Škoda 120

In the early 1970s, Škoda had originally intended to produce their successor to the S100/110 as a front-engined front-wheel drive model. However, because of the lack of funding (Škoda had even applied for license in Moscow to produce their new car with a front-engine and front-wheel drive), Škoda was refused a licence and was forced to update the earlier S100/110 saloon models. The main reason Škoda was not granted a licence to produce their new car was because it would have turned out to be a thoroughly more modern car than any other car from the Soviet Union, something which the Russians wouldn’t have been too happy about. At that time, most cars from the Soviet Union had either a front engine driving the rear wheels or a rear engine driving the rear wheels. There was even a front-engined front-wheel drive Škoda 105/120 prototype, which looked almost identical to the rear-engined one. Because imports were banned, Škoda would not have had the proper resources or technology to produce a front-engined car with front-wheel drive.

In August 1976, the Škoda 105/120 went into production. Despite being basically the same as the previous S100/110 under the skin, the new cars had a lot of improvements, such as a front-mounted radiator with a thermostatic fan. The heating unit was now inside the dashboard, and the fuel tank was now underneath the rear seat. All models had much the same mechanical specification as the previous models, with a 4-speed gearbox, independent suspension, worm-and-drive steering, and swing-axle rear suspension.


The choice of engines for the Škoda 105/120 was either a 1046 cc unit for the 105 models or a 1174 cc unit for the 120 models. The 105S and 105L produced 44 bhp (33 kW; 45 PS), the 120L produced 49 bhp (37 kW; 50 PS), and the 120LS and 120GLS produced 54 bhp (40 kW; 55 PS).

The 1976 model range compromised:

Škoda 105 S (Standard)

Škoda 105 L (Luxe)

Škoda 120 L (Luxe)

Škoda 120 LE (Luxe Economic)

Škoda 120 LS (Luxe Sport)

Škoda 120 GLS (Grand Luxe Sport)



Škoda 105 S    742.10    1976–1987    1.0 L I4    45 hp (34 kW)    4-speed manual
Škoda 105 L    742.10    1976–1989    1.0 L I4    45 hp (34 kW)    4-speed manual
Škoda 105 GL    742.10    1981–1983    1.0 L I4    45 hp (34 kW)    4-speed manual
Škoda 105 SP    742.10    1982–1988    1.0 L I4    45 hp (34 kW)    4-speed manual
Škoda 120    742.12    1978–1983    1.2 L I4    49 hp (37 kW)    4-speed manual
Škoda 120 L    742.12    1976–1990    1.2 L I4    49 hp (37 kW)    4-speed manual
Škoda 120 LE    742.12    1982–1983    1.2 L I4    49 hp (37 kW)    4-speed manual
Škoda 120 GL    742.12    1984–1987    1.2 L I4    49 hp (37 kW)    5-speed manual
Škoda 120 LS    742.12X    1976–1987    1.2 L I4    54 hp (40 kW)    4-speed manual
Škoda 120 LX    742.12X    1984–1987    1.2 L I4    54 hp (40 kW)    5-speed manual
Škoda 120 GLS    742.12X    1976–1984    1.2 L I4    54 hp (40 kW)    4-speed manual
Škoda 120 GLS    742.12X    1984–1987    1.2 L I4    54 hp (40 kW)    5-speed manual
Škoda 125 L    742.12X    1988–1990    1.2 L I4    54 hp (40 kW)    5-speed manual
Škoda Garde    743.12X    1981–1984    1.2 L I4    54 hp (40 kW)    4-speed manual
Škoda Rapid    743.12X    1984–1985    1.2 L I4    54 hp (40 kW)    5-speed manual