Škoda Superb (1934–1949)

Škoda Superb 640

The first engine used in Superb was a straight-six flathead unit of 2,492 cc (152.1 cu in). It had a dry clutch and a four-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh on the 3rd and 4th gear. The car was offered with either 4 or 6 seats. The chassis weighed 1,130 kg (2,491 lb) and the whole car weighed 1,680 kg (3,704 lb), although this varied depending on the version of the car. Two different versions of this type were made.[2]

A new generation of Superb was introduced in May 1936 as the Type 902.

When Škoda introduced the Superb in 1934, one of its main Czechoslovak competitors, Tatra, had begun to manufacture the Type 77, with a V8 engine; this was the world's first serially produced aerodynamic car. In order to compete with this car, the Type 902 Superb had more rounded bodywork and featured frontal styling more reminiscent of the smaller Popular and Rapid models. The engine was enlarged to 2,703 cc (164.9 cu in), and it was combined with a new gearbox that had an aluminium case.[2]

The Type 902 was available as 4 seat or 6 seat saloon, and as a 2-door cabriolet. Sodomka also produced a special version of the saloon that had a longer and more aerodynamic body.[2]

Another change came in October 1936, when the Superb Type 913 was introduced. The front of the car was redesigned and its flathead in-line six engine was enlarged again, this time to 2,914 cc (177.8 cu in).[2]

The Type 913 was most commonly available in four basic versions: a 6- or 7-seat limousine, 5-seat saloon, and a 5-seat, 2-door saloon. Other less common versions included a luxury 2-door cabriolet, ambulance, panel van, and a pick-up truck. Production ended in February 1939.[2] Some of the last cars to be produced used the bigger 3,140 cc (191.6 cu in) engine from the Type 924 prototype, which featured overhead valves for the first time, in place of the flathead arrangement used in the earlier engines.

From 1939, the Superb had spare wheels placed behind the front mudguard instead of under the floor of the trunk.

The first prototype of the Type 924 was built in 1937; however, it did not enter production until 1939. The Type 924 had a new 3,140 cc (191.6 cu in) overhead-valve straight-six engine, an extended wheelbase and shorter, more rounded bodywork. The 924 was characterized by having its spare-wheels located behind the front mudguards.[2]

The most common version of the Type 924 was the 6-seat limousine. Its middle row of seats could be folded, allowing the passengers in the rear to have more space.[2]

After the war, production of the Type 924 Superb continued in small numbers throughout 1947–48, with 60 saloons and 100 open-top cars made, some of them in a luxurious version intended for parades. Officially, they were all delivered to the Czechoslovak Ministry of Interior.[2]

Škoda Superb 3000 type 952, Kfz. 21

In 1941–43, Škoda produced a military version of the Type 924 model for the Wehrmacht and its Nazi Allies. The production took place in then-Nazi-occupied Bohemia and began with a rear-wheel drive version called the Type 952 and culminated, briefly, with the all-wheel drive Type 956.[3]

There were three military versions available: Kfz 21, a luxury command cabriolet used by high officers in the field such as General Heinz Guderian and Field Marshal Erwin Rommel[4] (100 made),[3] Kfz 15, a personnel-carrier and a raid car (1,600 were produced)[3] and a military ambulance, of which 30 were produced.[3]

In 1939, Škoda introduced the Type 919 version of the Superb, known as the Superb 4000; this had a new overhead-valve V8 engine of 3,990 cc (243.5 cu in), this model was extended in length to 5,700 mm (224.4 in), and was the company's first ever production car to utilize a V8 engine. Unlike the previous straight-six models, the V8 had three gears, with second and third gears having synchromesh fitted. Only twelve cars of this type were made.[2]

Several historical Škoda Superb cars can be seen at the Škoda Auto Museum in Mladá Boleslav.