Škoda · 1959–present

Škoda Octavia (1959)

The Škoda Octavia is a small family car which was produced by Czechoslovak automaker AZNP (now Škoda Auto) from 1959 to 1971, at their plant in Mladá Boleslav. It was introduced in January 1959 and was named Octavia as it was the eighth car produced by the nationalised Škoda company. The saloon was produced until 1964, when it was replaced by the Škoda 1000 MB. An estate version was introduced in 1961, and remained in production until 1971. The Octavia was the successor to the Škoda 440/445 on which it was based. It featured redesigned front axles with a coil spring and telescopic shock absorbers rather than a leaf spring as in the 440. The 1,270 kg (2,800 lb) saloons were sold with 1089 cc engines producing 40 PS (29 kW), later 50 PS (37 kW), and 1221 cc engines with 45–55 PS (33–40 kW). The slightly heavier estate wagons at 1,365 kg (3,009 lb) were all shipped with 1.2 litre engines. The top speed was 110 to 115 km/h (68 to 71 mph). The Škoda Octavia engine and gearbox were used in the Trekka light utility vehicle, which was manufactured in New Zealand from 1966 to 1973, and also in the Skopak, which assembled and sold in Pakistan in the 1970s. The Octavia name was resurrected in 1996 for a new model.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Škoda 440 · Successor: Škoda 1000 MB

All Škoda Octavia data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Export

The Octavia and the similarly styled Felicia were sold in the United States in the early 1960s, despite the extreme Cold War tension between the United States and Czechoslovakia. However, Skoda failed to gain a large following in the import scene in the US, As many buyers were scared to buy a Communist-built car.

In popular culture

The car is featured in the game My Summer Car as the abandoned and wasp-infested "RCO Ruscko", found at a ventti dealer's house.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Škoda Octavia
Manufacturer: AZNP
Assembly: Czechoslovakia: Mladá Boleslav, Ireland: O'Shea, Cork, New Zealand: Auckland, Chile: Arica
Predecessor: Škoda 440/445
Successor: Škoda 1000/1100 MB
Class: Small family car
Body style: 2-door saloon, 3-door estate
Engine: 1089 cc I4, 1221 cc I4
Layout: FR layout
Wheelbase: 2400 mm
Length: 4065 mm
Width: 1600 mm
Height: 1430 mm
Production: 1959–1971
Related: Škoda Felicia (1959–1964)