The Skoda Octavia was a compact family car built by Czech automaker Skoda Auto at their plant in Mlada Boleslav. It was launched in January 1959 and was named Octavia as it was the eighth car produced by the nationalized Skoda company. Clcompany is delighted to feature the facts about the 1959’s Classic Skoda Octavia.
Background
The saloon was manufactured until 1964 when Skoda 1000 MB took its place. In 1961, an estate version was released, and it was manufactured until 1971. The car was a successor to Skoda 440/445. It has newly created front axles with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers in place of the 440’s leaf springs.
Years in production – 1959 to 1971
The Design
This quirky car gave British drivers an option to family car favourites like the Ford Cortina with its massive, American-inspired styling. Performance is sluggish with a 1.2-liter engine producing less than 50bhp. Although Octavia’s chassis was a traditional body-on-backbone design, it benefited from the coil-spring front suspension, with a leaf spring being utilized at the rear.
While the nebulous worm and ball steering take some getting used to, the four-speed transmission shifts from right to left, with the first being at the top. The Octavia was well-equipped in comparison to its mainstream competitors, featuring a heater, rear armrests, and no less than three ashtrays. Even in competitions, it was successful, winning its class at the 1961 Monte Carlo Rally.
Top Specifications of Skoda Octavia
- Displacement – 1089 cc
- Model Engine Power (ps) – 39
- Torque – 69 nm @ 2800rpm
- Model Engine Type – in-line
- Wheelbase– 2410 mm
Interesting facts
- The Skoda Octavia bore a lovely name. It was originally a Latin woman’s name meaning “eighth”.
- Skoda Octavia quickly became a best-seller, and its qualities were proven by exceptional victories in challenging races and competitions, including a hat-trick of victories in its class at the Monte Carlo rally.
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