Škoda 1000/1100 MB
Škoda 1000 MB at the Bratislava Transport Museum (Bratislava, Slovakia)
The Škoda 1000 MB and Škoda 1100 MB are two rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive small family cars produced by the Czechoslovak automaker AZNP (Škoda Auto) in Mladá Boleslav from 1964 to 1969. The two-door coupé versions of the 1000 MB and 1100 MB were called the 1000 MBX and the 1100 MBX.
History
In 1955, the year the Škoda 440/445 made its debut, Škoda began making plans for a new car for the 1960s. The initial plans called for the car to be as light and fuel-efficient as possible; it was meant to weigh no more than 700 kg, and the overall fuel consumption was expected not to exceed 6–7 liters per 100 kilometers (34–39 mpg).
The next step was to produce the car as a four-door sedan, which would be built using unibody construction. Like most leading automakers founded before World War II, Škoda had always built its cars using the traditional, well-proven front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.
Since the front-engine, front-wheel-drive option proved unsuccessful due to higher cost and design complexity, Škoda opted for the rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Even in the early 1960s, the idea of rear-engine small family sedans was still considered fairly popular. In France, there were the Renault Dauphine, Renault 8 and Simca 1000; in Germany, the Volkswagen Beetle and NSU Prinz; in Italy, the Fiat 500 and 600.
The Škoda 1000 MB (the letters “MB” being the initials of Mladá Boleslav) made its debut in April 1964, as the successor to the Škoda Octavia. This was the beginning of what would eventually evolve into a long line of rear-engine Škodas. The engine that powered the 1000 MB was a 988 cc (1-liter), four-cylinder, overhead-valve (OHV) unit that produced 44 HP (33 kW). It was water-cooled, with an aluminum cylinder block and a cast-iron cylinder head. The 1000 MB had a four-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on all gears, four-wheel independent suspension, swing-axle rear suspension, and drum brakes on all four wheels.
By the late 1960s, Škoda decided it was time for an update to the “MB” series, which it did with the introduction of the Škoda 100 and 110 in August 1969. By this time, a total of 443,141 MB models had been built. The MBX series, produced in very limited numbers (2,517 in total), is now a true rarity.
‘MB series timeline
- 1964: Introduction of the 1000 MB (Type 990) four-door saloon (988 cc; 42 HP).
- 1965-6: Introduction of the 1000 MB de Luxe (Type 721) four-door saloon with better trim (988 cc; 48 HP).
- 1966: Introduction of the 1000 MBG de Luxe (Type 710) four-door saloons with better trim (988 cc; 48 HP).
- 1966: Introduction of the 1000 MBX de Luxe (Type 990T) 2-door coupe (988 cc; 52 HP).
- 1967: Introduction of the 1100 MB De Luxe and 1100 MBX De Luxe models.
- 1969: End of production of all ‘MB series.
Characteristics
Manufacturer: AZNP (now Škoda Auto)
Assembly: Mladá Boleslav (Czechoslovakia)
Years of production: 1964—1969
Length: 4200 mm
Width: 1610 mm
Height: 1400 mm
Engine: 4 cylinders; 988 cc
Power: 42–52 HP
Max speed: 120 km/h
Fuel consumption: 8 l/100 km
Weight: 815 kg
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