automotivebriefs
9:00in productionCh. 1 · The successor/ 9:00 · ceiling 15 min
Sports cars · Road

Škoda 110 R

A rear-engined coupé that traded handling logic for fastback flair — and sold 56,902 times.

The Škoda 110R is a rear-engined, rear-wheel drive coupé built by AZNP in Kvasiny from 1970 to 1980. It succeeded the 1000 MBX/1100 MBX. 56,902 units were made.

Chapters & takeaways4
  1. 0:56
    The successor

    It was Škoda’s first dedicated rear-engined coupé after the MBX models.

  2. 2:35
    Form follows function — barely

    Its fastback rear and evolving headlight count gave it visual identity without structural reinvention.

  3. 4:14
    What the engine did

    A modest 1.1-litre OHV engine delivered 52 bhp (DIN) and 145 km/h top speed — enough for its context.

  4. 5:52
    Ten years, one shape

    It ran for ten years and 56,902 units before making way for the Garde.

Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

3.5/ 5
What works
  • compact fastback form
  • mechanical commonality with 110LS saloon
  • visual distinction via headlight count
What does not
  • handling balance
  • thermal insulation
  • contemporary safety standards
Drive it if
  • students of Cold War automotive pragmatism
  • rear-engine layout evolution
  • Czechoslovak industrial design
Skip it if
  • buyers seeking dynamic balance
  • thermal insulation
  • contemporary safety standards
The written brief1 min read

What the car is and where it came from

The Škoda 110R is a rear-engined, rear-wheel drive coupé built by AZNP in Kvasiny from 1970 to 1980. It succeeded the 1000 MBX/1100 MBX. 56,902 units were made.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

It is a rear-engined, rear-wheel drive coupé with a four-speed manual gearbox. The driver sits ahead of the engine, which sits behind the rear axle. The 1.1-litre OHV four-cylinder engine powers the rear wheels directly. Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 18.5 seconds. Top speed is 145 km/h.

What it gets right

It gets right the compact, purposeful two-door fastback form. It shares mechanicals with the 110LS saloon, simplifying production and service. Its two- or four-headlight front end gives visual distinction across model years.

What it does not

It does not separate driver from engine noise or heat. It does not offer front-wheel drive agility or weight distribution advantages. It does not provide four-seat practicality or saloon-level ride comfort.

What it changed

It replaced the Škoda 1000 MBX/1100 MBX as Škoda’s dedicated coupé. It established the fastback silhouette as Škoda’s sports identity for a decade, until succeeded by the Garde in 1980.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for students of Cold War automotive pragmatism, rear-engine layout evolution, and Czechoslovak industrial design. It is not for buyers seeking dynamic balance, thermal insulation or contemporary safety standards.

Is it worth your time

Yes — if you want to understand how Eastern Bloc engineering solved sports-car packaging with minimal resources. No — if you expect modern handling, refinement or performance metrics.

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8:32
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9:40
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