Your Škoda 1200-1 cars

Mr. Tutku Buyukdegirmenci (Istanbul, Turkey).
Škoda 1201 – 1956.
This car was owned by my grandfather, Muammer Tekeli. He bought it new in 1956. After his death in 2005, the car was inherited by my uncle, Ali Hakan Tekeli. The family has many memories with the car and is trying to restore it in honor of my grandfather.
The car was purchased for 10,470 USD / 198,000 Kč – one of only ten cars in the entire city of Isparta at the time. My grandfather loved the car, used it for business, and kept it in perfect condition. The original Tesla radio still works, as do the original Barum tires.
After restoration between 2007–2009, the car has been garaged and only goes out on special occasions. People often take photos of it – a true family legend.

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Arkadi Gaidamaka, Novosibirsk, Russia — Škoda 1201 STW, 1958. I’m sending a few photos of my cars (1201 and 1202) for your gallery. Both are in original condition and will now be restored. I’m surprised how rare the 1200–2 series is in Europe compared to the Spartak or Octavia. Attached please find some photos of my two Škoda cars. You can put them on your site gallery. This is a 1958 model 1201 “Station Wagon” and a 1965 model 1202 “Sanitka.” Both are in original, self-running condition, but need work on the body, engine, and transmission. I am surprised that the 1201 and 1202 models are rare in Europe, more popular are the 440, 450, and Octavia models from the same period.

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Museum MB — Continuation.

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Web 5P — Continuation.

Mr. Žufan — After car purchase.

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Continuation — 2006, car under renovation.

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Tomáš Szabó, Bratislava, Slovakia — Škoda 1201 STW.

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Continuation — Sending a few pictures from our trip “From the Danube to the Tatras.” It was great fun, Czech and Slovak crews together. :-)

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Vlastislav Škvarek — Škoda 1201 Sanita. More in the Sanita section. I own a Škoda 1201 Sanita, year 1960, and I also have the original (now invalid) technical certificate. The car was first at Prague–Ruzyně Airport from 25.10.1960 to 20.12.1960.

Zvonko Pivec, Ruše, Slovenia — lovingly restored Škoda 1201 Van. www In 2011, due to the economic crisis, he sold it and later bought a more practical Škoda 1201 STW for his grandchildren.

Continuation — Town Ruše.

Continuation — 2nd car = Škoda 1201 STW. 2011 – after being forced to sell the green 1201, his granddaughter cried, so Zvonko fulfilled his promise and bought a yellow full-seat 1201 in Croatia, which he plans to restore and drive with his family.

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Continuation — 1st car = Škoda 1201 van. “The history of my car: if my father hadn’t driven this car once, I probably wouldn’t drive it either.”

Continuation — This Škoda was new when I was 7 years old. I clearly remember that it was purchased by the chemistry school for delivery service.

Continuation — My father worked there and also drove this Škoda. Years later it became nonfunctional, and it took a full 10 years to completely restore it.

Continuation — Letter 2: Škoda 1201 delivery van, year 1959. First registration in 1964. In Ruše, there was a chemical school that needed a delivery vehicle. My father worked there as a maintenance carpenter.

Continuation — The school decided to buy a new delivery car Škoda 1201 van. Those were times when not everyone had a driving license, so they asked my father, now deceased, if he’d like to be the driver of the vehicle.

Continuation — Naturally, he gladly accepted the offer and drove the car for six years. Times changed, as did cars, so the school decided to sell it. By chance, a friend bought it from my father.

Continuation — A friend used the car for about five years, then it stood on his farm for thirty years. One day my son and I wanted to find an old car and I remembered this Škoda 1201.

Continuation — I contacted a man named Jožef Žižek, who sadly passed away this year. He told me that he still had the car, but it was in terrible condition. He offered to let me take it and restore it if I wanted to. So we loaded it up and brought it home.

Continuation — At home, I immediately began removing rusted parts. After clearing out all the mess, I took the car to a body repairman. Once the metalwork was done, I began filling, sanding, and further refinishing. Then I took it for painting.

Continuation — After painting, I happily began the full renovation of all chrome parts and the electrical system, which I did down to the last wire. The engine was in poor condition, so the mechanics replaced the piston rings (kulmrinky).

Continuation — After completing all the work, I brought the car to very good condition. The entire repair took ten long years. This Škoda 1201 is now registered, but I still need to replace the rear glass because the plastic seal leaks.

Continuation — I would like everything on this Škoda to be absolutely original, if possible. That would complete the history of my vintage car. Greetings, Mr. Vaněček, and thank you for all your help. See you in May in Prague.

Continuation — Younger son Andrej.

Continuation — On rally.

Michal Appl, Prague — Škoda 1200 Sanita. Interesting emergency ambulance of the Prague rescue service, built in 1955.

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Vladimír Tomek, Mělník — Škoda 1201 sedan, Škoda 1201 STW, and Škoda 1202.

Continuation — Škoda 1201 STW.

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Unknown — no description.

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Mgr. Jiří Šantavý, Brno — Škoda 1201 sedan. Already sold. Photos from the mid-1980s.

Continuation — “And here, the gray sedan from Mělník is originally ours! It was sold in 2004, then repainted, and last year it was still at a meeting in Brno. In those photos, it also has two non-original gauges in the center of the dashboard. Regards, J. Šantavý.”

Zdeněk Řehák, Prague — Škoda 1201 sedan. 2014 – under restoration.

Continuation — 2006, condition after purchase.

Aage Wiberg, Denmark — Škoda 1200, 1955. 2008 – under restoration. (2008 in the reconstruction.)

Continuation — Story.

Continuation — “Ahoy Vaclav, the photo shows me working on the master brake cylinder. It’s now finished with new internal parts. Could there be two bottles of beer on the table? Usually, we drink tea while working, but as you can see, I enjoy good food, beer like Budvar, and red wine, so I belong to the heavyweight category. In the new year, I want to slowly lose some weight. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family. Aage and Marianne (my wife).”

Continuation — 2012 – personal meeting in Prague. From right: Aage with wife, Tereza, and Václav.

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Continuation — German version of the Fiat 1100 called Neckar Europa (1962). At the wheel, our mascot “Sascha”. (It is a German built version of a Fiat 1100 called Neckar Europa 1962. At the wheel our mascot "Sascha".)

Josef Dušek, Vrchlabí — Škoda 1200, 1958. After purchase. Manufactured 19 May 1958, immediately sent to Slovakia after production, brought back to Bohemia in 1995.

Continuation — The color is the same as original, sky blue. The whole car remains in the original combination, remarkably well preserved.

Continuation — Unfortunately not the chrome and paint, as it stood for three years in the rain, snow, and wind. It has only 42,000 km and is almost rust-free.

Continuation — Everything left as it was in 1958 – lights, interior, upholstery, and engine bay. I’m currently trying to get the car roadworthy for the inspection.

Continuation — Beginning of restoration.

Lumír Zeman, Děčín — Škoda 1200 STW, 1958. Condition 2008.

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Continuation — 2008.

Continuation — 4/2009. From the original and still valid registration certificate, I found that the car had never belonged to any national enterprise or institution.

Continuation — The first and longest-serving owner was a doctor from Prague. Probably thanks to that, the car still has its original engine with matching body number – that made me happy.

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Continuation — Greetings to fans of “Czech” Škodas. Back on the road after fifteen years! I’m not sure if I’ll start another restoration. But you know how it goes – never say never! I’m tempted by Tudors. Have a nice day, Lumír Zeman, 2009.

Rudolf Rehák, Chomutov — Škoda 1200 van.

Jan Jelínek, Protivín — no further description.

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Jan Kohoutek — 2010.

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Museum Mladá Boleslav — no description.

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Pavel Sobakar, Nalchik, Russia — Škoda 1201 STW.

Milan Anděl, Kolín — Škoda 1201 sedan. 2012 – I’m sending a few photos from the restoration of a Škoda 1201 sedan, which took almost two years, but everything turned out well. The car passed technical inspection, and after attaching license plates, it’s ready to hit the road again. Once I recover and gather strength, I’ll start working on a Škoda 110, which I plan to turn into a replica of the Škoda 120S.

Continuation — Thanks for the supplied parts; when the time comes, I’ll contact you again. Best regards, Milan Anděl. P.S. “Every great achievement seems impossible at first.” ? We also send our regards and thanks. It’s an honor to work diligently and be of service. Wishing you health, success, and joy — PRAGOS.

Continuation — When I added it all up, I got the number 909 hours of honest work. The restoration began in August 2010 and continued until July 2012, when I discovered that during the installation of new license plates (today’s registration plates), comrades in 1956 made a stamping error — probably not expecting that after 56 years, completely new, larger ones would be installed. ?

Continuation — 2014 – a rare meeting of my work. The sedan was completed two years ago, and its younger “sister” Octavia is now finished too.

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Continuation — 2012 – restoring this Octavia for a gentleman.

Ing. Peter Trávniček, Slovakia — Škoda 1201, 1958. I bought the car in 2012 from the previous owner, who had it on display in the Bratislava Transport Museum but didn’t have time to drive it. I managed to convince him to sell. In the past, I’ve owned and restored a 1960 Felicia, a 1970 Tatra 603, and several motorcycles. But the sedan was always my dream car, so today I’m fulfilling a lifelong dream.

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Carsten Andersen, Nakskov, Denmark — Škoda 1201, 1957. 130,000 km, original condition.

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Jiří Řehák, Prague — no description.

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Richard Pustějovský, Fulnek — no description.

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Hans Erik Hansen, Glamsbjerg, Denmark — Škoda 1201, 1956. 2017 – currently finishing.

Continuation — 2013.

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Jiří Lohonka, Netolice — Škoda 1201. I’ve owned the vehicle since 2001, with reconstruction carried out intermittently. In May 2013, it passed technical inspection and had its first rally outings.

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Jaroslav Novotný, Jevišovice — Škoda 1201, 1958.

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Pavel Rojíček, Frýdek-Místek — Škoda 1201.

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Daniel Líška, Vrbové, Slovakia — Škoda 1200.

Milan Bartoň, Vsetín — Škoda 1201. Greetings, thank you for the prompt holiday order and sending our “veteran” greeting card. Our Škoda 1201 is still in original condition, without a full overhaul.

Michael Greimel, Graz, Austria — Škoda 1201.

Jan Palán, Velichovky — Škoda 1201, 1958. Purchased in 2015. I’m now gradually repairing the body so that it can be removed from the frame, as the sills are practically gone, and after sandblasting, nothing would remain. 30 years ago, someone “repaired” it using the method ‘where there’s a hole, put in a patch,’ so from halfway up the pillars including the floor, I’m practically building a new car. ?

Jozef Mihalik, Žilina, Slovakia — Škoda 1201. 2015.

Roman Sandner, Cheb — Škoda 1201. 2016 – restoration took 3.5 years. Year of manufacture: 1956, engine 1221 cc, seating capacity: 5½ people. First owner – Plzeň Transport Company, driving school vehicle.

Bohumil Hrubý, Malonty — sending a few photos of our cars.

Jaromír Šmach, Vrbno pod Pradědem — Škoda 1200 sedan, 1954. Recessed door handles, original Š 1101 Tudor-type engine (carburetor – air filter). It had stood outdoors in the grass for years, completely rusted from the lights downward, with the floors gone and the frame sticking into the cabin. Thanks to the solid roof, the body didn’t break in half. The repair was done “on the knees,” without a garage, experience, or money. It was saved from the scrapyard, though it still has some flaws. Best regards, J. Šmach – wishing you a beautiful day and much success.

Jari Valtonen, Seinäjoki, Finland — Škoda 1201.

Michal Sebo, Stará Ľubovňa, Slovakia — Škoda 1201 STW.