https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/125-years-skoda/125-years-of-history-and-a-herald-of-the-future/

Thanks in advance.

Their model LT vz.35 Tank was the best ground weapon available, employed by Germany for the invasion of Poland and was still the major tank used in the invasion of France. It had better terrain crossing capabilities than the later German designs such as the panzer IV but lacked the fire-power to knock out heavier french and british designs. The follow-up LT vz.38 suffered no such problem.

They also designed the battleship triple turret which used by the Kriegsmarine's heavy cruisers and pocket battleships such as Sharnhorst and Graf Spee.

Skoda were worldbeaters in their heyday and almost world conquerors. Thank the lord for nazi beaurocracy and a few decades under communism or we'd all be driving one.

Anyway where was I ? I heard that Skoda made an amphibious car in the 50's has anyone got one or any pics or details? would love to hear about it.

Hairy

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/feature/10068/how-a-dalliance-with-mcrae-transformed-skoda-rally-reputation

"Since its return to international competition in S2000 in 2008, Skoda has become a dominant force in second-tier rallying, its Fabia R5 having claimed the last five WRC-2 titles in a row."

1) Audi

2) Skoda

3) Subaru

4) Peugeout

5) Ford

I almost want to believe conisdering Skoda is the second oldest car company in the world. But I'd feel better with proof. Anyone?

I had the chance to replace someone who could not go to Le Mans Classic last week-end.

I saw the first Skoda Sport (1,2l engine) I had ever seen. It was a MY 1949 :

Really amazed by the very simple design of the cooling system : Tank, straight brass/copper (?) pipes, radiator (+ fan), that's it !

https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/press-releases/skoda-enyaq-rs-iv-sets-two-guinness-world-records-titles-with-7-351-km-ice-drift/

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1878301/12124071
 

https://www.motor1.com/news/650155/skoda-enyaq-ice-drift-record/

Good Museum with friendly staff and they were amused when I told them my first motorised transport when I was 16 was an NSU quickly  

Anyway, not being the slightest bit jealous, well maybe a little, I thought it was interesting to see the thoughts of people that are paid to drive many different kinds of cars and write about them. While they might not be telling us owners anything we don't already know, I personally find it quite satisfying that the cars we are choosing to drive/run are getting all round reasonable praise (ignoring the fact that it may or may not be paid for).

Also good to see even the Heritage fleet's Mk1s can't escape the dirty light coloured upholstery!😄 

Here's Auto Express' article:

Skoda vRS History

I'll try and add more as I find them.

https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/models/octavia/skoda-octavia-25-years-at-the-top/?fbclid=IwAR1uSiz_e6-c5BtaYi4zaV7_x_MkEruwseD5o6CbULi8xAY3oJoUMHWYmMU
 

I had a work visit to the BP archives in near Coventry today and had a good old rummage through some of the old Castrol archived materials and documents. Below are a few of my Favorit, Felicia, Octavia etc. WRC related findings!

http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/search-results?searchTerm=skoda&x=0&y=0

http://motoring.briskoda.net/get-your-classic-cars-out/

&

http://motoring.briskoda.net/celebrating-120-years-of-skoda/

HeritageSpec sheets.pdf

Slide 5 on this http://intech2.tul.cz/dokumenty/dokumenty/03~P%C5%99edn%C3%A1%C5%A1ka%201%20%C5%A0koda-Auto/01b-Koloc_Zah%C3%A1jen%C3%AD%20dne_Z.pdf

As we know Skoda has been a "Cheap Brand" (not my words) and "Value for Money Brand", it looks like Skoda is going for "Brand Image" now, looks like with the Superb and the Yeti.

This could explain the close pricing to the Golf Plus (for the Yeti) and the Passat (for the Superb)?

Can anyone tell me what L&K stands for. Any info would be great.

http://www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BookFeature_CarsEasternEuropeView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001

Literally every customer service enquiry is responded to by this guy. Be it phone or email. Always very pleasent and informative but he seems to be on his own when answering all the customer queries.

I'm not sure if this a serious topic or maybe I'm not looking at a big enough set of results. :wonder:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motoring-quiz/10722383/Quiz-How-much-do-you-know-about-Skodas.html

Shame no pics allowed inside the various manufacturing plants as we visited the panel pressing plant / engine and gearbox facility and Fabia assembley line. Museum in the process of been moved so the cars are spread acorss a few halls and also inside the main factory (motorsport cars).

Prototype never put into production :p

Prototype Yeti.

First Octavia:

Cheers,

Julian.

Read it very carefully. It outlines skoda's new 10 year growth strategy. Although all is not as it seems.

Can they really be basing the growth of our beloved brand based on something akin to an iron eating fungus !!!

The report was issued in front of several hundred Skoda managers from all over the world by Škoda Auto’s new Chairman of the Board of Directors, Professor Dr Winfried Vahland. if you get bored with the initial blurb the worrying bit is under the boldly titled Growth and Strategy at heart of plans.....Enjoy

The Skoda "RS" Growth Strategy.....

Dr Vahland announced the new Škoda RS plan, which aims to double the number of cars the company sells worldwide by 2020.

Stressing that Škoda is one of the pillars of the Volkswagen Group, Dr Vahland said the brand’s aim was to become even bigger. “I am proud of the achievements Škoda has made over the past 20 years,” he said. “Nonetheless… we must not content ourselves with the achieved results

“We have all the potential for a big step forward. Škoda is strong, we are part of the world’s most successful automotive group, markets are recovering worldwide, the crisis seems to be over and we are experiencing a boom in some markets that would until recently have been unimaginable.

Let’s make full use of this potential to move Škoda forward and let’s set challenging goals together.

I know we are up to it. I know we are a strong, fast and inventive team that comes up with surprising, unconventional solutions again and again. We are ‘Simply Clever’ and I am looking forward to co-operating with you

'Growth' and 'strategy' at heart of plans

The RS mark is used for Škoda’s most dynamic and emotional products, which is why the letters have been chosen for the company’s growth strategy as well as for our rally sport. In this usage, the R stands for the word ‘růst’ – Czech for ‘growth’ – and S for the word ‘strategie’ (‘strategy’).

Key points of the growth strategy:

Accelerate growth. We want to at least double the sales of Škoda vehicles over the next 10 years

Reinforce our presence in markets that offer a good potential for growth

Extend our product portfolio (in the right places) to enter new segments

Grow profitably