When pick-ups were still a rare species on European roads, Škoda did pioneering work in the mid-1990s and expanded the Felicia family to include a practical flatbed version. With success: almost one in ten of the 1.4 million Felicia models produced rolled off the production line as a pickup.
Funtastic
In March 1995, another version made its debut as an unconventional leisure vehicle that was more committed to having fun: the Škoda Felicia Fun made its debut with bright yellow paintwork and an ingenious 'Simply Clever' trick that helped the two-seater to gain two more seats in no time at all. The 4016 examples that were produced up to August 2000 are still in great demand among youngtimer fans today.
Focus on the joy of driving
In Škoda's 125-year company history, cars that appeal more to the sense of beauty and the joy of driving - beyond their pure utility value for everyday private or professional use - have always played an important role. The model name Felicia is associated with a particularly elegant episode: This was the name of the legendary roadster that immortalized itself in the brand's history between 1959 and 1964 as a symbol of the small dream sports car, inviting almost 15,000 happy drivers and their passengers to take a stroll.
No successor despite high demand
Demand for the nippy two-seater far outstripped supply, with the majority of production of the timeless convertible being exported. The Felicia never received a successor: the dawning era of Škoda vehicles with rear engines severely limited the range of possible body variants for a long time. While sporty coupés were produced in small series alongside notchback saloons, open-top models with this drive concept did not make it past the prototype stage or remained the result of individual conversions.
The one-off - Škoda Tremp
Greater creative freedom was only offered by the completely new vehicle family that Škoda presented to the public at the engineering fair in Brno on September 16, 1987: The modern Favorit with a hatchback body relied on a transversely installed front engine and front-wheel drive. The designers and engineers of the traditional Czech brand quickly came up with further ideas, including the Škoda 781 Tremp prototype: the two-seater four-door had a fixed roof above the driver and passenger seats, which was replaced by a solid tubular structure and a roll bar from the B-pillar upwards. This unique vehicle is now owned by the Škoda Museum.
Unagitated vehicle with a special charm
Two versions finally made it into series production: the Forman estate model presented in 1990 and - one year later - the two-seater pickup. At the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt in 1993, the Czech car manufacturer demonstrated that even this unassuming commercial vehicle could develop a very special charm with two ready-to-use concept vehicles called Škoda Fun. Both were based on the Favorit series and had a raised chassis that increased the ground clearance by 60 millimetres and thus made touring through light off-road terrain possible.
Two seats in the open air
In addition to a front bull bar and a massive roll-over protection, which in conjunction with a roof rack also made it possible to transport bulky sports equipment such as surfboards or mountain bikes, one clever trick in particular caused quite a stir: The rear partition wall with its electrically operated rear window could be folded down and a lever mechanism enabled two additional seats to be created in the open air. Nevertheless, there was still enough space on the remaining loading area for cool boxes or luggage. Visually, the yellow and purple painted exhibits caught the eye with their tasteful decor and seven-spoke alloy wheels.
Focused on fun
The extent to which the concept of the IAA exhibits already resembled the later production model was demonstrated in March 1995 at the Geneva Motor Show, where the Škoda Felicia Fun celebrated its world premiere. The uncompromisingly fun leisure vehicle adopted many ideas and detailed solutions from the two concept cars, but combined them with the comprehensively upgraded technology of the Felicia presented a year earlier - for the complex evolution of the predecessor model, the brand, which had long since become part of the Volkswagen Group, had developed 1.187 parts had been redeveloped for the complex evolution of the predecessor model, comprehensively improving not only driving comfort but also the level of safety and workmanship.
"The fresh yellow color of the vehicle stands for adventure"
The biggest surprise of the Felicia Fun: The unusual solution with the folding and sliding rear wall, which created two additional emergency seats as if from nowhere, was more than just a quirky idea forThe mechanism, known internally as the 'party trick' and since further developed, was actually part of the basic equipment of the unconventional pick-up variant.
Although it shortened the depth of the spruce-lined loading area from 1,370 to 850 millimetres when extended, this hardly detracted from the practical benefits of the trendy platform truck, which was always painted in bright yellow and adorned with an additional rear spoiler. The copywriters in the advertising brochure were almost enthusiastic: "The fresh yellow color of the vehicle stands for adventures in which the Felicia Fun is happy to accompany you. Take the bright yellow steering wheel in your hand, turn the ignition key and travel towards the sun and fun."
Technically like the normal pickup
The Škoda Felicia Fun has retained the key technical data of the pickup model, such as the wheelbase of 2,450 millimetres. It measured 4,245 millimetres in length, 1,680 millimetres in width and 1,465 millimetres in height. Customers had a choice of three four-cylinder engines: In addition to the diesel engine, which drew an output of 47 kW (64 hp) from a displacement of 1896 cc, two petrol engines were also available - with a displacement of 1.3 liters and 50 kW (68 hp) and 1,598 cc and 55 kW (75 hp), the latter enabling a top speed of 163 km/h.
The combined fuel consumption of the 1.6-liter engine was 7.3 liters/100 kilometers according to the standard valid at the time. The basic version with the 1.3 MPI engine cost 304,900 Czech crowns in the LX equipment line. Škoda charged 40,000 Czech crowns more for the 1035-kilogram version with a 1.6 MPI four-cylinder engine, which could carry a load of 445 kilograms. Another 10,000 crowns were added for the diesel engine.
The Felicia Fun was also offered in Germany. The pickup, which was generally combined with a 1.6 MPI engine, cost just under 14,000 euros in 1999.
Buyers could opt for an optional partial leather interior, which was available for 639 euros.
Coveted collector's items
A total of 4016 Škoda Felicia Fun rolled off the production line at the Vrchlabí plant between October 1995 and August 2000. Today, the striking yellow leisure vehicles are coveted collector's items - they are among the brightest splashes of color among the more than 1.4 million Felicia produced in total.
