickets, and Duration of the Event
During the festival, visitors will be able to see hundreds of retro cars and motorcycles from various eras, as well as learn more about the history of the Ukrainian automotive industry. Official motorcycle production at KMZ ended in 2008, but for several more years, the factory continued assembling motorcycles from existing stock. Over the course of its existence, the company produced more than 2.44 million motorcycles, which were exported to 80 countries worldwide.
Tickets for the exhibition can be purchased online with payment by credit card. The price for adults is 350 UAH, and for children and discounted categories – 200 UAH. Admission is free for combat veterans. The exhibition will run until November 9.