Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Short answers to common questions — from history to practice. Where it is easy to go wrong, we say what to check and where.
About history
Which car is considered the first?
The first automobile is generally considered to be Carl Benz’s Motorwagen — a three-wheeled vehicle with a petrol engine, for which he was granted a patent in 1886.
When did ABS appear?
The electronic Bosch ABS system was first offered on a production car in 1978 — the Mercedes-Benz S-Class W116. It spread to mass-market cars later.
What is LuAZ known for?
The LuAZ-969 was the first Soviet front-wheel-drive production car, with a selectable rear axle. Series production in Lutsk began in 1967; more on the LuAZ page.
Practical questions
Is this the website of a manufacturer, a club or a museum?
No. This is an independent reference; it is not connected with the former website on this domain, nor with car manufacturers or clubs. We do not sell cars or parts.
Where can I find the service schedule for an old model?
In the factory owner’s and workshop manuals and in the parts catalogues for your variant and year. There are no universal figures that apply to every car, so we do not publish any.
Do I need to replace tyres if the mileage is low?
Rubber ages regardless of mileage. Check the date of manufacture on the sidewall, and judge condition and replacement intervals by the tyre manufacturer’s recommendations.
Can I drive an old car every day?
Yes, if it is in good working order and you allow for the fact that it may have no ABS, ESP or airbags. More in the safety section.
Sources
- Mercedes-Benz Classic / Bosch — history of ABS
- Archives and encyclopaedic sources on the history of car plants
- Trade publications: Kolesa.ru, Za Rulyom (Behind the Wheel)
- Tyre manufacturers’ recommendations
This reference covers the history of automotive engineering and general principles. Take service schedules, capacities, torque settings and component specifications for a particular model only from the factory manual and parts catalogues. Check registration rules and the rules on modifications with the official authorities.