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On an adventure behind the wheel
Long-distance endurance
journeys with ŠKODA vehicles
At the start of the 20
th
century, the automobile
became a symbol for freedom, speed and individual
independence. Even in the early days of the auto-
mobile, brave adventurers on four wheels made
their way to faraway destinations, looking for spe-
cial challenges, under extreme climatic conditions
and sometimes far from civilisation. L&K and ŠKODA
vehicles became reliable companions for countless
enthusiasts with wanderlust and made positive
headlines at various long-distances events.
Early on, L&K vehicles proved themselves worthy on
endurance journeys. High-tech made in Bohemia and
Czechia, even back then this meant never breaking
down under extreme conditions and keeping relia-
bility on your side. The challenging long journeys
were excellent advertising for the vehicles from Mladá
Boleslav. Early export success of the brand showed
that the long-distance journeys continued to expand
the good reputation of the brand abroad.
In October 1907, the luxurious L&K Type FF convertible
completed a successful journey across Europe from
Bohemia to Paris and back — powered by the first
eight-cylinder engine in Central Europe. The successful
Alpine journeys by Count Alexander Kolowrat were also
impressive. In the L&K cars he won the app. 2,000 km
race several times.
In May 1934, seven students made their way from
Prague to Calcutta with four ŠKODA Populars. The
route went across high mountain passes and desert
regions, through mud and rough terrain. They were
stuck in a sandstorm in the Registan desert for five
days. The students covered a total of 15,000 km in the
Popular without any technical faults to speak of. Four
months after setting off, their return was celebrated
with great enthusiasm in Prague. A great advert for
the high quality of the ŠKODA Popular.
Then, in 1936, there was another endurance journey
in the ŠKODA Popular: Mr and Mrs Elstner completed
a huge round-trip through the USA, continuing from
there to Mexico. They successfully covered almost
25,000 km in 47 days. Even the Czech writer Karel
Čapek undertook various challenging expeditions to
the Alps with his two ŠKODA vehicles. In the summer
of 1936, Břetislav Jan Procházka circumnavigated the
globe with a ŠKODA Rapid in just 97 days. On that
journey, he travelled from San Francisco to New York
in 100 hours.
During the Second World War and the subsequent
Cold War, the freedom to travel was restricted for
ŠKODA vehicles. Nonetheless, there was a successful
expedition to the source of the Niger in a ŠKODA 440,
which helped to more precisely determine the loca-
tion of the river.
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In October 1907, the Laurin & Klement FF
completed the journey from Prague to Paris and
back — powered by the first Central European
eight-cylinder engine.
As part of the development of the new Superb
type, the predecessor model ŠKODA 637 was
sent on a journey to Africa (photo from Verdun,
France).
Marital bliss behind the wheel: on their journey
across the USA and Central America in the
1930s, Mr and Mrs Elstner drove an average of
more than 500 km per day.
No problem for the ŠKODA Popular: the newly
opened Grossglockner High Alpine Road in
Austria (1935).
In the period before the First World War,
hundreds of vehicles from Mladá Boleslav were
already on the road in the Russian Empire.
Along with private vehicles, they were also
taxis and long-distance buses.
In 1934, seven students drove 15,000 km
through mud and deserts from Prague to
Calcutta in four ŠKODA Populars.
Even during the Second World War and Cold
War, ŠKODA vehicles completed challenging
adventure journeys. An expedition in the
ŠKODA 440 helped to more precisely
determine the source of the Niger river.
Record journey in the summer of 1936: just
97 days to circumnavigate the globe in
a ŠKODA Rapid.
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The 120-year ŠKODA history is characterised by
countless automotive milestones — outstanding
vehicles, offering advanced technology and great
customer benefits at the same time as the highest
levels of functionality, design and aesthetics. The
products described in the following characterised the
outstanding reputation of the brand until the end of
the Second World War in a special way.
1895—1905:
Slavia Bicycles
As enthusiastic ‘velocipedists’
and patriots, at the end of 1895,
Václav Laurin and Václav Klement
decided to turn their passion
into a career and to produce
bicycles under the brand name
‘Slavia’. The new brand rapidly
became synonymous with
quality and innovation made in
Czechia — and the various bike
models convinced more and more
customers.
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1899—1910:
Laurin & Klement Motorcycles
From 1899, motorcycles became
the second pillar of the young
company L&K. The flourishing
bicycle production was extended
with one, two and four-cylinder
motorcycles of their own design.
The L&K machines had rear-
wheel drive. Alongside passenger
motorcycles, there were also
goods tricycles. The motorcycles
from Mladá Boleslav were highly
sought after, not only in their
Bohemian homeland, but abroad
as well.
1905:
Laurin & Klement Voiturette A
Spurred by their rapid rise, in
1905, L&K presented the com-
pany’s first automobile: the
two-seater Voiturette Type A.
The vehicle impressed with its
good price (3,600 crowns) as well
as its high level of practicality
and robustness. The two-cylinder
V engine with 7 PS performance
and a capacity of 1,005 cm
3
accel-
erated the automobile, weighing
just about 600 kg, to a top speed
of 40 km/h. The three-speed
gearbox and the modern car-
burettor of their own design
ensured a high level of efficiency
and excellent climbing capability
in the mountains.
1907:
Laurin & Klement Type FF
The L&K Type FF was powered by
one of the world’s first eight-
cylinder engines. The power
train had a remarkable capacity
of 4.9 litres and a performance
of 45 PS. The top speed was
85 km/h. The L&K FF proved its
high level of capability on the
long-distance return journey from
Bohemia to Paris. Subsequently,
more vehicle types with eight-
cylinder engines were built in
Mladá Boleslav.
1911:
Laurin & Klement Type S
Just a few years after the debut
of the Voiturette A, the L&K
range was expanded by more
powerful and more comfortable
four-cylinder models. The S series
developed into a perennial
favourite between 1911 and 1925.
Various versions were on offer,
including the ‘Carlsbad’ saloon,
the ‘Cavalier’ double saloon, the
‘Doctor’ or ‘Lady’ coupé, or the
‘Progress’ pick-up van.
1917:
Laurin & Klement Type MF
The modern L&K Type MF fire
engine is representative of the
numerous commercial vehicles
from the rich history of the brand.
They all had the highest level
of robustness and reliability in
common.
From the bicycle to the Superb luxury car
The most important
models up to 1945