Do I really want a rear engined Skoda?

I have been thinking about picking up something "interesting" to use in the Beater Rally this summer. A rear engined Skoda is about a six hour drive from me for a few hundred bucks.

I like these old Skodas but

its a four door it will need an expensive inspection to get on the road (all new suspension and tires required) condition looks rather poor starter is in the passenger foot area - reason for being off the road? (also a beer can and some dangling wires as a bad omen)

On the plus side it looks to be complete its a Skoda ... that might be it

parts are available in a few places online

Skopart.de https://www.skoda-dily.cz/katalog/105-120-130.html http://www.autodily-krbec.cz/index.php?oid=4058384 http://www.obautodily.cz/sortiment/nahradni-dily-dle-modelu-vozu/skoda-105--120--rapid/

Engine bay looks like its been sitting a while

I figure all said and done I can have this mechanically refreshed for $600 assuming nothing is massively wrong with it. Throw some new tires on it. Just can't decide if I should keep my money for something else instead. I briefly owned a couple Lada Niva so aware of the "quality" of the interior plastics.

Those are really cool, but judging by where it's parked and the rockers that thing is probably pretty rough underneath.

You could be the guy to bring the first Skoda to the Challenge. They'll put your picture in the magazine. You'll be famous (briefly).

That looks like a: "You show me that the tires hold air, tow it the road, and I will give you $50." kinda deal."

What year is that?

Rog

Those disappeared from the roads here almost faster than the Dacias did.

With that sort of engine bay I'd be concerned about small furry things having eaten the wiring, built nests, or that one or more cylinders may have rust on the walls from the valves being open.

Yeah I think that's a good idea.

I'll just leave this here:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/u2GxNcZc17E

Yeah I think that's a good idea.

130RS.....the Commie Porsche !

I can't find the link to build thread?

mndsm wrote: Yeah I think that's a good idea.

I'm trying to see the negatives here. I don't.

Good idea

DeadSkunk wrote: You could be the guy to bring the first Skoda to the Challenge. They'll put your picture in the magazine. You'll be famous (briefly).

GRM loves oddballs. Well, us, the readers do. So they have to...

Which means if you can get this to the challenge, there's a high likelihood that the car will have its own article at some time.

Also, while many here can't physically work on the car due to distance, I bet a lot of people will help with input. How to get the car to handle, power, etc.

Go for it.

GRM is the ultimate enabler forum.

I've seen them tarmac rally in Ireland. Bit of a fan favorite. Styling wise I preferred the coupe but the sedan has a unique charm.

Its a 1984. If it were to be Challenge car it would need an engine. I wonder what might fit without losing the back seat and going mid engine.

That thing is probably packed with mice as others have said, but I would definitely jump on it. Do it now.

"In soviet Russia, Sködâ forks you!"

I had completely forgotten these were ever even sold here. The "Canadian Skoda Resource Site," skodacanada.ca, says, "Like most entry level cars, Skodas were treated as disposable, while those that were cared for have had to endure a complete lack of parts support for well over 20 years." So basically not much different from an R63, right?

Streetwiseguy wrote: Those disappeared from the roads here almost faster than the Dacias did.

Not around here. I drove my 85 into the mid 90's and still saw some on the road. Can't ever recall seeing a Dacia outside of the car show.

I loved mine, and it was a good car. Basic, but very reliable and cheap to operate. I'd like another one, but it would have to be in really good shape. And cheap.

A friend had asked me in the early 90's about buying a Skoda for his daughter. Said it had super low miles, and came with a parts car.

I said the parts car is your first clue; don't do it.

He didn't listen.....

Dave wrote: Its a 1984. If it were to be Challenge car it would need an engine. I wonder what might fit without losing the back seat and going mid engine.

So, roughly, this is a 911 or VW bug. Haven't people been putting subaru engines in the back of those, too?

In reply to alfadriver:

berkeley a subaru swap. Transverse 60 degree v6 and flappy paddles on the gm 4 speed auto. With megasquirt. And boost.

Ill wait for the build thread.

It's not my Favorit Skoda but I'd take it. The "easy" way out I'd probably Subaru but LS Swap always sounds like a good idea.

VW Beetle trans, 1.5L Toyota engine, Megasquirt, and lighten the living daylights outta this thing. You would be 130ish horsepower and under a ton.

alfadriver wrote: So, roughly, this is a 911 or VW bug. Haven't people been putting subaru engines in the back of those, too?

Roughly it's a Renault (I think) 10.

Around here most of the Skoda dealers were something other than new car dealers when they took on the Skoda line. My closest guy was a fairly large corner garage. One of his mechanics was Eastern European and built a nice orange one with a 2.0 Nissan motor. The trans are very stout, so he used it with an adapter plate. Which gave me an idea. Find a good running VW diesel motor and swap that in. I had a long commute, wanted better economy, and the extra torque would be nice. That crazy thought lead me to sell the Skoda (for $100 less than I paid for it after 5 years of driving and a lot of km's.) in favour of what would turn out to be, by far, the worst, most unreliable car I've ever owned. A diesel Rabbit.