Streamlined Tear-drop

This car was once ahead of its time. It is a one-of-a-kind prototype. Today, after exacting restoration, it is fully functional as it was 80 years ago. Meet the ŠKODA 935 Dynamic.

3. 7. 2017 CLASSIC CARS

This is the only such vehicle in the world. It was conceived as an exposition prototype, did its test drives, and finally found its way into a museum where it was restored to its former beauty. After decades it could drive on the road again.

“We feel the satisfaction from work well done as well as relief that we managed to save something from our forefathers for the next generation,” said Michal Velebný, coordinator of the ŠKODA Museum’s restorers’ workshop as the restorers were handing over the original. After several years of work in their hands, the car was transformed into the same form in which it could have been admired by motoring enthusiasts in the 1930s.

AERODYNAMIC AND REAR-ENGINED

ŠKODA 935 Dynamic was one of the first prototypes ŠKODA developed in the 1930s within its “aerodynamic programme”, to which it dedicated great care. Since the early 1930s, ŠKODA has been among the pioneers of aerodynamic optimization in the automotive industry.

In the 1930s, ŠKODA developed several compact, progressive rear-engined cars. Its low-drag coefficient, bionic-styled and easy-to-maintain bodies incorporated a chassis platform with a rigid central tube frame, all-wheel independent suspension, and well balanced flat-four engines.

A CAR FOR HIGHWAYS

In April 1935, ŠKODA 935 Dynamic was presented at the Prague Auto Show. Its scientifically designed “tear-drop” or “streamlined” body followed theoretical principles set out by Paul Jaray, designer of the Zeppelin airships and former assistant at the Prague Technical University. The small tail fin was meant to compensate side-wind flows pushing on the light front of the car and to improve the stability of the vehicles at high speeds of up to an estimated 130–140 km/h. The streamlined prototype ŠKODA 935 Dynamic anticipated the future network of highways.

In comparison to the contemporary and even much younger successors of the rear-engined concept, ŠKODA 935 Dynamic offered a reasonable weight distribution. The flat-four OHV engine was situated in front of the driven rear axle, the tank in the middle and radiator in the very front. The two-litre engine with an aluminium crankshaft and cylinder sleeves made of steel produced 55 HP (40.5 kW) at 3,500 rpm. It was fed by two Zenith 26 VEI carburettors.

The car’s overall dimensions of 4860 x 1680 x 1540 mm on a wheelbase of 3200 mm and track of 1250/1300 mm offered a spacious interior for up to five adults. The front area of the car was designed as a deformation zone with a relatively “soft” luggage space of cca 300 l and a horizontally situated spare wheel: the tire should act as a sort of additional bumper. By the way, the petrol tank with capacity of 40 litres was incorporated into the very stiff central tube of the backbone chassis.

The streamlined prototype ŠKODA 935 Dynamic anticipated the future network of highways. A small tail fin was meant to compensate side-wind flows at high speeds of up to an estimated 130 -140 km/h.

FACTORY, FARMER, MUSEUM

The only surviving (albeit never manufactured) specimen of the ŠKODA 935 Dynamic from the Prague Auto Show 1935 was fully driveable, being used by the factory as a development car and four years later, in summer 1939, it was sold to a private customer in the Czech Republic. Later, it served on the area of today´s Slovak Republic and in 1968 a farmer from the Banská Bystrica area offered this unique piece of ŠKODA motoring history to the newly established ŠKODA Museum.

The flat-four OHV engine of 1995 cc (Ø 84 x 90 mm), producing 55 HP (40.5 kW) at 3,500 rpm, was situated in front of the driven rear axle.

The overall dimensions of the ŠKODA 935 Dynamic are 4860 x 1680 x 1540 mm on a wheelbase of 3200 mm and track of 1250/1300 mm. It provided a spacious interior for up to five adults.

At the Rétromobile classic car exhibition in Paris (February 2014), ŠKODA 935 Dynamic was presented at a partial stage of restoration, shortly before lacquering.

This unique vehicle was restored to its original form at the museum. The exacting process took the restorers 6 years. This was assisted by the fact that the vehicle had been preserved almost in its original state. Only the paint and dashboard were different from those in 1935. Moreover, the original look was well documented in historic photos so the workers of the restorers’ workshop had enough clues for their work.

“Restoring the body, which is a combination of aluminium and steel sheet, was the most difficult,” says Michal Velebný from ŠKODA Museum’s restoration workshop. A bit of luck also helped the restorers in their demanding work. At the inner side of one pillar they discovered the original paint and so could restore the car to the shade it wore during its premiere at the Prague Motor Show.

The unique ŠKODA 935 Dynamic can now again impress drivers on the road. “Most of all, I like the elegance it displays while nearly floating across the landscape. And as to details, I’d pick the decorative rear wheel covers as my favourite,” says Mr Velebný, relating his view on the unique vehicle he helped restore to its original beauty.