In the unique atmosphere of a historic factory building dating back to 1913, the Škoda Museum has opened a new collection called "Concepts Unmasked". Škoda is thus offering visitors the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of history and is making another part of its collection accessible to the public. The newly accessible hall houses 31 concepts, studies and prototypes, all of which are united by the desire to shape the future design and technical direction of the Czech car manufacturer.
With its modern "garage-style" exhibition concept, the newly opened hall is seamlessly linked to the existing "Sleeping Beauties" area. Together they form a separate tour that can be explored with a guide and by prior reservation. Each exhibit has a short description and further details can be accessed by scanning a QR code. As with the museum's main exhibition, the exhibition in the new depot will also be updated from time to time.
The Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav takes visitors through more than 130 years of the company's history, from the earliest vehicles by Laurin & Klement to current models and design studies. The museum was opened in 1995 in the original factory buildings and completely renovated in 2012. The museum's exhibitions cover 1800 m² and include not only historic vehicles, but also prototypes, special motorsport models and motorcycles. The oldest exhibit is a Slavia bicycle from 1899.
A visit to the museum can also be combined with a tour of the Škoda plant in Mladá Boleslav or the plants in Vrchlabí and Kvasiny, as well as a trip to the birthplace of Ferdinand Porsche in Liberec-Vratislavice.
Škoda 973 "Babeta" (1953)
This prototype off-road vehicle for the Czechoslovak army had four-wheel drive and good off-road capabilities. Only around 30 units were built. The vehicle was best known for its appearance in the Czechoslovak music film "When a Thousand Clarinets" (1964), in which the hit "Babeta Went Out into the World" was heard and which gave the vehicle its nickname "Babeta".
Škoda 976 (1956)
This prototype was built as one of the studies for the planned "New Passenger Car" (NOV), in this case with a front engine and front-wheel drive. Later, however, the rear-engine layout was chosen for further development, which ultimately led to the successful Škoda 1000 MB.
Škoda 988 (1958)
As a prototype of the later Škoda 1000 MB, this vehicle already had a rear engine and rear-wheel drive. Four examples were produced between 1957 and 1958, each of which differed in appearance. This special vehicle has been part of the Škoda Museum collection since 2006. The saloon has a self-supporting metal body and was the only one of the four vehicles to be equipped with an OHC prototype engine.
Škoda 990 NOV Combi (1963)
One of the variants considered for the Škoda 1000 MB was a practical estate version. During test drives, the prototype covered 7,000 kilometers. However, it had a complicated installation of the boxer engine under the trunk floor and never went into series production.
Škoda 998 Agromobil (1963)
This utility vehicle with all-wheel drive was intended for farmers, foresters and the army. Škoda developed it together with Česká zbrojovka Strakonice, where it was also to be produced. In the end, however, it only remained at the prototype stage - three units were built in 1962, and a further ten a year later.
Škoda 720 (1971)
A prototype of a modern mid-size car with front engine and rear-wheel drive. The first Škoda 720 with a body designed by the head of the Italdesign studio, Giorgetto Giugiaro, was completed in August 1969. The exhibited vehicle is the so-called repeated prototype OP-1.
Škoda 740 (1971)
The Škoda 900/1100 project, known internally as the Š 740, began in 1969 as a small car with a conventional layout, originally planned in two body sizes and two engine versions. The five-door vehicle was designed by Josef Čech, and test drives took place in 1971-1972. Soon afterwards, however, development was discontinued for political reasons.
Škoda 760 ID (1973)
In 1971, work began on the Škoda 760 passenger car project with front-wheel drive, which involved cooperation with East German factories in Zwickau and Eisenach. Once again, Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign was called in to design the body of what would later become the fourth prototype of the 760 series. This elegant saloon was completed in 1973, but political reasons led to the project being discontinued a year later.
Škoda 736 Buggy (1975)
The beach-style Škoda Buggy, which was based on a design by AZNP designer Josef Čech, was developed in the first half of the 1970s using modified mechanical components from the Škoda 110 L. The body was produced at the car manufacturer's training center as part of the students' training. The model never went into series production, although one of the completed vehicles served as a "FOLLOW ME" vehicle at Prague Airport.
Škoda 763 (1977)
A working prototype from the development series that followed the earlier 760 series, which never went into production. Several prototypes were designed and built in different body variants: Hatchback (761), sedan (762), coupe (763), station wagon (764) and long wagon (765). All had a conventional layout with engine and gearbox at the front and rear-wheel drive.
Škoda 742 P (1978)
At the end of the 1970s, several modified vehicles based on the Škoda 105/120 (type 742) with rear engine and rear-wheel drive were built to test alternative powertrain configurations. One example was built with an "all-at-the-front" configuration, in which the engine and transmission were arranged longitudinally at the front and drove the front wheels.
Škoda 748 (1985)
Even during the successful racing career of the Škoda 130 RS, intensive work was carried out on its successor. One option was to adapt the upcoming Type 743 series (the Garde and Rapid models). Between 1979 and 1980, three prototypes were therefore built on the chassis of the Škoda 130 RS, each with differently designed front and rear body parts. The example in the Škoda Museum collection is the fourth and last prototype, which was built in Kvasiny in 1985.
Škoda 781 FV2 (1981)
Development of the new Škoda Favorit with front engine and front-wheel drive began as early as 1979 under the name Škoda 781. Two study models (SV), two functional models (FV) and four repeated prototypes (OP) were built. The vehicle on display is the second functional model. It was produced in a two-tone de luxe version and covered more than 90,000 kilometers during the test phase.
Škoda 782 (1986)
A sedan from a series of unrealized variants of the Škoda 781 Favorit series, designed by Stile Bertone. Several prototypes in different body variants were designed and built, all with front engine and transmission as well as front-wheel drive. Series production was planned from 1990, but never materialized in the end.
Škoda 783 (1987)
Another prototype based on the Škoda 781 Favorit. Work on the three-door coupé began in 1985, initially in the form of sketches and a 1:4 scale model in the Bertone studio. The necessary documentation was then produced in Mladá Boleslav and Kvasiny, and the body was built in 1986. The coupé took to the road for the first time in 1987, but series production was never realized in the end.
Škoda 784 COM (1987)
This estate version based on the Škoda Favorit/Forman was created in 1991 as a high-riding "Savana" variant. In addition, several other prototypes in different body variants were designed and built on the same platform.
Škoda 788 (1991)
An ambulance prototype based on the Škoda Forman with an extended wheelbase. It was built in 1991 and also underwent a series of test drives. In the end, only two examples were produced, as ambulances based on light commercial vehicles were already becoming the standard at that time.
Škoda FUN (1993)
The brand's very first show car - a concept developed exclusively for exhibition purposes and without production plans - was created under the direction of Brazilian designer Günter Karl Hix after Škoda joined the Volkswagen Group. Two examples of this leisure-oriented vehicle, which was based on the Škoda pick-up, were built between 1992 and 1993. Thanks to the positive response, this idea was followed by the Felicia Fun series in 1996.
Further information can be found on the website of the Škoda Museum.
