Škoda 130 RS. The Porsche of the East is celebrating its XNUMXth anniversary

One of the most surprising competition cars in history will soon be fifty years young. Half a century ago, Škoda caused a sensation by appearing in competitions for the first time with the then newly developed 130 RS.

Its history begins six years earlier, with the arrival of the 100/110 L. This is the series that follows the successful 1000 MB – with the engine in the rear and a self-supporting body. This model line serves as the basis for the sturdy 110 L Rally and the 110 R Coupé. The subsequent 120 S Rally appears at the start of almost all racing competitions in Škoda's home country.

At the beginning of the 1970s, it became clear that rally cars with a displacement of 1.1 and 1.2 litres would no longer be competitive. Therefore, in 1974, the engineers at Škoda presented two prototypes with a displacement of 1.8 litres: the 180 RS and the 200 RS. After a short but successful period, their careers came to an end due to a change in the FIA ​​regulations. This was because the new rules prohibited prototypes from participating in international rally series. The Czechoslovakian manufacturer was not deterred and developed the Škoda 130 RS. The engineers in Mladá Boleslav worked on two motorsport versions based on the production model: one for rallies and one for circuit racing.

Competition-proof modifications and powerful engines

Škoda is working hard to make the competition weapon competition-proof and to ensure optimum performance. The 130 RS is equipped with a lightweight frame. Furthermore, aluminium body parts (roof and door panels) and glass-fibre reinforced plastic (mudguards and bonnet) are fitted. The 130 RS is powered by a rear-mounted four-cylinder petrol engine with overhead valves. The standard aluminium engine block is fitted with a cast-iron cylinder head with eight valves, a dry sump lubrication system and two double Weber carburettors. The cylinder capacity is increased from 1289 cc to 1299,6 cc – a fraction less than the class limit of 1300 cc. The power starts at 112,5 hp at 7250 rpm and is gradually increased to 142 hp at 8500 rpm. A top speed of 220 kilometres per hour is therefore possible.

Circuit debut in April 1975

The 130 RS made its circuit debut in April 1975. A month later, the new racer from the Eastern Bloc made a splash at the European Touring Car Championship in Brno. There, it finished third and fourth in the class up to two litres. At that time, it had a five-speed gearbox, but a year later, the FIA ​​changed the regulations and Škoda was forced to equip the 130 RS with a four-speed gearbox. And it remained that way until the last official race in which participants drove with this competition weapon. The dynamic driving behaviour was soon praised. The two-door coupé weighed only 720 kilos. Its light and balanced design and the excellent tuning and composition of the chassis ensured this. Both in the bends and on the straights, the 130 RS held its own.

Rally debut in 1976 and impressive performances

In 1976, Škoda made its first appearance on the international rally stage with the 130 RS. In its premiere year, the 130 RS took the first three places in the Cup for Peace and Friendship. This competition was a tough rally series in the former Eastern Bloc. In January 1977, Czech factory drivers Václav Blahna and Lubislav Hlávka took the 130 RS to the Monte Carlo Rally. They surprisingly achieved class victory. Their Czech colleagues Milan Zapadlo and Jiří Motal completed the double victory by taking second place. In 1978, this team drove the 130 RS to class victory in the Acropolis Rally, which was then considered the toughest rally on European soil.

Remarkable performances in ETCC

The Škoda 130 RS thus becomes a rally legend. The drivers make a name for themselves with the Czechoslovak rally weapon by outdoing stronger competitors. That is why the 130 RS is nicknamed Porsche of the East. After the rally successes, Škoda also made a name for itself in the ETCC with the 130 RS. In 1978, the team from Mladá Boleslav completed the full season for the first time and took third place in the manufacturers' classification. In 1979, the 130 RS finished second in the overall classification and in 1980 third behind Audi and BMW. But that year, the fast coupé also won its class. It couldn't get any better, its rivals thought. But in 1981, Škoda fought its way to the top of the overall classification and won the title of the European Touring Car Championship. Everyone was astonished, again.

The 130-built Škoda 130 RS is considered one of the most striking and successful cars in Škoda's motorsport history. "The 130 RS still represents our brand's good reputation in motorsport today," says Michal Velebny, coordinator of the restoration workshop at the Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav. "It was not easy to put this racing car on wheels in what was then communist Czechoslovakia. It demonstrates the technological competence and dedication of the developers and technicians of that time." Today, both the rally version and the track version of the Škoda XNUMX RS are part of the Škoda Museum's collection.

(The story continues below with the photos.)