The Skoda 130/135/136 were three variations of a rear-engined, rear-wheel drive car that was produced by Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto in Mladá Boleslav, Czechoslovakia between 1984 and 1990. They were developed from the Škoda 105/120 series.
[] Introduction
The very first Škoda 130 models were introduced in August 1984, shortly after the earlier Škoda 105/120 models were given a mild revamp. Developed from the earlier Škoda 105/120 models (some of which continued in production alongside the Škoda 130 models, the 130 series used a new 1289cc engine (which produced 58 bhp, and which was just an enlarged version of the 1174cc engine used in the 120 series), as well as a five-speed gearbox, semi-trailing arm rear suspension, wider track and four-pot front brake disc calipers (the latter two of which were already in use in the 105/120 series). The saloon versions of the new 130 series were the 130 L and 130 GL and the Coupè model was the 130 Rapid, which were just larger-engined versions of the 120 LS and 120 GLS saloons and 120 Rapid Coupè.
[] Later models
The introduction of the more technically innovated Škoda 130 series might have been a reasonably great success for Škoda, but the basic engineering design dated back to the 1960s, and was therefore extremely outdated by the 1980s. The final models to evolve from the rear-engined Škoda generation were the Škoda 135/136 series. The 136 L and 136 GL saloons and 136 Rapid Coupè were introduced in 1987. These models had an uprated 1289cc engine with an eight-port aluminum cylinder head (this was the same engine that was also used in the Škoda Favorit) and a higher output of 62bhp. The 136 models featured a new front grille, also fitted to the remaining models of the 105/120 series. Also in 1987, most of the 105/120 series was discontinued, with the exception of the 105 L, 105 SP and 120 L. The coupe versions were renowned as being the only car which handled like the notoriously enjoyable yet temperamental Porsche 911 of the same era.
In 1988, the 130 series became the 135 series (in L and GL saloons and Rapid Coupè forms). They had the same engine as the 136 models but with a lower output of 62bhp. The rear-engined Škodas continued in production until 17.01.1990, when the very last ones left the Škoda factories in Kvasiny and Mladá Boleslav.
[] Other Markets
[] Britain
The 130 models made their UK debut in March 1985 and were available in both Estelle 130 L and 130 LSE 4-door saloon and 130 Rapid 2-door Coupè forms, with an aftermarket Cabriolet version of the Rapid also available. The Estelle 130 GL, which was available in Eastern Europe since 1984, did not arrive in the UK market until May 1987. The UK market got the 136 Rapid Coupè and Cabriolet models in August 1988, followed by the rare fuel-injected Rapid 135 RiC Coupè in December 1989. Both these, and the Estelle 120 L and 120 L Five Saloons, were discontinued just four months later. The Estelle and Rapid were very competitive cars, which helped Skoda to new sales records in Western Europe in the late 1980s (about 17,000 105/120/130 models were sold in the UK in 1987 alone).
The new 130 models silenced the earlier criticism that had been made in some quarters of tail-happy handling, with the prominent UK motoring magazine "Autocar and Motor" remarking in 1988 that the new 136 Rapid model "handles like a Porsche 911."
Like the smaller-engined Skoda 105/120, the Skoda 130/135/136 gradually became a rare sight on Britain's roads by the time the 21st century dawned. With just 612 of the Skoda 105/120 range still registered in the UK, it is unclear how many of the Skoda 130 series have survived. Due to their rarity in the UK, prices for good 130s are rising.
|
