1997 Skoda Felicia

The history of Skoda goes back more than 100 years to the city of Mladá Boleslav (today's Czech Republic.) In 1895, two men named Václav Laurin and Václav Klement, began making bicycles under the name of Slavia. In 1899 the Laurin & Klement company switched to motorcycles that displayed a L&K logo. The factory employed 68 workers to produce a bicycle with a one cylinder-engine in the middle of the frame. The success of the motorcycle eventually led to the production of cars. In 1901, motor vehicles with four wheels and a 2 cylinder engine made from motorcycle parts were built. It wasn't until 1905 that the L&K company produced their first true automobile called the Voiturette A. Two were built before the end of 1905.
In 1907, the company became a joint-stock company and began producing cars with 4 or 8 cylinder engines. With over 250 cars of different types, L&K was one of Europe's leading car manufacturers. In order to keep up with customer demand, in 1925 L&K merged with a company called Skoda. L&K were not the only ones, other small car makers also joined the group. The L&K emblem remained on the front grilles of Mladá Boleslav cars until 1926 when the new products bore the Skoda emblem. All was going well until the outbreak of WWII. Car manufacturing worldwide came to a halt, and all factories were forced to serve military needs.

In 1934, the Skoda Popular was introduced. A special feature of this car was a new transaxle-system. The engine and clutch were in the front and a gearbox with a differential gear in the rear of the car. 1936 saw the production of the first Skoda Favorit which soon became a public favorite.

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