Škoda Garde design and development details analyzed by Auto.cz

With a maximum speed of 153 km/h, the Škoda Garde fell far short of true sports car performance, leaving experts and observers to debate whether the 4,175 mm long vehicle was truly a coupe or more accurately described as a fastback auto.cz reported. The vehicle measured 1,610 mm in width and 1,400 mm in height. Development on the two-door model code-named 743 began as early as 1973 before production of the Škoda 110 R ended in late 1980. For the domestic market, the coupe received the commercial name Garde and a stronger 1,174 cm3 engine from the 120 LS with an output of 40.5 kW (55 hp), though it could no longer boast the effective frameless windows in the front doors of its predecessor.

The 915 kg Garde introduced several mechanical firsts for the brand, including an angular rear axle with oblique links developed by the Ústav pro výzkum motorových vozidel (ÚVMV) under Karel Jabornický. However, this underdimensioned component quickly deformed in practice. Because domestic manufacturers could not produce constant-velocity joints at the time, AZNP had to source them from the West German company Löbro.

Development and Prototypes

Prototypes built during the long pre-production phase varied significantly in their front and rear treatments, though the silhouette featuring a more sloped windshield and a shorter roof transitioning into an inclined rear remained consistent from the start. Final pre-production prototypes from 1980 adopted black ribbed bumpers instead of chromed ones, and while early functional samples shared doors with two-door siblings, the final production version featured longer doors. Fixed side triangular windows including their ventilation vents in the corners changed only minimally during the long development.

Interior and Equipment

Inside, the Garde offered a 2+2 seating arrangement featuring a rear bench that was largely emergency-only, accommodating two normal-sized adults and two children or older persons of smaller stature. Beige leatherette and fabric upholstery provided a luxurious appearance, though most vehicles received dark interiors. The model featured a completely new dashboard with round gauges and a glossy strip ahead of the front passenger, while the steering wheel originated from the 110 R predecessor with a modified center and cover.

Lighting and Exterior Details

On the rear, block-type headlights appeared for the first time, which were inherited in 1982 by the 120 GLS and 105 GL, and in August 1983 also by the modernized model. The engine lid was decorated with an integrated spoiler lip which the four-door 105 and 120 models lacked. The front received more angular reflectors—which from August 1981 also went to the basic body versions except for the cheapest 105 S—along with a silver strip bearing the appropriate inscription similar to sedans in Britain, only with the text replaced by the word Garde.

Despite detailed documentation of its components—from the four-piston brake calipers and standard four-speed manual transmission to the block-type rear lights and integrated spoiler lip on the engine lid—the fundamental question regarding its definitive classification between a coupe and a fastback remains a subject of ongoing discussion.

More on Škoda: Škoda Epiq Sportline Debuts with Black Styling and Rich Equipment