Skoda Spartak with a two-door two-door body, a spinal frame and spring pendants began to be produced in Czechoslovakia in 1955. True, the name "Spartak" was rather unofficial - the model went off the assembly line under the indices 440/445 (40 and 45 hp, 1089 and 1221 cm3, respectively). Like Soviet cars, the Czech machine was needed more for earning foreign hard currency than for selling to its citizens - a little car cost about two average annual salaries.
Skoda octavia
Skoda Octavia: from 50, 000 kroons (In the Czech Republic, 1 kroon = 1.7 rubles) Skoda Octavia: from 50, 000 kroons (In the Czech Republic, 1 kroon = 1.7 rubles)
Skoda octavia
And in 1959, Spartak gave birth to Octavia: the body was modernized, the interior was completely redone, and, most importantly, the spring front suspension was replaced with a spring one. As a result, the 440th model received the name Octavia, and the 445th - Octavia Super. By the way, at that moment, another name we knew appeared - the previous Skoda 450 convertible (50-horsepower engine, two carburetors) after modernization became Felicia. After a couple of years, Gagarin flew into space, and the pretty three-door station wagon Octavia Combi entered the market. It was he who remained in service the longest: if the production of the Tudor was completed already in 1964, then Combi was released until 1971.
Skoda
Skoda
Two versions of the instrument panel: "positive" and … Two variants of the instrument panel: "positive" and …
Skoda
…"negative". The odometer maintains 99, 999 km, and then the count goes on a new … "negative". The odometer maintains 99, 999 km, and then the count goes on a new
The first Skoda Octavia turned out to be so simple and reliable, and the chassis strong and adapted to bad roads, that the units of this car were exported to some countries, for example, Chile, Pakistan, Indonesia and even New Zealand. There, on its frame, their own bodies were mounted.
Skoda
The spinal frame (highlighted in blue) is a "very Czech" constructive solution. Everyone knows Tatra trucks built on the same principle. In contrast to the Skoda subcompacts, they were imported to the USSR in large numbers. The spinal frame (highlighted in blue) is a “very Czech” constructive solution. Everyone knows Tatra trucks built on the same principle. In contrast to the Skoda subcompacts, they were imported to the USSR in large quantities.
And finally, the rally! Finnish and Norwegian crews on Octavia for several years in the early 60s won prizes in Monte Carlo and the rally of 1000 lakes.
Skoda octavia
Under the hood of the Octavia is an engine with pre-war roots. Under the hood of the Octavia is an engine with pre-war roots.
Skoda octavia
A “crooked starter” is always in the trunk of the present owner of a 50-year-old car A crooked starter is always in the trunk of the current owner of a 50-year-old car
In my opinion…
Tomas Kwan
- I call my car an Earplug, "ladybug." I was 18 years old when I met her, she inherited from my second cousin uncle. You know, I never considered how much money I invested in this car - so I wouldn’t be afraid myself. Octavia is as simple as a tank. If something breaks, everything can be repaired with the help of elementary tools, so seriously she never let me down. I think the car will always be on the move and with me - until the end of my days. By the way, I had your cars - both the 407th Moskvich and the 21st Volga, and even now there is a 24 - they are certainly better, but also much more expensive than our native Czechs.
Skoda octavia
Skoda octavia
The back door is divided vertically: the glass rises and the side flips down - like the 22nd Volga The back door is divided vertically: the glass rises and the side flips down - like the 22nd Volga
Skoda octavia
The spare wheel lies behind the special panel - here the station wagon 24-02 is already remembered The reserve lies behind the special panel - here the station wagon 24-02 is already remembered
In my opinion…
Timur Aliev
- You experience an amazing feeling in such cars - the understanding that there will never be such cars again. A living embodiment of an inverted sheet of history. Let’s say where in a modern car an elegant subtle - and traumatic! - steering wheel with a narrow rim of the horn? I am silent about the poker-like "poker" of the parking brake - more and more often a button replaces it. Well, such an abundance of chrome - and around the headlights and lamps, and on the bumpers, and in the form of moldings - today you will not meet the "Chinese"! But it doesn’t look good. Indeed, from the details looms a zeitgeist - the spirit of the times.
Skoda octavia
Ignition switch - on the left tidy. Nearby is the turn signal lever. The "bone poker" under the panel is the parking brake. The ignition switch is on the left tidy. Nearby is the turn signal lever. The bone poker under the panel is the parking brake
In my opinion…
Ilya Mezhibovsky
- One of our crews screwed up the box - getting into reverse gear at full speed instead of the second turned out to be very easy! You see, there they roll the machine to a kilometer and a half to the end of our rally. Well, in my middle of the way the starter died, then rose again, then died again. And then the gas pedal failed … The roar of an offended motor! And the tired but happy owner of Octavia is ready: he throws himself under the dashboard to return the “gas” to its rightful place with his hands. Are there any brakes? Almost not. But all the same: we drive no faster than 50 km / h and carry a whole car of joy with us!
Skoda octavia
Skoda octavia
Around the middle of Octavia's life on the conveyor, the MCP lever moved from under the steering wheel to the central tunnel Around the middle of Octavia's life on the conveyor, the MCP lever moved from under the steering wheel to the central tunnel
Total
Skoda octavia
“Of the eight Octavia we tested, six look like they came off the assembly line yesterday.” Maybe that's the way it is? Of course not.
Under the bright body and overtightened trim of the passenger compartment hides the interior that is vulnerable to years of age.
By the way, the law is the law - the better the body and interior are licked, the more rubles or crowns it took for expensive chrome plating, the higher the likelihood that money was already not enough for the chassis, engine or, say, electrician.
