SKODA TREKKA

Skoda Kodiaq

Petrol heads around the globe enthusiastically greeted the Kodiaq, the new Skoda SUV. In addition to the Yeti- globally recognized and praised younger and smaller SUV brother, Skoda in co-production with 'big brother' Volkswagen is now offering flashy Kodiaq.

But, less known is that the Kodiaq and the Yeti are not the first off roaders in the long and rich history of the Czech company from Mlada Boleslava. Skoda in its 121 year history was producing bicycles, motorcycles, cars, buses, agricultural machinery and engines for aircrafts.  Skoda was also a major manufacturer of arms; cannons for the Austro Hungarian monarchy and later the tanks for Nazi Germany.

light tank LT 35

Cynics might say that the first Skoda off roader was a light tank LT 35, which took part in Hitler's invasion of Poland, France and the Soviet Union. But the first real off roader Skoda constructed  in the early fifties of the previous century. The Skoda Babeta, very capable fully fledged 4x4 was tested as a potential candidate as 'the jeep' for the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries. Despite the excellent test results Babeta was dropped at the end.  As favored the Russian GAZ 69 won 'the jeep of the east' title,  Despite all qualities the Skoda Babeta did progress beyond the prototype.

Skoda Babeta

Next off roader Skoda  constructed ten years later after the fiasco with the Babeta. The Trekka was constructed in cooperation with the New Zealand companies.  Skoda delivered the chassis and engines and the body,  in several versions, was constructed in New Zeland.  Trekka's caricatural design looks as it was 'signed' by school boy who had tried to draw a Land Rover.

 Despite the caricatural appearance, due to the low cost and practicality the Trekka  has become a popular means of transport and the workhorse of New Zealand farmers and surfers. The Trekka was exported to Australia and some Pacific islands.  Inevitably, in the early seventies Trekka's sales  were jeopardized by the much more competent Japanese SUVs.

surfers liked the Trekka

Very little is known about Trekka's driveability, but it can be assumed that due to the low weight of the vehicle the Skoda engine of 1221 cm3 with 47 HP and rear-wheel drive was quite sufficient. Unfortunatelly, in the West today simple cars like the Trekka  could not meet the  bureaucratic and security obstacles. Thus, because of its convenience, simplicity and low cost cars like the Trekka are somehow missing.

Interestingly, in Istria, Croatia, we can still see the Renault 4, the Fiat Uno and even the Yugo as 'workhorses' on the missions in the fields and olive groves. As these old-timers will soon become extinct their owners on the market and can not find some inexpensive alternative to the aging trio, either as new or used vehicle.

Lets hope that one day someone will again construct versatile, funny and cheap utility car as the Trekka. Why not as electric powered runabout!?

Trekka versions