“To kick off the new ŠKODA classic-car season, we will be sending two real ŠKODA icons to the circuit,” says Michal Velebný, Head of the restoration workshop at the ŠKODA Museum, adding, “The Felicia and the 1000 MB are two outstanding representatives of ŠKODA vehicles in the 1960s.”
The ŠKODA Felicia convertible from 1961 inspired the spectators at last year’s Bodensee Klassik. The automobile belongs to the historic vehicle collection in Mladá Boleslav. The enchanting car radiates pure joie de vivre, and is a real eye-catcher in turquoise-green. With its elegant body design, striking tailfins, elongated tail section and balanced proportions, the ŠKODA Felicia is one of the finest convertibles of its time, and is now a sought-after collector’s vehicle. The Felicia model rolled off the production lines between 1959 and 1964. Under the bonnet, you will find a four-cylinder petrol engine with 50 horsepower and 1089 cc capacity. Reaching speeds of up to 130 km/h and weighing just 930 kg, the model is a real lightweight racer.
The ŠKODA 1000 MB Rallye racing car is a fascinating representative of ŠKODA’s 114-year tradition in motorsport. The vehicle is based on the ŠKODA 1000 MB dating back to 1967. The 1000 MB was the first ŠKODA of its time to have rear wheel drive, a rear engine and a unibody construction. To be able to take part in long-distance races, ŠKODA made sporty adjustments to the vehicle in the early 1990s, and the ŠKODA 1000 MB Rally was born. Under the bonnet, you will find a modified four-cylinder petrol engine with a displacement of 1.3 litres and an output of 90 hp. The top speed is 170 km/h. The vehicle setting off at Bodensee took part in, among others, the long-distance Panama-Alaska rally in 1997.
This year will mark the fourth Bodensee Klassik. The starting point and destination of the three-day event is Bregenz, Austria. The total route of the five stages covers 550 kilometres. 174 vintage and classic cars, built before 1995, will be journeying through the picturesque Alpine landscape. Reliability and uniformity will be the deciding factors in the victory and placement. The starting gun will fire on Thursday, 7 May, and the cars will be crossing the finish line on Saturday, 9 May in the morning.
ŠKODA AUTO will be celebrating the company’s 120th anniversary this year, making the brand one of the longest established vehicle producers in the world. The roots of the company lie in 1895. 120 years ago, bicycle mechanic Václav Laurin and bookkeeper Václav Klement founded a bicycle-production company together (L&K) in Mladá Boleslav, Bohemia. Automobile manufacture began in 1905: L&K’s first car was the ‘Voiturette A’. What Laurin and Klement began in 1895 has since grown into an internationally successful volume manufacturer with 7 model series and over 40 model versions. Producing more than 17 million vehicles since 1905 has proved the strength of the ŠKODA brand.
150507 Classic cars and Alpine views – Two iconic ŠKODAs in the Bodensee Klassik
