Ever wake up aching for an artifact of old Czechoslovakia? Now’s your chance, and a rare opportunity it is! Here on facebook Marketplace is a 1959 Škoda Felicia, with an asking price of $6350, located in San Marcos, California. This little convertible was a follow-on to the 450, known colloquially as the Spartak. With a tiny in-line four-cylinder in the engine bay, steel body work and a robust chassis, the Felicia was built less for performance than looks. In fact, the original idea was to export the car to America. Some 100 copies made it to our shores, but the car quickly lost favor: it was unreliable while also completely lacking in service support – a bad combination. This example needs a complete restoration. We received this tip from Anonymous – I’m sure you know who you are! Thanks!
The base model Felicia came with a 1089 cc four-cylinder, decked with twin Jikov carburetors. With a compression ratio of about 7:1, output hovers at 50 hp. A four-speed manual puts the power to the rear wheels. The Felicia claimed four-wheel independent suspension with transverse leaf springs in the rear, and coil springs at the front. According to the factory, top speed should be 85 mph. At least one forum participant expressed frustration with the Jikov carb; a common solution seems to be a Weber, but in any case, parts will be challenging. On the other hand, an extra cylinder head is lying in the passenger seat, and the facebook advertisement opens with a video featuring OEM bits including clutch parts, seals, bearings, even hubcaps. Perhaps the air cleaner assembly is in the mix.
The Felicia was billed as a five-seater, with room for three up front and two in the rear, though those rear passengers better be pygmies. The steering wheel, gauges, seats, and trim are present, as is an awkwardly installed after-market radio. I can’t see the top frame in the photos. On the other hand, the trunk carries a couple spare wheels. Despite being a product of a communist economy, the Felicia has a certain elegance about it, with that white steering wheel and harmonious instrument arrangement.
These photos don’t reveal the lines of the car, so we’re including this photo of a restored example. The styling is an amalgamation of aspects found on cars contemporary to the Felicia: the grille reminds me of a Nash Healey, the front fender/headlamp arrangement is like a Volvo 122, the strakes above the front wheel wells are caricatures of the 300SL’s similar feature. As to value, your guess is as good as mine. What do you think of the seller’s price? … And I can’t resist this, before we close: Škoda Motorsports won the WRC2 (World Rally Championship 2) every year from 2015-2018, and Driver’s titles in more recent years. This video will go well with your morning coffee!
Now this hits a nerve. Czech Republic since 1993 I believe is the proper current term today, and my daughter and SIL spent the last 9 months in Prague. They said it’s a wonderful place, clean, safe, people are friendly, like my SIL put it, kind of a bizzaro USA, the same, but different. They( and I) can’t wait until they come home to L.A. soon. I asked my SIL about car there, and he said they don’t really have a lot of cars. Most travel is close by, bike or taxi and train for longer trips, but there are some. He didn’t say what, however. A freakin’ Skoda in their drive when they return would blow them away.
The car here is also kind of bizzaro world. What the heck is a Jikov carb, Comrade? Naturally, for any type of use, it needs an update, but then ruins the originality, of a what now?A 1959 Skoda, you say? ( says Autoplace dude), just a minute,,I’ll check,,,( 4 hours later), nope nothing on a Jikov rebuild kit.
It is a cool little car, and dispels the myth about many Soviets then, we were terrified of( see CD post) and visa versa, but like us, they went to work, and drove Skodas, just not sure how many drove convertibles in Siberia, or where ever. A little research shows, it was the “Octavia” sedan that was much more popular.( listen to me, big expert)
What a great find/post.
Jikov was a USSR – I think – carburettor manufacturer. I had a flat-slide Jikov on my BSA M20 for a long time; it had the same stud pitch and just happened to be jetted right. I’d bought it at an autojumble for 50p because it was a nice thing; it just fitted the M20 and worked. It was from a Voskhod 175 originally, as I recall.
My first competition car was a Skoda 120; I did autotests in it.
Jikov carbs were used on Jawa motorcycles too….
No. Jikov – carbs are – or were – made in Czecoslovakia, fitted to Skodas – and on Wartburgs from June 1982 onwards.
I had 4 new ones for Skoda, but since I did not need them, I sold them.
A) 1993 is right, same the Czech Republic
B) JIKOV is a Czech company https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_Jikov and their carburetors were commonly used in Škoda. You can still buy working used ones. IT IS NO REBUILT KIT mate.
C) Octavia was more popular, because there was A PLENTY (286 000 made), Felicia is a rare bird (14 863 made)
D) Siberia is Russia, not Czech Republic
Car is worth saving, DEFINITELY!
Skodas were quite nice for being East Bloc cars. I always liked the look of the 110R Coupe but I have never driven one. Those who have tend to say that it’s not quite the low cost Porsche 356 substitute that one might have hoped for.
I did once own a 1978 120GLS. This was a high-falutin’ version with extra chrome, a rev counter and for some reason sporty drilled holes through the chromed shifter. One issue was that I only test drove it around the block and the seller failed to disclose that the differential started wailing as soon as you reached speeds above 50kph. Oh well, what can you expect for $250?
And it wasn’t just in the current VW era that they did WRC rallies. Check out info on the Norwegian John Haugland who was a bit of a cult hero for me growing up as he frequently performed well in his rear engined commie era Skodas.
As for this one, it doesn’t look all that bad but fully restoring it will be difficult, time consuming and expensive. And you are still having a Skoda when done. So I fear that it’s destined to continue collecting dust for another long time.
The cruel UK joke a couple of decades ago was: “Do you have windshield wipers for a Skoda?”
“Sure, that sounds like a fair trade.”
“Ever wake up aching for an artifact from old Czechoslovak?”
What a great opening line!
A real attention getter and compels me to read the whole article.
My answer to your question is, “if I ever did, thank God it was only a bad dream and go back to bed.”
Great article with good research.
Thank you for bringing something new, something I didn’t know and something I would never want.
Always a joy to read your articles. You have a gift.
Ha, great rejoinder! Thank you for the compliment!
CZ dirt and mx bikes were awesome!
This was a tip from anonymous… for a reason.
Boy, the nose of that thing sure looks like a Trabby.
Well, since no one has mentioned it, the literal translation of “Škoda” is “a shame,” as in “it’s a shame.” Do with that what you will.
50 H.P.?? No way! If this thing had 50 H.P., it would be an autobahn scorcher! Tiny engine and low CR, even twin carbies, can’t save this thing! 25, maybe 30 (real) H.P., more like it!
One of the UK classic magazones tested a Felica convertible about 20 years ago and found it really slow and badly-handling. So I think you ate right….
It’s not about performance, it’s about owning something nobody else has in the case of the Skoda. Only 100 were ever imported and I’ve managed to track down about 14 of them, most in museums. Only 3 that I’ve found remain to be weekend drivers. My nephew is currently restoring one that belonged to my father, and I can tell you that the tail pipe is about as big as your thumb.
BTW, a restoration will set you back about the cost of a nice porche.
What a interesting car, I kinda wish I had the garage space to Tinker with it and get it back on the road, I once built a aluminum adapter plate to put a pinto carb on my Datsun 1200 so I think I could get something to work here if I was unable to rebuild the carb using parts from others.
I remember seeing a sedan version of this car with New York plates on it in Sarnia, Ontario in August, 1970. And, that was the only time I remember ever seeing one in North America.
A good supply of parts are available from Skopart in Berlin. I visited in 2017 and spent time with the owner Frank Heinz buying parts for my 1963 Skoda Octavia. 50 bhp is correct for the Felicia, the single carb Octavia was about 42. The Octavia sedan did quite well in rallying in the early 60s including the Monte Carlo. Very tough little cars made for poor Eastern European roads. The history of Skoda is very interesting, they are a much bigger concern than a lot of people may realise.
The Skoda Armaments Factory was a huge reason Hitler annexed Czechoslovakia. Skoda’s advanced production capability was utilized by the Nazis to achieve the goals of their 4 year plan to prepare for total war by 1940.
My father bought one new in 1960, and put it in the garage in 1970. It spent a lot of time in my garage because, in short, parts are impossible and a restoration could get me a Ford Lightning. I had plans to put a Fox body mustang chassis under it just so parts would be cheaper, but ended up giving it to my nephew. You can follow his restoration on Facebook – look up Foley Family Skoda.