Škoda Auto is celebrating the anniversary of a pioneering model: exactly 60 years ago, in September 1957, the Škoda 450 made its debut at the Engineering Fair in Brno. The elegant roadster had a folding roof and was characterized by its attractive, sporty design. The model rolled off the production line at the Kvasiny plant and was primarily intended for the demanding international markets, including Germany, Great Britain and the USA. In 1959, the traditional Czech brand presented its extremely successful successor, the Škoda Felicia Cabriolet.
In September 1957, the largest Czech car manufacturer presented a special highlight to the more than 1.6 million visitors to the third Czechoslovak Engineering Exhibition in Brno: the new Škoda 450 roadster. The production model was closely based on the Škoda 440 Roadster study, which the car manufacturer had presented to the public at the same venue a year earlier.
A total of 1,010 units rolled off the production line, around two thirds of which Škoda delivered to foreign customers, including in the USA
By the end of 1957, the first ten pre-series models of the Škoda 450 had been built at the Kvasiny plant, with series production starting in the summer of 1958. By the end of production, Škoda had produced a total of 1,010 units of the roadster. Around two thirds of all Škoda 450s produced went to customers abroad. Particularly noteworthy: Škoda exported 408 vehicles of this type to the USA - a unique success at the time for a product from one of the then Eastern Bloc countries.
Škoda 450 was the direct predecessor of the extremely popular Škoda Felicia convertible
At the beginning of 1959, the successor to the 450, the Škoda Felicia, rolled off the production line in Kvasiny. The new model gradually benefited from several technical developments. For example, Škoda replaced the transverse leaf springs on the front axle with coil springs. Other changes included the redesigned dashboard and the sporty center gearshift, which was now mounted on the cardan tunnel.
The modern rear fins on the rear fenders were also a real eye-catcher at the time. The model is one of the most sought-after classic cars in Czech post-war history.
