Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

http://www.tresbohemes.com/2015/10/skoda-glamour-in-the-50s-by-vilem-heckel/

[Keith D]

Ray,

Thanks for photo show of Skodas. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection.

I have always been a very keen admirer of Skoda through the ages, although I have never owned one.

I even enjoy the new ones, although they are merely VWs in drag. I always rent Fabias or Octavias whenever I visit the UK.

There is a derelict Felicia here in Western Australia that I know of, but the owner seems uninterested to sell it, although it is being stored in a paddock open to the elements. A great pity as they are a lovely car.

Keith
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1926 Chrysler 60 tourer
1932 Austin Seven RN long wheelbase box sedan
1950 Austin A40 tourer
1999 BMW Z3
Its weird being the same age as old people.
You are either part of the problem or part of the solution

[COMMAD]

Very under rated cars, also one of the cheapest to buy in New Zealand in the late 50's.

[Rick]

Slightly less glam, but while out for a drive around in 1995 we spotted this super-rare van at the side of the road, outside someone's property. I often wonder what happened to it



RJ
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[Minxy]

Agree very underrated car but sadly unable to shake the badge snobbery.
I still remember, when I worked for the Audi rally team, a Škoda Rapid (?) competing and I must say it did itself proud.
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Hillman minx convertible. Lanchester LD 10

[alastairq]

I competed in long distance trials in both an Estelle and a Rapid....Neither cost me much to buy [Rapid was free]...yet both were extremely competent.
Things went downhill as far as enthusiasts were concerned, after VAG took over...but VW engineers didn't listen to the Skoda engineers regarding enlarging the 136 engine...

Skoda had a loose tie-up with Porsche around the early 1970's too...knocked on the head by the Bonn government, I believe?

The Post war [iron curtain] Skodas were incredibly easy to maintain..with virtually every component capable of being dismantled, and re-assembled.using basic tools...One blessing perhaps, of the communist mentality?....Even engine overhauls could be conducted in a car park.

Another upside of the Skoda was the habit of the Competitions department of 'homologating' suitably necessary components...
Such as, the tiny 4 pot brake calipers fitted to the Skoda Rapid....totally unnecessary as the car was essentially a 2 door Estelle, which had a very competent single piston caliper production set-up...but..the rally cars needed 4 pot calipers...so they were added to the Rapid production line for homolation purposes...

Another aspect overlooked by the hoi-polloi was the fact that Skoda Rapids [and 130 Estelles] were equipped with final drive ratios, which allowed the engine to pull peak revs in top gear....just as any racer would want to achieve. [no point in overdriving top gear too much....racing isn't about going for a cruise...]....Thus an enthusiastically driven Rapid [for example] could pull to it's max speed..limited only because at that point, the power band tailed off...
Small wonder they did so well in rallies?
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.