FOR SALE
The most original Skoda 136 Rapid family owned from new and 12,670 miles.
EQUIPMENT
Two-door sport coupe body, rear sited engine with louvred compartment cover, large side hinged front luggage area, integral rear spoiler, black moulded two-piece front and rear bumpers, bodyside rubbing strips, laminated windscreen, rectangular halogen headlamps, twin reversing lamps, twin rear fog lights, wrap-around front indicators, electric 4-jet screen washers, rear mudflaps, locking petrol cap, fully reclining front seats with integral head restraints, individual fold down rear seats, heated rear window, low fuel warning light, tachometer, lockable glove box, stereo radio cassette, toolkit, spare bulb and fuse holdall. Dealer Accessories: Wide side flash in graduating style, Skoda tray mats.
EXTERIOR
What handles like a Porsche, costs only £4,200 and is more fun than a Golf GTi? According to the Autocar & Motor magazine issue released on the 28th September 1988 the answer is the range topping sporty fastback Skoda 136 Rapid! This rare surviving example has been owned from new by three brothers and covered a warranted 12,670 miles. Specified in Ermine White, (Code 1052), the paintwork is factory original. Well known in the rear engine Skoda fraternity is the questionable factory paint quality, just as it left the small Kvasiny Factory in 1991! Ermine White being amongst the most problematic colours, to the extent where many were repainted under warranty from Skoda without quibble. The first owner chose not to have the car repainted under warranty wanting to uphold complete factory originality and as such there are imperfections throughout as well as some visible touched in areas. All panels are original fitment in amazing condition and the underside is very clean with close inspection assuring superb structural integrity. The two-piece bumpers, etched Thorax glass, lights and trim sections are all fully intact and free from damage. The original supplying dealer number plates, rear screen sticker and Lombard RAC Rally sticker remain fitted as it left the dealer new. There is also a Skoda Owners Club sticker and Institute of Advanced Motorists sticker indicating the enthusiast skilled owners credentials. The supplying dealer tax disc holder even still displays the first 1991 disc! Totally original and unspoilt.
INTERIOR
Simplicity was the ethos behind these cars to the extent where the specification was a ‘take it or leave it’ affair with no factory options available! Commensurate with the ultra-low mileage, the black seat fabric with clean white striping is in incredible condition with no thinning or rips, even to the tops of the rear seats, and the black vinyl door cards are fully intact. The carpets exude durability over opulence and the hard-wearing pile is protected by the original grey sturdy Skoda tray mats. All interior equipment is fully operational including the Philips 552 stereo cassette. The huge front luggage compartment with quirky side hinged hood is clean and still has the protective mat, tool roll and bulb box as well as bulkhead chassis stamp, VIN plate, AZNP build plate and delicate labels. This is pure retro.
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
The rear mounted four-cylinder OHV engine is factory fitment and famed for its toughness and ability to cope with the harshness of its Eastern Bloc origins. Developing 62bhp at 5000rpm and 100Nm of torque at 3000rpm, the sales brochure quotes peak speed at 95mph. The engine compartment is extremely clean and complete with the original jack and even the fragile Skoda Recommend Duckhams sticker remains on the blue air filter housing. The top specification 5-speed manual gearbox operates perfectly and feels light yet agricultural, exactly as it was made!
WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
Factory fitted 5J x 13 alloy wheels are in very good condition with perfect Skoda centre caps. Some light markings to the wheels are visible but largely insignificant. Matching branded Hankook 165/80 R13 tyres have masses of tread and front underslung spare wheel, also an alloy, wears a matching unused tyre. The twin circuit servo-assisted braking system has standard 4-pot callipers to the front which perform very well.
HISTORY FILE
This rare 136 Rapid was supplied new by Skoda main agent, Carlton Auto Engineering in Southport, and registered new on the 20th September 1991 making it one of the very final cars on a J registration, production having ended in August 1990 with the all-new Favorit model having already been on sale. Remarkable in so many respects, the first of which being the ownership since new with three brothers, the Binghams, first John, then Chris and finally George, all of whom are traceable in the history. There is a photograph of the first owner with the car at the dealership when it was new where you can see the red side flash added as a dealer option, still fitted today and the only surviving car known to still have such a feature. Also, the car has been maintained throughout by the supplying dealership since new up to 2023!
The service book/owner’s handbook is present and a large folder holds comprehensive paperwork starting with the vehicle order form confirming John paid £4,500 as well as PDI documents and early recall letters. Corresponding service invoices from the supplying dealership range from the very first service in 1991 to the latest visit to them in 2023! A further service has been carried out in February 2025. Unrepeatable in terms on mileage, originality, provenance, and family ownership. This is a very special classic Skoda.
MOT February 2026, HPI Clear.
Original
