The word legend in the title of the article describes this car perfectly. Probably no other competition tool of the domestic car manufacturer has such a cult status as the elegant 130 RS coupe. We have already covered the history of this car, so today we can fully enjoy the experience of a specific car.
It will be almost a quarter of a century since a young man began to dream his dream. The dream of having a replica of one of the most amazing cars ever built by the Mladá Boleslav car company in the garage. But you know best that the path from dream to reality is not easy. At the beginning of everything was the classic " erko ", i.e. Skoda 110 R. The plan was simple, get original parts for the bodykit, which will be installed on the car and suddenly you will have a replica of the legendary Eres at home. But that's easy to say, but much harder to do. Today you sit down in front of Google, enter a few words, and the next day a courier van driver rings your doorbell and a set of parts moves into your garage. Alternatively, there are a number of companies around the country that will provide you with the construction of your replica, and not just Skoda ones. But a quarter of a century ago, you could rely on friends and DIY tutorials.
It's no wonder that the owner was drawn to " heresy " – the house was originally a classic sedan , which was slightly decorated with nice wheels and additional headlights . After all, connoisseurs know that Skoda used the 110 L Rallye and 120 S types before the bath, which were the model for this sedan. The transition to the "royal" 130 RS was therefore a logical step. And if you're wondering how the said sedan turned out, it unfortunately ended in infamy after it fell in love with some die-hards.
The original vision of the owner was that he could handle the construction himself. But anyone who has ever tried to modify their car at least a little can imagine how difficult a task it is to build something from the ground up. A lot of time in the garage you end up walking around the unfinished skeleton , constantly waiting for the delivery of some part that you can't move without. And 99% of similar projects eventually end up somewhere in nettles due to an impatient owner or his family, lacking the necessary amount of understanding. But as I already mentioned, in today's Internet age, we can already try to find a helping hand. And this was provided to our hero after his five-year effort by the company Tym-Motorsport .
Even so, it was still not easy. In total, the construction of the car took 4 years before the owner was 100% satisfied with the car. Today, however, he already has his toy, his "big Englishman", as he calls him. If the looks put you off, you'll probably have to delve deeper into the rally archives. Instead of the classic and constantly used design of Rallye Monte Carlo 1977 or the looks of the factory team AZNP , Barum team or JZD Slušovice , the owner chose as a model a car in the colors of the Chemopetrol Litvínov team, with Václav Arazim shining behind the wheel. It is not an exact replica, because the beautiful proportions of the car disappear in the original colors. For example, the black hood had to go. Nevertheless, experts identify the color of the car at first glance.
The body is lightweight , just like the original cars. The roof, hood and doors are made of aluminum , the side windows are made of macrolon , the fenders and the rear hood are made of fiberglass . As with racing cars, there is a very spartan interior . On the dashboard you will find all the important indicators. And perfectly organized. Instead of classic seats, there are period shells . Admittedly, the clearance provided by period seats to the body could be a problem in faster cars today. But this is a car for weekend pleasure, not for racing, so you will welcome a more comfortable seat. Of course, the racing car had four-point belts , which can also be found in this toy. And not just any, these particular ones come from Ladislav Křeček . In addition, there is also a period safety frame , racing helmet holders or a reading lamp for the passenger so that he can read the "notes" on the night erzets. A sports steering wheel must not be missing, which has a thicker ring and a much smaller diameter than that of a regular steering wheel. Thanks to the darkness, the car is easier to drive, despite the fact that the steering gear has been preserved. There are two fuel pumps in the car. The brakes , which are also made according to the original RS , have undergone improvement. A lightened reinforced car needs more power to stop. Speaking of boost, the engine block comes from a later type of Favorit , but its current output is around 100 horsepower. As mentioned, this is not a race car, so there was no need to tune it to its maximum potential. There is still enough fun with the car.
It is certain that the Skoda 130 RS is an amazing piece of technology. It is also recognized by people who were otherwise not very interested in domestic automobile production. It was one of the most successful racing cars of this car company, with which legendary names are associated – Václav Blahna , Václav Pech , Leo Pavlík , Václav Arazim and, last but not least, the Norwegian pro – John Haugland . Getting close to this car makes car freaks a little shaky in the knees. Plus, it's probably never been easier to have one at home. If you're hesitating, don't think too much, you just want to have this in your garage.
Finally, we ask the owner a few questions:
Why did you choose this particular car, was it your long-term dream or a momentary decision?
It was my childhood dream since I was fifteen years old. I used to have a replica 120 S, but unfortunately it was stolen once.
How hard was this car to get?
They are easy to come by today. Previously, it was much more difficult to obtain the necessary parts.
How do you live with the car in normal traffic? And do you have it for pleasure or for daily use?
I only have it for fun for a nice ride on the weekend. It drives me very well, I just had to get used to it.
What was the most interesting experience with this car?
There are not many of them, the vehicle has yet to be registered for operation. But I hope they will be many and positive.
Are you planning any modifications or repairs on it?
There is always something to do and improve on the car.
What is your biggest motoring dream?
Mitsubishi Lancer EVO, a great four-wheeler with which to make wonderful powerslides.
Photo: Mikka , Team-Motorsport
