GC Open #39 Traditional Cache

Leopold Sviták (11 October 1856 Frenštát pod Radhoštěm - 10 October 1931 Hukvaldy) was an important personality of the early automotive industry in Central Europe. He received education at the Hukvaldy School and in the Piarist Grammar School in Pribor, where he was one of his classmates later composer Leos Janacek. Svitak was trained as a locksmith in Kroměříž and gained other experiences on the road in Austria before returning to his homeland in 1884.

Svitak's most important achievement was the participation in the design of the NW Präsident, the first car with a petrol engine in Austria-Hungary, which was made in 1897-1898. This pioneering vehicle produced by Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau-Fabriks-Gesellschaft (now known as TATRA TRUCKS a.s.) was characterized by innovative design elements. The wooden body was placed on an iron frame, the car had four seats and a folding roof that covered the rear seats. The car was driven using the handlebars, while most cars of that time had a handle. Both axles had suspended semi-eliptic leaf springs and wheels, similar to horse-drawn carriage, had rubber tires. Svitak was the first in the world to add front fenders to a car. The car was powered by a two-cylinder Benz petrol engine mounted at the rear axle. The car was capable of speeds of up to 30 km/h.

Immediately after the completion of the first car, Svitak left Koprivnice to Vienna to the Motor Show. The distance of 328 km drove in 14.5 hours at an average travel speed of 22.6 km/h. There were no significant defects during the first ride.

Svitak's career was unfortunately marred by a tragic accident in 1900, in which his assistant died. Svitak had to have his leg amputated and after a year he began to walk with a prosthesis. Despite this failure, he contributed to the development of the automotive industry as a technical advisor until his departure from the company in 1912. Later he held various social functions in Hukvaldy, where he lived until his death in 1931.