What was racing like half a century ago? Škoda 120 S Rallye Delights a champion

The tradition of customer competition cars dates back to the 1970s. The Škoda 100 already had its racing version, the 110 L Rallye, which was also available to privateers and amateur competitors both at home and abroad. Its successor, however, became far better known. The homologated Škoda 120 S Rallye enabled competitors to participate in the higher-capacity class of up to 1,300 cm³ under FIA international regulations.

“The 120 S Rallye was homologated without bumpers, which gives it a very unique look,” says Emil Lindholm introducing the car from the collection of the Škoda Museum. “What I enjoy most is the engine. Its capacity is just under 1.3litres, yet in competition specification the Škoda Motorsport team managed to extract up to 120 horsepower from it, all without turbocharging,” the rally driver enthuses appreciatively. 

The Škoda 100 provided an excellent basis for a competition car, much as the Škoda Fabia does today. Compared to a modern rally car, the 120 S Rallye retains more production-derived components, including the pedals and gear lever. Nevertheless, it features all the essential competition equipment, with the driver securely seated in bucket seats and protected by a robust roll cage.

“Driving the 120 S Rallye is an intense experience. You push it to the limit with your heart and courage. It is a full-body workout, and at the same time you can feel every movement of the bodyshell. I really enjoy it,” Lindholm says while describing the behaviour of the historic rally car. He then gets behind the wheel of a modern rally car. “The engine, four-wheel-drive system and brakes are all world-class. It is easy to drive and very predictable,” says Emil of the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, a car that has achieved success not only on rally stages but also among customers, with 300 examples already purchased.