Škoda 1000 MB

Škoda 1000 MB
Škoda 1000 MB, model 1966
Overview
Manufacturer	AZNP, Mladá Boleslav
Also called	Škoda Sabre (Australia)
Production	1964–1969 (1000 MB X) 1966–1969 (1100 MB X) 443,141 produced
Assembly	Czechoslovakia
Body and chassis
Class	Small family car
Body style	4-door saloon (MB) 2-door coupé (MBX)
Layout	RR layout
Powertrain
Engine	1.0 L I4 - 1000 MB(X) 1.1 L I4 - 1100 MB(X)
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Length	4,200 mm (165.4 in)
Width	1,610 mm (63.4 in)
Height	1,400 mm (55.1 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Škoda Octavia Škoda Felicia
Successor	Škoda 100 Škoda 110R Coupé

The Škoda 1000 MB and Škoda 1100 MB are two rear-engined, rear-wheel drive small family cars that were produced by Czechoslovak manufacturer AZNP in Mladá Boleslav between 1964 and 1969. The 2-door coupé versions of the 1000 MB and 1100 MB were called the 1000 MBX and 1100 MBX.

In 1955, the same year in which the Škoda 440/445 made its first appearance, Škoda started making plans for a new car for the 1960s. The initial plans for the car were to make the car as light and fuel-efficient as possible: it was to weigh no more than 700 kg, and the overall fuel consumption was not to exceed 6-7 litres per 100 kilometres (33-38mpg).

The next step was to produce the car as a four-door saloon, which would be built using monocoque construction. Like most leading car manufacturers dating from before the Second World War, Škoda always built their cars using the traditional and well-proven front-engine and rear-wheel drive layout. However, Škoda decided to look at two alternative options. Their first option was to go for the more modern front-engine and front-wheel drive layout, and their second option was to use the rear-engine and rear-wheel drive layout, if the first option was unsuccessful.

The front-engined-with-front-wheel-drive option was unsuccessful due higher cost and design complexity, and therefore Škoda opted for the rear-engined-with-rear-wheel-drive format. Even by the early 1960s, the idea of rear-engined small family saloons was still considered to be reasonably popular. In France, there were the Renault Dauphine, Renault 8 and Simca 1000, while in Germany there were the Volkswagen Beetle and NSU Prinz, in Italy there were the Fiats 500 and 600, and in Britain there was the Hillman Imp, all of which employed the rear-engined concept.