Škoda Rapid LDD (1984)

› The name Rapid was used for the Škoda Garde in several international markets, alongside other market-specific model designations
› Škoda’s UK importer offered customers an open-top version converted by LDD
› A total of 11,179 Škoda Gardes were built, but open-top versions were rare

Mladá Boleslav, 12 October 2026 – The Škoda Museum’s collection includes a rare fabric-roof version of a 1984 Škoda Garde. Known as the Škoda Rapid LDD, it bears both the name of the Garde’s successor and that of the company responsible for its conversion.

The two-door Škoda Garde succeeded the popular 110 R and made its debut on 13 September 1981 at the International Engineering Fair in Brno. Production began in Kvasiny in early October before moving to Bratislava on 30 April 1982. By 1984, 11,179 units had been built.

The Garde retained the established rear-engined layout, with a four-stroke, 1,174 cc inline four-cylinder OHV engine mounted longitudinally behind the driven rear axle. It produced 40.5 kW (55 hp) and, paired with a four-speed gearbox, gave the car a top speed of 150 km/h.

The car was sold as the Garde in Czechoslovakia, but trademark conflicts with other manufacturers meant it was marketed under different names – including the 120 R Coupé and Rapid – in some export markets. The Rapid name was also used for its successor.

The example in the Škoda Museum’s collection was built in Bratislava in 1984 and subsequently exported to England, where Škoda’s UK importer commissioned Ludgate Design & Development (LDD) to carry out the open-top conversion. The Škoda Museum acquired the resulting Škoda Rapid LDD in its original condition in 2024.