Skoda 420: The 90-year-old car that changed the automobile industry

The response to the world economic crisis was the Škoda 420 Standard in April 1933. The progressive concept with a backbone chassis frame was developed by Ing. Josef Zubatý, excellent operating characteristics were also demonstrated by a promotional ride around the USA.

(IN BRIEF) Skoda is celebrating the 90th anniversary of the launch of its progressive people’s car, the Skoda 420. The car was launched in April 1933 and was the first to use a concept with a backbone chassis frame and independent wheel suspension, which remained competitive for almost half a century thanks to continuous innovations. The Škoda 420 weighed about 200 kg less than its conventional predecessor and brought significant benefits to customers, including reduced stresses on the bodywork and a more durable chassis. Skoda’s backbone chassis concept was the foundation of its extended family of cars, including the legendary Skoda Octavia and Felicia models, and was also used as the basis for several localized products. However, since 1964, Skoda’s large-scale production has been dominated by self-supporting bodies without a backbone chassis.

(PRESS RELEASE) MLADÁ BOLESLAV, 11-Apr-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — ŠKODA AUTO, one of the world’s oldest car makers and Czech Republic largest private company part of Volkswagen Group, is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its progressive people’s car 420, which was launched in April 1933. The Škoda 420 was the first car to use a concept with a backbone chassis frame and independent wheel suspension, which was ahead of its time and remained competitive for almost half a century thanks to continuous innovations. The lightweight and rigid “steel backbone” of the modular construction has proven itself in Škoda cars with 4×2, 4×4, and 6×4 drive, including the Popular, Rapid, Superb, Octavia, and Felicia models.

The Škoda 420, which weighed around 200 kg less than its conventional predecessor, the Škoda 422, was introduced during the world economic crisis in Czechoslovakia. The independently suspended rear wheels of the Škoda 420 followed the road surface better than the rigid axle, thus increasing the driving comfort noticeably. The ingenious backbone frame concept brought significant benefits to customers, including reduced stresses on the bodywork and a more durable chassis.

The progressive concept of the chassis has proven itself even in the most demanding operating conditions, including the journey of the Škoda Rapid car around the world in 1936 and racing specials. The backbone chassis was used in various designs on cars ranging in wheelbase from the 2.30m of the first Popular to the 3.40m of the eight-cylinder Superb 4000, and the military special Škoda 903 with a 6×4 drive configuration and a wheelbase of 2470+920mm.

Škoda’s backbone chassis concept was the foundation of the extended family of Škoda cars, including the legendary Škoda Octavia and Felicia models, and was also used as the basis for several localized products, such as the New Zealand Trekka, the Pakistani Skopak, and the Turkish Škoda 1202 Kamyonet pick-up. However, since 1964, Škoda’s large-scale production has been dominated by self-supporting bodies without a backbone chassis.

Media contact:

Ariane Kilian
Head of Communications
e: ariane.kilian@skoda-auto.cz
t: +420 326 811 778

SOURCE: Škoda Auto a.s.