All you need to know about Skoda.
DATE OF BIRTH: 1895.
NATIONALITY: Czech
A mechanic and a bookseller, Messrs Laurin and Klement respectively, started producing Slavia bicycles in 1895. Four years later they were producing motorcycles and in 1905 they produced their first car, the Voiturette A, which later became a classic.
In 1925 they merged with engines and industrial products manufacturer Skoda, which also built the luxury car Hispano Suiza. During the 1930s the radical Skoda 420 put the technology of Skoda dozens of years ahead of many well-known European car manufacturers.
In 1934, the luxury model Superb was launched, and produced until 1949. During WW II, Skoda became part of the German group Hermann Goring Werke and converted fully to military production of ambulances, military tow trucks and tanks. In 1946 production of the Skoda Tudor passenger began, and during the 50s and 60s the company produced models such as the Spartak and Estelle. 1969 saw the first Skoda rally car, the 1000 MB.
Towards the end of the 60s, the company began to lose its competitive position, but regained it through the Favorit in 1988. In 1991 Skoda Auto became the fourth branch of the VW, Audi and SEAT group, and replaced the Favorit with the Felicia in 1994. A middle class model, the Octavia, was launched in the autumn of 1996. In October 1998 the Octavia WRC rally car was introduced at the Birmingham International Motorshow and in less than a year had scored its first world championship rally point. A new small car, the Fabia, went on sale in 2000, and has since been the mainstay of the company's sales. A luxury car, reviving the Superb name, was introduced to Ireland in 2002.
Best Car: Superb (both versions)
Worst Car: Favorit (of recent times - the pre-WWII version was beautiful)
Weirdest Car: The 1000 MB rally car - but for really weird, czech out the ad on www.skoda-auto.se/default.shtml)