Skoda Company, during Austrian Hungarian, Monarchy one of the biggest arms companies, the automobile production began in 1923, namely with the license construction of the most luxurious vehicles of this time, the Hispano - Suiza H6.

In 1925 Skoda united with the automobile manufacturer "Laurin and Klement" in Mlada Boleslav, even today seat of  Skoda automobile production. Cars, named "Laurin and Klement", have been produced since 1905. In 1913 RAF / Liberec  became part of the company, situated in Mlada Boleslav.

The production scale enclosed vehicles with four - to eight-cylinder engines among which especially the types "Popular" and "Superb" impressed the professional world, because of their central pipe frames and rear pendulum axes.

After the Second World War the production plant was situated in the "Eastern bloc" and the construction of, robust versions as for example 1100 OHV and 1200 OHV was started. The constructions continued the technologies of cars before the war.

These models could also be seen on Austrian streets.

The logical advancement was the type 440 / 450 which became subsequently the "Octavia" or "Felicia". The Felicia is a cabriolet with a certain charm. Today it is one of the most popular cars to the Skoda collectors.

In 1964 the rear engine era began in Mlada Boleslav with 1000 MB whose resemblance with Renault's "Dauphine" cannot be denied.

The basic design parameters of Skoda cars did not materially change for almost thirty years: from the advent oft the Skoda 1000 MB –Skoda 135/136 built until 1990. These cars were the basic of individual transport in CSSR.

Moreover, Skoda achieved notable racing - and rally - success with these types.

In 1987 a new era starts. The Skoda Favorit was born. It’s the first new construction and was designed with

front engine with front-wheel drive.

Since 1991 Skoda has been part of the German Volkswagen Company producing famous cars like Felicia, Octavia, Superb and Fabia.

By Wolfgang Kramer