Skoda Favorit 136 L

Skoda Favorit 136 L

The Skoda Favorit, produced from 1987 to 1995, is arguably the most important car in Czech automotive history. It was the vehicle that transformed Skoda from a maker of outdated rear-engined cars into a modern, competitive manufacturer, and it was the car that convinced Volkswagen to acquire the company. Without the Favorit, Skoda as we know it today might not exist.

The Favorit represented a complete break with Skoda's past. Where all previous Skoda cars since the 1960s had used a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout derived from the Renault Dauphine, the Favorit adopted a front-engine, front-wheel-drive configuration with a modern hatchback body. The styling was penned by none other than Nuccio Bertone's design studio in Turin, giving the car a contemporary European appearance.

The engine was a development of Skoda's existing 1.3-liter four-cylinder, now mounted transversely and driving the front wheels. In 136 L specification, it produced 63 horsepower, modest but adequate for the car's light weight. The five-speed manual gearbox was a significant improvement over previous Skoda transmissions, offering a reasonably precise shift action.

Despite its simple specification, the Favorit was a competent small car by the standards of its era. The front-wheel-drive layout provided predictable handling and good traction, while the relatively spacious hatchback body offered genuine practicality. The car was also remarkably tough, with a robust construction quality that suited the often-poor road surfaces of Eastern Europe.

The Favorit's significance extends beyond automotive engineering. It was designed and launched during the final years of Communist Czechoslovakia, and it represented the country's ambition to compete with Western manufacturers. When the Velvet Revolution of 1989 opened Czechoslovakia to foreign investment, the Favorit demonstrated to potential buyers that Skoda had modern engineering capability.

Volkswagen's acquisition of Skoda in 1991 was largely motivated by the Favorit. VW's engineers were impressed by the car's fundamental soundness and saw Skoda as a brand that could fill the value segment of their portfolio. The Favorit continued in production under VW ownership until 1995, when it was replaced by the VW-influenced Felicia.

Today, the Favorit is recognized as one of the most historically significant cars to emerge from behind the Iron Curtain. Clean examples are becoming increasingly collectible, particularly among enthusiasts who appreciate the car's role in Czech automotive history and its connection to one of the most successful brand transformations in the industry.