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Czech guy here. Just to clarify we (before 1993 Czechoslovakia, after 1993 the Czech republic) were NEVER a part of the Soviet Union, yes we were a socialist country, but we were independent. The cars made in the USSR and Czechoslovakia in the 1960s were actually quite modern, for the soviet union it was the Lada 2101, which was basically a Fiat 124 a quite modern and good car at the time, adapted for the soviet enviroment. And for Czechoslovakia it was the Škoda 1000MB, the first Škoda car to use unibody construction, Škoda actually built an entire new factory to make this car, it had the engine in the rear just like the 120. Yes it seems outdated when compared to American cars of the time, but most European cars of the time do, functions like air conditioning did not become a standard for most European cars until the 80s or 90s in some cases. The real problem with these socialist cars was that the companies making them were stuck with same design for decades, the Škoda 120, which was still very similar to the 1000MB on the inside, the engine was basically the same, stayed in production until 1990. The Lada was in production until 2012, but it was still a well selling car when Lada stopped making it. Edit: Sorry for any mistakes, English is not my first language.

Dyg, Skodovka v Amerike... :) 👍 .. ale je ako nova..

I had one in the early 90s. The seats recline making a bed but you must remove the headrests. A very good winter car because of its excellent traction. It is insulated very well so it is very warm in the winter. I had a lot of fun driving it on country back roads.

My mother bought an '84 GLS that I learned to drive stick on...was a fun, simple little car, and very unique here in Canada. I would love to have one today.

Nice to see a Skoda review from a USA perspective, and congratulations on getting the pronunciation correct! I've owned and driven these cars in the UK for the last 25-years, and would like to add a few points (Sorry, it's a bit long!). Just to be clear, the Czech people did not want to be under Communist rule, they were kind of forced into it after the war. The rear engine layout was quite common in Europe from the 50s through to the 70s (Fiat, Renault, VW, NSU, Simca and Hillman all had rear engine models), and the Skoda 120 is based on, and improved from, a 1960s Skoda model. The benefits of a rear engine layout include: excellent traction, light and precise steering, a compact and simple power-plant, and protection of the engine from bad weather and flood water. Disadvantages include a less practical luggage area, and being affected by crosswinds to a greater extent. Rear engine cars also tend to have offset pedals and front wheel arch intrusion. The layout might have been old fashioned, but, for its day, the car gave equal or better performance than similar size VW, Ford and Vauxhall models. Each year Skoda entered the RAC rally, they won their class! The bad reputation Skoda earned was started in the motoring press. The car was criticised for oversteer when cornering at speed when the brakes are applied (In a similar fashion to the Corvair, although the Skoda never rolled). It unfortunately became fashionable to poke fun at the Skoda, probably due to it's very low sale price. In reality, the Skoda really did have to be pushed hard to oversteer, and it was never less reliable or badly made than other manufacturers at the time. The side opening 'trunk' ('boot' to me) is for safety so that the lid doesn't blow open when driving, and to allow loading from the pavement. You were, unfortunately, trying to open the lid as if it was front-opening - it is MUCH easier if you open it standing next to the wheel. (People unfamiliar with the car always struggle!). There is also a second luggage area behind the rear seats. The 135 and 136 engines had the more advanced alloy cylinder head, and are able to run on unleaded fuel. The engine found itself in several newer models including the Fabia and some VW models too! Engine sizes were 1.05L, 1.2L, and 1.3L for this model. VW didn't buy Skoda on a charity basis. They were most probably interested in Skoda's aluminium casting technologies, which the Czechs were renowned for. From a crash survival point of view, again the Skoda was no worse than other manufacturers of the time. The front luggage area giving a good size crumple zone, and the fuel tank being well located near the centre of the vehicle. The doors are re-enforced, and this was tested on one of my cars by a Fiat which was in the process of having an accident! The use of plastic wheel trims, fuel filler caps, and other plastic goodies was quite common in Europe at the time. You should have a go at driving the Skoda, I imagine it would be a LOT different from a US car of the era! Thank you again for the review. Gordon

Just found this review. I'm an owner of a Skoda 105, which was my first car (bought it for the equivalent of ~250 USD in 2008), was my daily driver for 7 years (drove over 100k miles in it!) and is currently in full restoration. Quite nice and objective review, with the usual American conceptual mistakes of what the East Block and the USSR was... But that's OK. Too bad you didn't drive it in the end. And from the interior quirks, the rear trunk behind the back seats would have been worth a mention. On the other hand I quite liked the overall opinion of "well, it is built from cheap materials, and it's very simplistic, but one can see the engineering thought which went into it". I think this is the main thing one can love in these cars. When and where it was built, the resources and materials were scarce and difficult to come by for serious mass production, which viewed from modern day North America is probably difficult to grasp. Not to mention the constant political control over everything. Yet, despite the political landscape, material shortages, and other obstacles, the engineers found the way to build usable cheap cars for many families, which were even relatively popular, and had reasonable success in the West, where engineers could work under much better circumstances. I think this is certainly something to respect in these cars. Especially the Skodas which were locally engineered and built by the Czechs, unlike the Ladas which were licensed and reworked Fiat 124s. (Not to hate on the Lada, but it's just a fact.) Actually Skoda even under VW ownership kept iterating on this very same 4cyl OHV engine design, and they built it until 2001, and also went into budget cars of other brands of the VW Group, like Seats, apart from the low-end Skoda models. If that's not clearly a testament to the design, then I don't know what is. Ironically this also meant parts availability was really good for decades after these cars went out of production, and thanks to the better quality parts made in modern factories, their reliability went up, so one could keep them on the road for decades after they were out of production. Up until a few years ago, they were still a common sight on the roads of Central-East Europe.

actually, skoda was very technologically evolved, so much actual that the soviet union was afraid that they would outsell their mainland cars and pretty much imposed very strict regulations of the can build, imagine that at the same time they used this engine the had an OHC 1.6L variant that made around 120hp ready to go,sadly they used it only on their highest tier rally cars (skoda 200rs) although with the engine stroked to either 1800 or 2000 cm3. If they were let to design whatever they wanted who would know with what they would have come up with

EDIT: The Skoda 120 we reviewed is a 1986 model year, not a 1985

Škoda offered reliable, rugged and affordable family cars of this era, this model was very popular here in Europe, because it offered no nonsense value for money motoring, a new car at a used car price, which made this along with its Russian stablemate the Lada, a very sensible choice for the budget minded motorist, I love the range of Eastern European vehicles from this time!!.

Wow! A lot of interesting information! Thanks for this video, Tamir! :)

The bonnet is actually easy to open if you stand in the right position. These were very reliable cars.

The investor - Emil Škoda actually saved the Laurin & Klement company, since after WWI, there was a decline of people, able to afford a car. For some time, cars bare both Škoda and Laurin & Klement names and even badging. Forementioned Felicia got in eye of Charlotte Sheffield, who, back in the 1950s, got a whole photo session with it around the Prague. It is said, that some American businessman was interested in buying/importing these cars into USA, according to the story, Škoda's own facilities were unable to supply the visioned demand by the businessman. After the 1950s, Škoda got assigned (along with other Soviet automobile makers) to make an 'unified' car. Thus a rear-engined design was chosen. The 1000MB, truly revolutionary and modern car. Sadly for the company, it was a ball and chain, the company had to pull until the early 1990s. Then a new car got designed, front-engined, front wheel drive, revised suspension, all new and again - revolutionary. It is said, that if the new FWD model - Favorit - wasn't being produced by then, VW would've never been interested in buying, investing and "saving" the company. Rather promising deal turned into takeover and by late 2000s, all shares have been sold off to the VW. Last of the OHV engines, related to 120 GLS (and 105/120/130/5/6/Favorit family) was discontinued in 2007 when the production of Fabia model ended. Nowadays, it's pure copy/paste deal, lack of any emotion or character. Doubling down on more SUV models (mainly for Chinese), it's model range shrunk. Gone are the in-house and wacky models, or even utility vehicles. If 120 GLS was the epitomy of 'Soviet' era, current models and company itself would be the epitomy of badge engineering and foreign interests. Great vid!

I have not seen a Skoda 120 in over a decade. its a very rare car.

Nice looking car. I've heard of the Skoda 120. I may have seen one in person while I was visiting Victoria a few years ago.

love the 120... in its day it dominated the rally stages of its class in europe.... they have a racing trophy room that can make any car blush.... :)

Another interesting video a look at an old skoda maybe a couple in Australia have seen a couple driving around

my dad had one in the early 90s, was a very good car.

Great video! I live in the Netherlands. I own several RWD SKODAS. Rear wheel drive skoda’s are rare these days over here too. But great you found one in the States! You could do more about the special features. Like manually pumping gas into the carburetor after the car was sitting for several time. Spare tire under the trunk, battery behind the rear seats, the 12 volt connector for accessories etc. Funny that you call the GLS bare. There were models like 105 s standard. Those were bare. GLS was the top line in the days 😉 Skoda even had a 2 door coupe called Skoda Garde or Rapid. I’d say make another movie about this Skoda!

Canada wasn’t as confrontational towards the Soviet Union, so that’s why they had Skoda.

Czechoslovakia, DDR, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and Yugoslavia were never part of the Soviet Union (USSR). They might have been hidden under the 'yellow bits' on the map but they were occupied satellite states who happened to have a similar system of governement. Skoda (and FSO in Poland) were just about the only 4 stroke vehicle manufacturers in the Eastern Bloc (for cars) and they were significantly higher quality than anything produced inside the USSR. CS/DDR/Poland were the finished goods high tech part of Commecon and Skoda sold a lot of cars right across Europe because they were reliable and easy to repair although they obviously were never glamorous (except the Rapid which was a poor mans' Porsche). If they were so rubbish, how did they win so many international rallies? The 105 was underpowered and the 120/130 were lively, reasonably quiet and comfortable and cheaper than a western European basic car. Interestingly in the UK, Skoda changed all the tyres as soon as they were imported as the CS Barum's were known as ditch finders!

They sold well here in the UK. By the end of their life, even the journalists had a soft spot for them as Skoda continuously tried to improve it throughout its product run. It went from being a budget joke to a reasonable car offering incredible value for money. I always liked how they looked, particularly in the Rapid Coupe variant. They are loved all over Europe despite VW’s greatest efforts to bury them from everyone’s memory!

I have a Renault 5 with a manual choke, that was made in 1992. A 1985 manual choke in euro cars is not that unheard of.

Just one note - Czech republic (former Czechoslovakia) was apart of Soviet Union so I wouldn't call it Soviet car. Nice review anyway. Even despite of its simplicity this car is fun to drive, the rear mounted engine is unique. You should check Skoda Rapid which is the coupe based on this car and looks pretty good. Edited - missing letter.

I had one from new. Drove it 90 mi/day 5 days a week and many miles on the weekend for over 13 years. In that time I spent under $2,000 in repairs tires and oil changes etc. If it had not been for road salt and eventually scarcity of parts I never would have gotten rid of it. The wheel well you complained about made it an absolute dream as a foot rest for long trips. While not the fastest car on the road it would keep up with traffic and go on forever.If one came up for sale in good condition at a reasonable price I'd be all over it. I have had Olds, Buicks, Hondas, etc and would have to say my Skoda was probably the best car all around I've owned.

When i had an 1980 gls it was very sensitive to rain at the start. The distributor was also very delicate and it was out of point every time. Another problem was the oil radiator with hoses that break after a while and the oil ended on the street destroying the engine. Also the straight exit of the transmission broke and I ran out of traction. There were no replacements parts in Uruguay so imagine the scene. And i forgot to say that the carburetor was a complex piece and it ended substituted for a generic Solex with good results. When my Skoda worked well it was very comfortable and warm car and i loved it. Forever Skoda, i will always remeber it though it was a piece of crap.

Well as a Skoda fanatic I just want to say that you miss one important thing . And that is motorsport pedigree . That crappy car that you just review ( as everybody did in the mid 80's ) was a totally different car on the racing circuit . The only Soviet car that win the European Touring Championship in 1981 and dominate the WRC stages for 20 years at their group. Belive it or not their succes in motorsport was due to their engine reliability .

These are real interesting cars, appears to be in great shape! Had a carb and manual choke in my first car, an '85 Opel Ascona (basically the EU Chevrolet Cavalier) and let me tell you getting it to run somewhat smooth in the winter or on rainy damp days wasnt easy

Wow, this specimen is preserved a very nice condition. :) I had a 120GL as my first car (the very same olive-like color), I bought it for 150 USD and it instantly broke down. XD I loved it because people either loved this car or looked down on it, but basically no one was offended by it. It got some upgrades like a 130 engine, 5-speed gearbox, semi-trailing arms suspension with CV joints (turning basically into a 135). At some point I've started to convert it into EFI (megasquirt 1) but after the ignition worked I didn't finish it so it remained on the LEKR carb. If you didn't carry a sandbax of 50kg in the trunk, the front end wasn't going where you steered at speed, druing winter it was a must just with RWD Ladas. If one wonders about the color options of these cars. First it wasn't an option, you got what you were delivered. As with mostly everything in socialist countries, paint was mostly used by the military so the colors of eastern bloc cars were the leftover of the military, basically camouflage colors (shades of green, olive, sand, bright yellow, bright blue was very rare), white and red was only available as they were also needed for those red stars often :D. About the choke: running rich for a period of time wasn't a fire risk with these Jikov carbs as they flooded the cylinder and fouled the plugs before it got warmed up. :D You had to remember to not stop the engine on fast idle until it warmed up enough to push back the choke. E.g. it was a good practice to hit the gas station on the way home, otherwise you might have ended up pushing the car off the filling spot and waiting. :) The Jikov carbs had a tendency of leaking fuel otu of the membrane if left unused overnight. Thus no matter what one did, after a cold start, the engine just died after 1-2 secs when the carb's fuel pot ran dry, no matter how much choke or throttle you gave it. The best bet was to pop the hood, manually "prime" the fuel pump with the lever until it was free of air.

The side air vents, as well as opening and closing, could also be angled to demist the side windows or direct warm air straight into the inside of the car. I used to have one.

Next to a VW beetle 1200 the rear engined Skodas are a great drive. VW had to compensate the Czechs for " borrowing " the VW Beetle design from them. How many VW Beetles did Americans buy ?

Disagree, unless you grew up in that and that country you would not know. That car was a great car in that country. This was the time where you had to know someone, just to buy one. To get another color besides the standard white one you had to really know someone. The manufacturer was very cleaver with their engineering considering how limited they were by the Gov. This is a superb classic that is even rare to find there. I would pay money to even just ride in one. As far as the current, I use to taunt the VW dealer when they asked me in the lot what I wanted to buy. They actually considered bringing it to the US but, I think it would hurt the sales of the Golf.

this model skoda was an interesting car and i had one a few years and worked on it a lot and for a budget car you could not fail

One of the best and reliable 1980s cars you could buy. Reputation was due to it being for sale as the cheapest car in the time of the Yuppies.

Back in the 80, i had a series of old rusty fords austins vauxhall(gm) all very tired cars it was all i could afford and i got tired of having to change so many worn out parts, then i spotted this light blue estelle 120l it was 3 years old and only had 29 k miles and i got the finance agreed i was overjoyed, it was the best car i had to date reliable (once you got the choke situation understood) i towed with it admittedly avoiding hills not to kill clutch or motor as it was only 1174cc. I would love to have one now as my classic car.

Beware!!! Skoda engine reqiures, that lead substitute needs to be inserted in fuel in, because i does not have hardendened valve gaskets. And 125 and 135 skodas were equiped with 5 speed manual.

When opening the hood is difficult... i mean the trunk... 😂You can find the little clip to be released with your hand. Great review, I have this car as a secondary car. If you think of the age, not bad. If you find a mechanic or buy a service book for the old skodas it can run for a long time. They often exchange the engine to the skoda favorit's to gain more power and better fuel economy.

Love the video buddy! Subbed and liked 😁🙏

Hey great video! First time ever seeing any of your stuff so you definitely got a subscribe out of me. My only real constructive criticism would be to go into a little detail as to why you gave it the scores that you did when you announce the score. Other than that, great job! I personally don't think the Skoda is too sale proof when comparing it to when it was new at the time. I still feel that cars like the LeCar and the Yugo were more sale proof at the time.

I have this car on a game called dayz and it's amazing how much attention to the details the game devs put it in its identical

When Skoda designed the front wheel drive Favorit in the mid 1980s the designers had to hide the prototype from party officials who demanded another rear wheel drive car.

Great old cars. Much appreciated here in UK... quick question if your indicator stops working on one of these stick a few cents worth of replacement bulb in & away you go.... on a modern car with LED "zip zip" indicator strips how much change to you get from a few hundred dollars when one of those stops working?

Extremely entertaining, too bad you still have 700 subscribers only. My father in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, has had 55 cars in his life, including several copies of Škoda Estelle models. You may imagine this is the most ordinary car I would imagine as a kid. It's amusing to see it reviewed rationally by someone who could also see other cars. You got it that while the communism was ruining the funding, there was still some spirit of golden Czech engineering hands that survived. 35 years ago, I thought that this Estelle design, and this GLS is the prettiest edition of it, would still look modern when I am an adult. Now, in 2020, I still insist that I the kid was right. There was something about the design of lights and other things that simply was ahead of the time. It looks more compatible with the newest models than the Mercedeses of that time. Those look like rather old boxes. GLS still looks like a refined toy for kids that is as sweet as it used to be. BTW lots of details in your video made me LOL, like the detailed amazement by the cap on the lock for the tank. (The classical joke here is: "Can I have a petrol filler cap for a Skoda?" " Sure, seems like a fair swap.") There were other fun things like a reserve key - which we needed once when we lost the keys in zoo. You could open the car with the umbrella through windows and do other cool things. Now, after capitalism with the help of VW brought Škoda back close to the top, we're at risk that this era will be ended by politics and German nationalism. Some managers - who don't care about the shareholders - are annoyed that Škoda is more profitable than VW and Audi and they want to turn it into a factory making side cars for Dacias or something, even if it means huge losses for the VW Group. If things became really hostile, I hope that the Czech government will just confiscate the factory and pay some fair (low) compensation for the factory that was destined for suppression. Some of the Škoda's advantage over VW, Audi is clearly the salaries that are still a bit lower in CZ than in DE. But DE and others must simply adapt to the markets. VW cars' getting less competitive against even expensive models from Škoda, inside the group, is clearly just a mild warning about their getting uncompetitive in the whole world. You can't change this fact by ruining a part of the group!

The materials changed over time, as the socialist block couldn't keep up with the rest of the world. Older models had for example chrome bumpers, different shaped lamps with chrome borders at the back, and the fuel tank cover was plastic, but of a higher quality, and the cover of the lock was metal, also loaded by a lil' spring, so it would return to the middle by itself. As for the hood, after you pull the lever inside, its still held by a hook near the right headlight. You need to swing it towards the right side of the vehicle to release it. It's a safety feature, your passenger can't accidentally open your hood while on the go. If you knew about it, and it was still hard to open, something is probably broken on that specific car.

In the late 1980's Skoda designed a car for the West European market only (Skoda Favorit) and Skoda assemblied the base with a VW 1.3 liter engine for the East German car Wartburg.

Being both a communist bloc design and a development from an original 1960s vehicle, these Skodas were basically intended to be a set of seats on wheels and not much more. Although they were widely derided in the west for their lack of "toys" and the like, they were never designed to compete with western developments. The idea was that it goes and stops, and gets people from A to B. If it does that, job done as far as Skoda's lords and masters at the time were concerned.

Chokes don't cause car fires...period. It's a cold start device and every car used to have one until autochokes were developed, but they often proved unreliable.

I've seen videos with European cars from the 90's that still had manual chokes (HubNut and Twin Cam's channels, they have great videos about European cars from the 70's through 90's, mosrly British with some from the Continent thrown in). By that time all or almost all cars in the cars in the US had fuel injection. I think most carbureted cars in the US had automatic chokes by about 1980.

Most cars in Europe in 85,did not have electric vindows and power steering. And some got a choke aswell, like the Opel Kadett E 1.2.

We did had the 1960 Skoda Felicia, which unsuccessfully sold in the US in 1959.

Skoda 135 5 speed gearbox having around 60 horsepower was good enough to go on a highway with the speed of 75 mph. Rear engine an eventuly rear passenger gad bed making this car the most silent and most economic in all east car production. BTW Skoda was the most reliable in first 5 yrs. Later noone had been making any additional investigations.

Owner of this Skoda love French cars he have Citroen DS and Renault

America's share of Communist car engineering was the Zastava Yugo, sold here thanks to Malcom Bricklin from the late 80's to early 90's. Zastava was the Yugoslavian/Serbian Fiat.

Im from canada...I remember a small dealership selling these cars in my city.They were seen as a joke at only a fraction of the cost of any other car but super poor quality...I remember the interiors were a type of plastic coated cardboard with cheap flat paint...l remember the air vents were just round pieces of cardboard that you just flipped around lightly as to not break them off...Never started in wet or cold weather...Basically a disposable student vehicle...

I like your revision of Škoda car. I used to drive one in the past. Here is one precision regarding the two fans. There are more options than just open or close the fan. When it is open you may also turn it left or right and direct the wind as needed. It is one of the hidden but simply clever solutions.

Back day in 1960 Skoda import cars to North America you need see and make video Skoda octavia 1965 2 door in Seattle come from Lake City Dealership

Skoda - with the Superb - would smash America .......but that means stamping all over the VW brand

Hey what's up tamir it's me slayer 32 from clash of clans from gun guys how's it going by the ways

The poor mans Czech Porsche 😁

You can add an 2nd engine in front

You could have shown what is behind the backseats and the engine, where the spare tyre is, where the radiator is. The air vents can point upwards and downwards. You tilt them sideways depending how much air you want. It was a nice design for its time and was superior to 2 stroke Trabants and Wartburgs, of course Ladas were more desired. Indeed it is very different than pointless aircraft carrier-sized cars with V8. It has become a classic car with strong demand for it. My family had a 1981 one for almost 40 years, it drove well until we had to sell it. Every eastern block car from that era had a choke.

Thanks for the video. Please for next time. Don't mix USSR (soviet union) and all the eastern block. Czechoslovakia never been part of USSR. PS: Have one recommendation for guys who want know about Škoda history - book: Škoda A car that made history - Johannes Jetschgo (vitalis) isbn: 9783899196528

I WISHD ID HAD SOME DAY SKODA 120. VAZ 2107

Being thoroughly 9 days I have full equipment West Germany Market. Mine skoda 105 was the most equipment version with this engine but the Will Speed on the Highway war is not over then 55 mph because it was then three and a half thousand RPM and dead language engine doesn't like so high revolutions. Unfortunately gearbox Force only four shift. 17 mph means 4000 revolutions and Maxime speed f 77 mph with 4600 rpm Włącz Never will get even After kapital refurbishing of that Engine using Original parts. Bob even model 105 with a full equipment like a sunroof was giig enoug to go with 12 yrs ild car to Bulgaeia (900 miles) and go back. Middle consumption with full koad and 60 mph non stop was around 5.8 to 6.0 liters for 100 km it means 60 miles.

Canadian import from White Rock town

What if you can get your hands on a Toyota HiAce or Hilux or a Chinese car like a FAW or GAC, all of which you can get from Mexico?

One of the many poor decisions I made in my life was to buy one of these. It was three years old. It was total rubbish. Complete garbage. Every fluid that could leak,did. The company must have used very inferior materials. My family suffered with this car for two years. It suffered window drop. It stalled when it stopped. It had really poor power. It rusted. The engine was appalling. The one good thing, it was easy to park. We got rid, and bought a Vauxhall Cavalier which we had for seven years I am surprised that any have survived. It was the worst car we ever had.

Hi i have skoda 120 L for sell from slovakia.

I just love your clueless American presentation 😊😊😊

There were some much better alloys. These are the streel wheels.

You missed the rear luggage compartment behind the seats

I want invite you for french cup of coffee and make video my french car

It's a steel wheel not alloy with a plastic centre cap very usual on European car of this time however in uk only basic car got this all other got British made 15in alloy wheels with Goodyear tyres.

I'd rather buy a Skoda 120 or 130 Rapid than a Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes are ugly and smell bad.

Please... Škoda Made In Czechoslovakia, Its not vehicle from USSR

Czechoslovakia was not part of soviet union.

I can’t watch you pronouncing Skoda wrong constantly