The ŠKODA 1100 OHC Coupé: a racing car

ŠKODA 1100 OHC Coupé (1959) complements the open-bodied version of the vehicle from 1957 in the ŠKODA Museum collection.

Mladá Boleslav, ŠKODA Motorsports’ 120^th anniversary celebration is with the collaboration project, reconstructing the ŠKODA 1100 OHC Coupé racing car. ŠKODA 1100 OHC (internal type designation 968), was primarily for endurance circuit races, began as early as spring 1956.

The teams began by reconditioning the original frame, chassis and engine and rebuilt the body according to historical documentation. In the process, they used state-of-the-art technology as well as traditional techniques in body construction.

PLANNING

In 1959/1960, the designers continued working on the 968 project and created two ŠKODA 1100 OHC coupés with closed bodywork. It uses components from ŠKODA’s production models.

However, unlike the ŠKODA SPORT and SUPERSPORT, the vehicle was no longer a central tube with forks and the OHV engine is now at the front. Instead, the ŠKODA 1100 OHC Coupé took advantage of a lightweight yet rigid truss frame welded from thin-walled tubes. Trapezoidal suspension at the front wheels, while a coupling axle with trailing arms at the rear.

This vehicle is still among the highlights of the ŠKODA Museum exhibition in Mladá Boleslav. Moreover, it regularly competes in national and international classic car events. Further, the second 1100 OHC is part of ŠKODA UK’s heritage fleet.

TECHNICAL ASPECT

The engine was located behind the front axle as well as the assembly unit, comprising rear axle differential and five-speed gearbox, achieved an almost ideal weight distribution. The handling of the dynamic racing car was outstanding.

The ŠKODA 1100 OHC Coupé is a NA in-line four-cylinder engine. Aluminium cylinder and crankcase were from the ŠKODA 440 ‘Spartak’. However, the racing car significantly exceeded the Spartak’s output of 40 hp (29.4 kW) at 4,200 rpm. Thanks to its optimized combustion chambers and OHC valve drive.

It has a compression ratio of 9.3:1, two carburettors, double dynamo battery ignition from Bosch, Scintilla Vertex magnetos and many other modifications. Its output was 92 hp (67.7 kW) at 7,700 rpm, with an impressive 85 hp per litre of displacement. For short bursts, it could further reach up to 8,500 rpm.

Depending on the overall gear ratio, it can reach a top speed of around 200 km/h. Dual-circuit brakes always ensure effective deceleration. And its rear drum brakes further gives assurance on its stopping power.

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