Laurin & Klement / Škoda 120 Years of Success

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1925:  

Laurin & Klement — ŠKODA 110

The last L&K model was also the 

first ŠKODA. In 1925, L&K merged 

with the engineering company 

ŠKODA from Pilsen in western 

Bohemia. The popular four-cylinder 

Type 110 had both companies’ 

logos on its radiator.

1925:  

ŠKODA — Hispano Suiza

The six-cylinder ŠKODA — His-

pano Suiza was the first vehicle 

to roll off the production line with 

the winged-arrow logo. The first 

one was given to the President 

of Czechoslovakia. A total of just 

about 100 units of the luxury 

vehicles were built until 1929. 

Every single ŠKODA — Hispano 

Suiza was individually built at the 

customer’s request.

1929:  

ŠKODA 860

As few as around 50 units of the 

ŠKODA 860 luxury car were made 

from 1929 to 1933. The number 

860 stood for the number of 

cylinders and for the performance 

of the engine respectively. The 

8 identified the water-cooled 

in-line eight-cylinder engine. 

The number 60 represented 

the performance of 60 PS. This 

majestic vehicle was 5,424 milli-

metres long.

1934:  

ŠKODA Popular

1934 saw the debut of the ŠKODA 

Popular, the first ŠKODA model 

that, along with a numerical 

designation, also had its own 

name. The light and inexpensive 

model with a four-cylinder engine 

and central tube frame structure 

became a very popular vehicle, 

a real ‘car for the people’. The 

Popular was produced in many 

versions for twelve years. In total, 

ŠKODA sold around 20,000 ve-

hicles, including more than 

6,000 units in around 50 coun-

tries outside of Czechoslovakia.

1934:  

ŠKODA Rapid

As the big brother of the ŠKODA 

Popular, the ŠKODA Rapid was 

one of the best medium-class 

vehicles in Europe at the time. 

It went some way to proving its 

qualities on the record journey 

‘Around the world in 97 days’ 

and at the Monte Carlo rally, but 

particularly through the loyal ser-

vice to thousands of customers. 

At that time ŠKODA became the 

largest automotive manufacturer 

in what was then Czechoslovakia.

1934:  

ŠKODA Superb

The six-cylinder flagship Superb 

added to the ŠKODA four-cylinder 

models Popular, Rapid and  

Favorit. From 1939, the Superb  

was even available with a four- 

litre V8 engine. As it does today, 

in the 1930s and 1940s the name 

ŠKODA Superb stood for the 

highest level of comfort, a great 

deal of space, top quality and 

unbeatable reliability.

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After the end of the Second World War, ŠKODA AUTO 

was nationalised. Even in times of dictatorship and 

bondage, the company was able to develop a series 

of groundbreaking cars and to strengthen its reputa-

tion as an innovative automobile brand.

The  first  ŠKODA  after  the  Second  World  War  was 

the Type 1101, followed by a series of vehicles that 

excelled in utility and attractive styling in equal meas-

ure. Above all, the 1960s brought important design 

innovations. With the fall of the Iron Curtain and the 

subsequent arrival of Volkswagen Group in 1991, 

a unique success story began. At top of the list are 

the expansion of the ŠKODA product range to seven 

model series and the associated development into an 

international high-volume brand, now selling its cars 

in more than 100 countries.

1946: ŠKODA 1101

As early as the end of 1945, the 

ŠKODA 1101 was introduced as the 

brand’s first post-war model. The 

first cars were introduced onto 

the market as a four-seater with 

a two-door body (Tudor). Over the 

course of five years, more than 

66,000 ŠKODA 1101 were produced 

in various versions, including also 

convertible, roadster, delivery van 

and ambulance. A 180 PS racing 

version took part in the 24-hour 

race at Le Mans.

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1952: ŠKODA 1200

The ŠKODA 1200, presented in 

1952, was convincing with its 

high level of utility and generous 

amounts of available space. 

For the first time, a ŠKODA 

had a body made of steel, until 

then a mixture of wood and 

sheet metal was the norm. 

The design was pleasing with 

elegantly rounded shapes and 

discreetly recessed door handles. 

The ŠKODA 1200 rolled off the 

production line both as a saloon 

and as a commercial vehicle. 

The production took place at 

the three ŠKODA plants in Mladá 

Boleslav, Kvasiny and Vrchlabí.

1959: ŠKODA Octavia

The ŠKODA Octavia premiered 

in 1959. The name Octavia was 

derived from the Latin word 

octo (eight) and branded as the 

eighth model of the production 

line, which had begun with the 

Popular 420 in 1934. The Octavia 

convinced with top quality, lots 

of space and — thanks to the 

all-wheel independent suspen-

sion and coil springs on the front 

axle — increased comfort. Along 

with the saloon version, from 

1960 there was also a ŠKODA 

Octavia Estate on offer. A total 

of around 285,000 vehicles were 

sold of both versions, including 

a significant share abroad.

1959: ŠKODA Felicia

It’s all in the name: the 

convertible ŠKODA Felicia put 

a happy smile on many people’s 

faces and boosted the reputation 

of the brand. With its elegant 

design and the distinctive tail 

fins, the open vehicle was one 

of the most entrancing ŠKODA 

representatives of the 1960s. 

The Felicia developed into a real 

export hit — including sales in 

the USA. Today, the Felicia is 

considered amongst the most 

treasured classics of the ŠKODA 

brand.

1964: ŠKODA 1000 MB

A completely new plant, 

a radically new vehicle structure, 

plus, at that time, the most 

state-of-the-art engine in its 

class — the ŠKODA 1000 MB 

was a revolution for ŠKODA in 

1964 and was the first ŠKODA 

with a rear engine and self-

supporting body. The spacious 

four-door was, in its day, 

considered one of the best 

vehicles in the one-litre class and 

set standards in terms of comfort, 

performance and technology. 

Around 443,000 units were 

produced from 1964 to 1969, 

more than half of which were 

exported.

1968: ŠKODA 1203

In the post-war years, the 

ŠKODA plant in Vrchlabí, eastern 

Bohemia, increasingly specialised 

in commercial vehicles. As 

early as the 1950s, a vehicle 

was developed with a forward 

control cabin, allowing the rest of 

the body to be better exploited. 

The universally useful ŠKODA 

1203 proverbially accompanied 

the citizens of Czechoslovakia 

throughout their entire lives and 

was used as both an ambulance 

and a hearse as well as a micro-

bus or pick-up van.

From nationalised business to international player

The most important ŠKODA 

models from 1946 to present day

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