One of Dnipro's museums has acquired a unique exhibit (PHOTO).

The Dnipro museum "Machines of Time" has enriched its collection with a unique exhibit – an export version of the "Karpaty" moped, one of only two surviving examples in Ukraine. This was made possible thanks to the efforts of Ilya Myagkov, a long-time friend of the museum and a well-known collector and restorer of motorcycle technology. This information was reported by "Vidomo".

The acquisition of this rare moped not only enhanced the museum's exhibition but also significantly impacted the plans of its management, particularly regarding the concept and name of the exhibition scheduled for March of this year. The history of the "Karpaty," familiar to many generations of Ukrainians, is richer than it appears at first glance.

This model, widely available in the domestic market, also had an export variant that was successfully sold abroad. However, information about it is extremely scarce, and the examples that have survived to this day are true rarities. The moped discovered by I. Myagkov is a vivid confirmation of this.

The museum's director, Mikhail Prudnikov, elaborated on the impact of this find on the upcoming exhibition, which was initially planned to be titled "Cars for Currency".

It turns out that in addition to the standard "Karpaty-2," the Lviv motorcycle factory produced the export version "Karpaty-2 LUX" starting in 1987. This is not merely an export model, but a fundamentally different modification in terms of equipment, aimed at more demanding customers. The differences between the standard and enhanced versions are significant. The "Lux" was equipped with electric turn signals – a rarity in the base model, which sometimes lacked them altogether.

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The chrome luggage rack and fenders, as well as the chrome wheel rims, gave the moped a significantly more appealing appearance. Even the fuel tank was different: the name "KARPATY" was often applied in English letters, highlighting its export orientation. Despite the improved equipment, the engine remained the same – a single-cylinder, two-stroke engine with a displacement of 49.9 cc and a power output of 1.8 hp.

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The maximum speed, like that of the standard model, did not exceed 45 km/h. However, the upgraded components naturally increased the production cost of the moped by about 15%. Due to the high price and low demand in the USSR market, the production volumes of the enhanced version were extremely limited – no more than 1-1.5% of the total quantity. Most of these mopeds were exported to Eastern European countries, as well as to some countries in Africa and Asia.

The exhibition "Cars for Currency" will open in the spring, on March 14, 2025, where you will likely be able to see the "KARPATY" moped.

Previously, we reported that in Dnipro, the protective structures of the "stone babas" at the historical museum were adorned with drawings (PHOTO)