Skoda celebrates 120th birthday at Bicester Heritage

By Greg MacLeman

| 17 Nov 2015

With the former RAF Bicester bomber airfield as the backdrop, Skoda UK gathered together its collection of classic cars in celebration of the make’s 120th Anniversary and to mark when founders Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement first entered business. And with the old heritage protected buildings and peeling hangar doors as backdrops combined with some of Skodas least-known Fifties and Sixties models to hand, there was a distinct Cold War feel to the day. Mark Stone was there.

Ranging from a Great Depression era 1929 422 saloon, the smallest and most affordable car the company ever made to a 2004 Octavia vRS 1.8T, Skoda’s classic collection includes at least one car that everyone will recognise. First launched in 1934 and notable for surviving the upheavals of WWII, the 1940 Popular 420 Convertible on display was just one of the many body styles the model offered, from a small sporting coupé to lightweight multipurpose commercial transport, these little 995cc, 22bhp cars sold worldwide and enjoyed a reputation for reliability and durability.

Similarly the 1201, a 1958 Estate of which is included in the collection. Unusual in that in estate form the body featured one door on the driver’s side but two doors for the passengers, the intriguing front treatment is echoed inside the car.

With a vast white steering wheel and singularly interesting instrumentation, the 1201 remains almost as extraordinary today as it did when it was first launched in 1955.

The Octavia saloon from 1964 and the convertible version, the 1963 Felicia will be more familiar to British motorists, and represented just how distinct and elegant these small cars were. Two of the first post-war models to be introduced and both powered by 1221cc OHC four-cylinder engines, the pair feature coil springs on the front axle offering what for the time was impressive ride comfort and performance.

Similarly, the Octavia symbolised the introduction of genuine affordable family transport while the delicacy of the Felicia Super convertible’s lines meant this chic little car wouldn’t have looked out of place touring the South of France.

No collection of Skodas would be complete though without the rear-engined models. Starting with the 1000MB that first saw the light of day in 1964, the firm’s white 1966 example still manages to look modern.

With a chromed front wing embellisher that incorporates the fuel cap to the integration of the grilles and vents into the design, the 1000MB just looks right. Similarly the interior, a lesson in stark yet eye-catching simplicity offered plenty of comfort.

Even an 110R Coupé from 1977 and a 1989 136 Rapid Coupé were there to be driven, both models from a time when Skoda was regrettably the butt of most automotive humour. Likewise the newest edition to the fleet, a 1992 Favorit Forum Plus styled by Nuccio Bertone, which marked the return to the front-engine layout and hinted at pending VW involvement.

Star of the collection though is the 110 OHC Spider from 1958. The only fully restored and running example of the three ever built, its striking glassfibre bodywork and spaceframe chassis was conceived and built to run in the Mille Miglia. Regrettably, none of the cars ever made it to Italy, instead being entered into a variety of races closer to home.

Powered by a 1089cc inline four-stroke engine fed by bonnet-bulging twin Weber carburettors, the Spider will happily spin to over 6500rpm and produces a handy 92bhp. Nimble, stable and exhibiting, it’s by far the most precise over Bicester Heritage’s water drenched 1km circuit. If it wasn’t for the name proudly emblazoned along either side of the aerodynamic headrest, nobody would ever believe this superb little two-seater was a Skoda.

Steve Gault and his Skoda Heritage team have jobs most classic car enthusiasts would envy, responsible for keeping each car in the collection in top condition.

“To be honest, none of the cars require anything more than routine maintenance. All of them were up and running when they were acquired, although we’ve carried out full ground-up restorations and rebuilds on the 422 and 110 Spider. Others such as the Fabia needed nothing more than cleaning and the carburetors adjusting, although for some of the older cars we occasionally have to remanufacture some of the parts: Skoda no longer holds them in stock. But we try and ensure the cars get used as frequently as possible, and the 422 and Felicia Super are regulars at weddings. Promoting its history is relatively new for Skoda, but these cars have generated a great deal of interest.”