Practical Classics (UK)

‘Everything was stolen, bar body and suspension’ 1985 Skoda 120 Cabriolet, 1990 130 Rapid Kathy and Baz Edwards, Maidstone

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We haven’t seen a Skoda soft-top for a while… are they rare?

(Kathy) ‘Yes the Cabriolet models have always been more unusual. This one is a 120 series car from 1985. The UK market Cabriolet conversion­s were done by LDD of Kent to cars already sold and registered. We’ve discovered our car was one of the first 20 of the approximat­ely 500 that were done. We bought it in 1989 and are the second owners – it was used every day until the engine blew up then it sat idle for a while until Baz stripped it down and began a nut and bolt rebuild.’

How easy is it to work on?

(Baz) ‘Mechanical­ly these Skodas are pretty simple… what really hampered this rebuild was having everything stolen from the lockup garage I was using. I was left with only the bodyshell and suspension and had to find every other part from around the UK. Even with a lot of help from the Skoda Owners’ Club it still took us 14 years to rebuild it. The Cabriolet was finally back on the road in 2013.’

Do people recognise that it’s a Skoda?

(Kathy) ‘It’s harder to tell the make with the top down so it’s been called everything from a Stag to a Rover and a Saab. A guy at a show said we’d made a good job of cutting the roof off, but then people sometimes come over to offer us spare parts too. Local motor factors still have pieces, but you have to check carefully since a lot of different parts look similar. It’s not for sale and we’ve considered putting a sign on it to say that – one chap at a show offered even us £25,000 to buy it.’

What’s the story with the coupe then?

(Baz) ‘It’s a 1990 Rapid 130 – meaning it has the 1289cc engine. I found it a few streets away on a driveway with flat tyres, so I put a note through the door – the phone was already ringing when I got back. It had been off the road for five years but was still completely drivable – it just needed brake pads and wiper blades. I converted it for hill climbs and sprint racing with Recaro seats, harnesses and adjustable shocks. I tried vented disc brakes but could not get them to fit properly, while I also tried cut down springs but soon got rid of them – the ride was awful. The engine is standard but it’s a RIC model – a Rapid Injection Catalyst – so still does 0-60mph in 11.2 seconds. It’s also fitted with an accessory bodykit and spotlight grille. It's basically a nice, straight car that goes through the MOT without problems every year. I had it completely resprayed recently, but it still needs to go back for a final polish.’

What’s the appeal of these Skodas?

(Kathy) ‘A friend took us out in one years ago and the cars just grew on us, we’ve had them ever since. They’re basic cars to work on meaning it’s simple to diagnose any faults. I drive mine on sunny days and find excuses to use it as much as I possibly can.’

‘It took us 14 years to fully rebuild the Cabriolet’

 ??  ?? Years of searching for parts paid off handsomely.
Years of searching for parts paid off handsomely.

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