Bohemian rhapsody

MORE THAN A CENTURY OF SKODA EVOLUTION LIES PERFECTLY PRESERVED IN ITS HOMETOWN’S HALLOWED HALLS

- DANIEL GARDNER

THE YEAR of 1997 was marked by a number of memorable milestones in Australia. Among them, Pauline Hanson founded the One Nation party, Celine Dion released her album Let’s Talk About Love, and Melbourne’s Crown Casino finally offered an answer to the question: what am I going to do with all this cash I’ve been saving for the kids’ education? But it wasn’t all bad news.

During the same year, a little-known car manufacturer opened its doors selling an affordable range of cars from the Czech Republic, offering a European marque without the premium price tag. But despite all of these things happening a quarter of a century ago, Skoda is still regarded as a relative newcomer in the Australian market. Since it started trading locally with the Octavia and Roomster, the winged arrow brand has steadily grown its presence to seven models, enjoyed more than 50 percent growth in early 2021 and now has a national network of 45 dealerships and service centres. But still, many regard Skoda as ‘new’.

In fact, Skoda is one of the oldest car manufacturers on the planet with a rich history of racing, innovation, success and adversity that reaches back 100 years before its local launch.

And almost the entire story is housed in a building nestled within the manufacturing facility of Mlada Boleslav 50 minutes outside Prague.