Rare Octavia goes to charity auction Retro Garage

This year too, Autodrom Most will not stay away from the vintage events. In addition to the autumn automobile festival The Most CLASSIC, or the Oldtimer Express endurance race, it will, like last year, participate in the largest Czech auction of vintage vehicles Retro Garáž, which will take place on April 27 at the exhibition center in Lysá nad Labem. This year, however, Autodrom Most will present an even rarer car at the auction – the Camera Car Octavia Combi 1st generation.

Last year, the Retro Garage in Lysá auctioned off the first-generation Most safety car Škoda Octavia RS called " Bába", this year the model converted into a Camera Car will be up for auction. This unique car was created from a Škoda Octavia Combi equipped with Laurin & Klement, which first served as an instructor introduction vehicle on the track and polygon at the Most Autodrom.

Josef Zajíček, the owner of the Most autodrome, recalls the circumstances of the creation of this unique vehicle: "9 years ago, I discovered the original car in a warehouse at the autodrome and decided to transport it to Boleslav to BENET AUTOMOTIVE, which was a prototype workshop for Škoda Design. I instructed my colleagues to make a nice show car out of the car that we could use at the autodrome." In addition to show cars and other special models, racing cars for the Octavia Cup were also built in the same workshops at that time.

In Benet, the car was converted into a so-called Camera Car – a car designed for taking photos and filming dynamic shots on a “ car to car” track. In addition to the bodywork modification in the rear, where the doors were removed, the roof modified, and seats added, the car also has a lowered chassis, special paintwork, and several other mainly aesthetic modifications, such as darkened headlights. The car exists in a single copy.

The car is in fully functional condition and has driven about 21 thousand kilometers. Of course, the modified car does not meet the conditions for operation on public roads and therefore does not have registration plates. Just like last year, the starting price this year starts at 1 CZK.

Last year's successful auctioneer of the safety car was Pavel Kalina from Cabrio Gallery. The amount of CZK 92,000 went to the account of the Autodrom Most foundation, which used the money to support young athletes and children in the Most region. Part of the money also went to build a children's play element in the garden of the Harmonie senior home.

Retro Garage is the largest veteran event of its kind in the Czech Republic and the 13th auction will be the largest in the history of Retro Garage. A total of 31 items from small mopeds to beautiful adult motorcycles or cars will be up for auction. The live auctions will be accompanied by presentations from selected veteran clubs, an exchange of auto-moto spare parts, collector's artifacts, literature and more. The proceeds from the sale of the Most Camera Car will again be donated to support Most's non-profit associations and societies through the Autodrom Most Endowment Fund.

The event will take place in the exhibition halls of the Výstaviště in Lysá nad Labem from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the auctions themselves starting at 11 a.m. Further information can be found on the Retro Garáže website.

Spring Retro Garage
WHERE: Exhibition halls of the Lysá nad Labem exhibition center
WHEN: Saturday, April 27, 2023 (8:00 AM - 4:00 PM)
ENTRANCE FEE: 150 CZK/person (children under 150 cm free)
WEBSITE: www.retro-garaz.cz

Skoda Octavia Combi - Camera Car Autodrom Most
Year of manufacture: 2001
Engine: 1.9 TDI
Power: 1,896 cc, 81 kW
Mileage: approx. 21,000 km