Can you imagine a more famous car on Czech roads? Therefore, it seems unnecessary to introduce it to you, right? But then it would be a bit of a shame, or rather a shame .
Yes, the Skoda 120 L is a typical domestic car. In 1976 it replaced the round models 100 and 110 , and after many modernizations it was replaced by the Favorit type. In addition to regular sedans, there was also the Garde sports coupe and its modernized version Rapid , but these (unfortunately) may not be of interest to us today. Sedans rolled off the production lines for a full 14 years, and during that time more than two million were produced. Thirteen years ago, it was the car with the largest number of registrations. But in order to meet a classic Skoda today, you need to slowly hire a private detective. Certainly if we are talking about the classic " snake " before modernization. It is a fairly common sedan with an engine mounted longitudinally at the rear and rear-wheel drive. But the radiator with an electric fan is located in the front. The snake borrowed the engine , transmission and axles from its predecessor , unlike it, for example, it has better deformation zones or a safety steering wheel shaft. For the sake of better anti-corrosion protection, it was electrophoretically painted, but there is probably no car today that has not needed some minor repair over the years.
The basic model 105 S was originally produced, better equipped 105 L and with a better engine 120 L. A year later came the more luxurious version 120 LS and another year later the top version 120 GLS . By the way, L stands for De Luxe and GLS for Grand De Luxe Sport . But you yourself know that a 120-year-old is a long way from a sports car or a luxury car. In the same year, instrument panels were changed, for example the fuel indicator light received the gas station symbol for the first time. The following year, a plastic spoiler was added to the edge of the rear hood and plastic covers to the wheels. GLS versions and export cars were fitted with self-retracting front belts . In 1980, the wheels were getting smaller, instead of the previous 14-inch sedans, they came out with 13-inch wheels, which is completely unheard of these days. Then the 105 GL version was added, headlights, handles, mirrors and bumpers were changed. And later even the utility version 105 SP was added. The year 1983 brought a major modernization, the so-called eMko .
The vehicle has two luggage compartments , one under the front hood, the other behind the rear seats. Below the front one is a reserve , which was also part of the deformation zone . It was removed in such a way that you had to flip out the lower part of the front panel where it was located. Access to the luggage compartment is through the side-opening hood. It reminds me so much of a sailboat, I can't help it. With the hood up, the pest looks like a stray Dutchman , just to lean against the wind and it will surely start. And for example on the highway it could help the maximum speed. But you know how many jokes there were about Skoda cars, maybe there would be one on this topic. However, such a brown one does not deserve a lot of ridicule at all, the equipment even includes a player for MC cassettes . Too bad I don't have a period selection on hand. Letting go between the meadows with the song " Měla na očich obryle " would perfectly complement the atmosphere.
It remains to drive properly. Although once upon a time there was a red… Well, red, she was a very faded orange-pink, like when you find a fifty-year-old pile of bricks somewhere. Well, one " red " 120 L snake was once parked in our garage, but at the age of eight I really didn't get behind the wheel. The only thing that sticks in my mind is when it once failed right in the middle of an intersection. The second experience dates back to 2013, when I was in a " white " one (yes, it was a long way from white, if there's something I absolutely hate about old Skoda cars, it's their color swatch with fifty shades of brown and one white, which doesn't help even Perwoll ) could go around the block. And now this one is waiting for me… Well, let's just say it's brown, but we all know what I mean.
I get in and the slamming of the door brings back childhood memories. When I stopped thinking about the disgusting color and began to feel the steering, I was pleasantly surprised. The steering was precise , even if a little insensitive . At the same time, the pseudo-white specimen steered like a hovercraft , I turned the steering wheel from the left stop to the right, and at the same time the hundred and twenty was still going straight. But this brown one is doing better and tries to respond immediately to gentle commands. Nice change, I thought better steering in AZNP was reserved for more expensive coupes. The steering wheel with the cover doesn't hold very well, and the seat has some kind of iron construction for some reason, but surprisingly it doesn't put pressure on the back. However, it looks like someone left a backpack there. The seat is insufficiently long, the backrest is downright short, and the entire position behind the wheel is far from ideal. I sit too high , almost like a chair, and it reminds me a lot of the second generation Fabia , where I just don't sit well. I don't have enough headroom for that either. But what I would like, this is not a car for interesting experiences, but an ordinary family sedan , which in the end fulfilled its role quite well. I can at least be happy with the under-counter head of the gear lever. Today it would be called tuning …
The sound of the engine is also typical, which reminds me of my childhood again. Otherwise, the car surprises me quite a bit. As I already said, compared to the " white " one, it has quite accurate steering. While on the previous drive I was constantly steering to keep the car going straight, this time the front wheels are listening to the steering wheel very carefully. Not that there is enough information flowing to me, but you can tell the direction of the car from it. The funny thing was that during the photo shoot the contact on the flashlight betrayed , luckily it was quickly resolved. Then when we drive, careful use of the right leg is not very suitable. The Skoda has a tendency to jerk a bit , so I have to stop worrying and keep the gas as low as possible. Nothing much will happen anyway, definitely do n't expect a sharp acceleration . The 120 L version had a maximum speed of 140 km/h, but it was not so flexible and needed a little more time to start.
But I'm still glad that I was able to test this previously so ordinary car. Today, it is difficult to appreciate the progress that the automotive industry has undergone over the past few decades, if we do not have our own experience. However, the human mind is tricky, we tend to remember the good and "format" the negative over time. And there's another thing, in her time the hundred and twenty was not bad compared to the regular competition. Sure, I can already hear you pulling the Opel Kadett and Citroën GS at me. But put them behind your hat again, I was referring to the contemporary competition in the Eastern Bloc, that is Dacia , Syren , Wartburg and Moskvich . I think that the Skoda 120 L can be described as at least decent average in this regard. Its main trump card these days is the nostalgia it evokes because your dad or grandpa or uncle or at least a neighbor had it.
We thank the website Veteráni na Truc and the blog Zpátečka.cz for facilitating the test.
