Classic: Skoda Rapid Coupé

Posted on 23-04-2016 to 18:00 by larssb – 48 Comments”

Then, there was still a laugh to Skoda. While there are many similarities were with a 911. But a few differences are also there, if you look at this Skoda Rapid Coupé.

Actually pretty much even, outside the barrier in the back and the coupéconcept. And a S in the brand name. More Porsche you could get this nice Tsjechoslowaak reasonably may be ascribed. Or it should be the long life. As we are the 911 for decades, so was also Rapid, in fact, based on a design dating from 1964 came. And as seen, it was a huge accomplishment that one in Bratislava with so few resources such a modern car, knew to put down. Modern we must be as in the communist cadres at the time to the places. Progress was kept, preferably as much as possible to the negative side of the Curtain.

That was by no means the technicians from AZNP, i.e. Škoda Auto of Mladá Boleslav. Outside the 1000MB from ’64, the resulting 100/110 and later 105/120 series, in fact the basis of the Rapid Coupé, developed the skilled Oostblokkers with any regularity special Skoda’s. So there was in 1971, the Super Sport, a futuristic coupeetje with a special roof-door construction and mid-engine. Later came the beautiful UVMV 1100 GT, also a small two-seater with the engine in the back. Also the more modern 720 and 760 series, both a little sturdier sedanmodellen, were ultimately torpedoed by the communist regime and had never seen the production stage. Such frivolities had the people not needed at all, the well-known and reliable sedannetje could still be a few decades. No difficult choices and therefore much better for the state coffers.

A coupe had Skoda already in the price lists are, and beautiful too: the Skoda 110 R Coupe 1970 was relatively a success. That was completely justified, it was a smooth and reliable 2+2 design that there is no more successful looked like. The most criticism was the logo: with a Fiat badge on it was also probably been silenced. Even the spectacular rally – and raceversie 130 RS remained heavily undervalued, while the mighty thing, one after the other rally and race and for many competitors unbeatable. And it was still great. The 130 RS was again inspired by the prototypes of the 180 RS and 200 RS, with 1.7 and 2 litre engines are also intended for racing and rallies. Yet another brave initiative of spirited Skoda engineers to be above the political surface. But also now turned the partijbonzen the large rudder in the opposite direction, and wiping this project from the table.

Early eighties managed, already a say on the perestroika. The adding is based on Skoda’s 105/120 series, got the green light and the Guard solved the 110R coupé as the sporty top model. Many pots he could not yet break, and in 1982 evolved the Garde in the Rapid, now based on the M-series sedans from Skoda. The name Rapid was not new: already in the thirties conducted Skoda a model with this name. For as old is the car manufacturer already started in 1895 by messrs Laurent and Klement and after the first world war, taken over by Škoda. So this was a very innovative car, but after the second world war was the brand again soaked off of parent company Škodovy Závody and gradually annexed by the communist regime, as part of the centrally directed planned economy. The momentum was there now.

At the Rapid. With its 1.2-litre and later a 1.3 liter motor in the back were there are few records to smithereens. Except that of cost: in many markets, gold as the main selling point of the fact that this is the cheapest coupé in the price list. In the UK also the cheapest cabriolet: with the English dealers, you could be a by Ludgate Design & Development converted from a Rapid Cabriolet order for less than £ 5000. No money. And with the hood closed also no face. But you have no convertible, for and with the hood down, it looked better. A bit like the dense version reed. With a greatly improved wheel suspension behind, the 1300cc version under the hood and a vijfbak called a single enthusiast, the Rapid even aloud a poor man’s Porsche.

That was encouraging, positive, if you really believed you could also barefoot over hot coals walk away and yet the idea and the car is not wrong. Under the yoke of suffocating and development budget opslokkende government, it was quite a feat to have such a sympathetic coupeetje to build. Enough laughed. A X6 is worse.