Skoda Is Reviving A Classic Racing 1100 OHC Coupé

Skoda has restored an 1100 OHC Coupé to commemorate its motorsport division's 120th anniversary. From 1960 to 1962, the vehicle raced in endurance circuit racing and was rebuilt utilizing the initial chassis, motor, and frame. Skoda's museum restoration workshop and the manufacturer's Prototype Center worked together on the project, hand-rebuilding the automobile into a fully working vehicle.

The original two-seater was powered by a 90bhp naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine connected to a five-speed manual transmission. It had dual-circuit brakes and could achieve speeds of up to 124 mph.

There were just two examples produced. Following revisions to racing rules and the termination of the 1100cm3 category, they were privately sold in 1966. In 2014, Skoda purchased the chassis, front axle frame, brakes, pedals, and other small pieces from a Czech private collection. It only used pieces from one of the privately sold automobiles since the other was destroyed in a fire.

The Skoda Museum has an open-topped spider edition of the 1110 OHC, while Skoda UK uses another to advertise the brand. For the project, Skoda used parts from production automobiles from the period. Some switches and the ignition lock were from an Octavia and a 440 Spartak, while the door handles came from a 1200.

The three-spoke steering wheel came from a Popular, the company's best-selling pre-war vehicle. The car's body was recrafted from 0.8 mm and 1mm thick aluminum sheets, resulting in a total weight of just 555 kg. According to Skoda, 3D scanning and modeling, as well as old pictures that let designers rebuild the automobile on a 1:1 scale, were vital in bringing the car back to life.

“You could say that the unique Skoda 1100 OHC Coupé has returned to its birthplace,” said Martin Kadlec, a Skoda prototype construction specialist.