Škoda Museum Unveils ‘Concepts Unmasked’ Depository, Showcasing Decades of Automotive Innovation

Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic – The Škoda Museum continues its expansion with the opening of ‘Concepts Unmasked,’ a recent depository space dedicated to showcasing the brand’s design and technical evolution through 31 prototypes, concepts, and design studies. Opening its doors on March 19, 2026, the new hall complements the ‘Sleeping Beauties’ depository, which opened in December 2025, creating a unique visitor circuit within the historic factory hall dating back to 1913. [Škoda Storyboard]

A Journey Through Škoda’s Design History

‘Concepts Unmasked’ presents a curated collection of vehicles spanning from the late 1950s to the present day, offering a rare glimpse behind the curtain of Škoda’s design process. Visits are available by prior reservation and are conducted as part of a guided tour. [Škoda UK] Each exhibit is accompanied by a brief description, with further details accessible via QR code. [Škoda Storyboard]

Featured Prototypes and Concepts

The depository features a diverse range of vehicles, including:

• Škoda 973 “Babeta” (1953): Developed for the Czechoslovak army, this all-wheel-drive vehicle boasted significant off-road capability and appeared in the 1964 film “If a thousand clarinets.” [Škoda Storyboard]
• Škoda 976 (1956): A study for a new passenger car with front-wheel drive, later adapted with a rear-engine, rear-axle drive variant. [Mechtraveller]
• Škoda 988 (1958): A prototype of the 1000 MB model, featuring an all-metal body and an experimental OHC engine. [Mechtraveller]
• Škoda 990 NOV Combi (1963): A unique station wagon version of the Škoda 1000 MB, created during testing but never reaching production due to engine placement complexities. [Mechtraveller]
• Škoda 998 Agromobil (1963): An all-wheel-drive vehicle intended for agricultural and military use, developed in collaboration with Česká zbrojovka Strakonice, with 13 units created. [Mechtraveller]
• Škoda 720 (1971): Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign, featuring a front engine and rear-wheel drive. [Mechtraveller]
• Škoda 740 (1971): A study of a car with a sloping rear, with two body and engine sizes considered, but halted for political reasons. [Mechtraveller]
• Škoda 760 ID (1973): Continued development of front-wheel drive in collaboration with factories in Zwickau and Eisenach, also designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, but ultimately discontinued for political reasons. [Mechtraveller]
• Škoda 736 Buggy (1975): Designed by Josef Čech, based on the Škoda 110 L, and built by the company’s training school. [Mechtraveller]
• Škoda 781 FV2 (1981): A working prototype of the Škoda Favorit, having covered 90,000 kilometers during testing. [Mechtraveller]
• Škoda Vision E (2017): A study representing a step towards electric vehicles, later embodied by the Enyaq model. [Mechtraveller]

Expanding the Škoda Museum Experience

Together with ‘Sleeping Beauties,’ ‘Concepts Unmasked’ adds over 50 exhibits to the main Škoda Museum collection. [Škoda Storyboard] The Škoda Museum, originally opened in 1995 and refurbished in 2012, chronicles over 130 years of automotive history, from the earliest Laurin & Klement vehicles to current models. [Škoda UK]

For more information about the Škoda Museum and its exhibitions, visit the official website.