Photo: Skoda Auto
Although Skoda certainly likes to think so, the 1203 – along with the 1203 M iteration and TAZ-S 1203/TAZ 1500 siblings – has the odd honor of being the only van ever produced in Czechoslovakia/the Czech Republic. Come to think about it, given the modern automotive world dominated by crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks, the fact that Skoda didn't bother to launch more vans should be counted as incredible foresight.
Still, the Czech automaker has decided to (re)make our acquaintance with the historical model – Skoda probably knows very well that much of the western world has never heard of the 1203. It was once a small workhorse van that used to be series-manufactured from the late 1960s to the early ‘80s. Then, it had a bit of local small-scale production between 1994 and 2017, making it well known at home in the Czech Republic.
Now, Skoda has decided to revisit this odd model (the styling is actually quite familiar for anyone remembering the cars of the old Soviet Union) for the latest installment of its “Icons Get a Makeover” series. Previously, we have seen the Voiturette A turn into an autonomous carriage, or the Felicia become an airy ride, but this time around, the 1203 gets treated to a virtual camper van reinterpretation.
With help from designer Daniel Hájek - who was driven by nostalgia and the desire to bring something new to the current Skoda roster - the company now presents the 1203 for the “new millennium.” The vision also turns the decidedly unattractive 1203 van into a pop top-style camper that sheds most of its connection with the past in favor of modern looks.
“I wanted it to be clear from my study that this is the same vehicle, but I didn’t want it to be too obviously retro. I designed a modern vehicle that pays homage to the legend,” explains Hájek. The stylist also put some thought into the possible mechanical bits, as the new 1203 (if ever made) would borrow the Volkswagen Group’s Transporter architecture, though it could “easily be all-electric as well.”
Although Hájek is a designer of user interfaces, the minimalist dashboard is all about horizontal lines and doesn’t even come with its own infotainment system. “The idea is that the driver uses his own device, like a smartphone or tablet, to access this information,” he explains. Instead, there’s just a small info display behind the steering wheel.
Now, Skoda has decided to revisit this odd model (the styling is actually quite familiar for anyone remembering the cars of the old Soviet Union) for the latest installment of its “Icons Get a Makeover” series. Previously, we have seen the Voiturette A turn into an autonomous carriage, or the Felicia become an airy ride, but this time around, the 1203 gets treated to a virtual camper van reinterpretation.
With help from designer Daniel Hájek - who was driven by nostalgia and the desire to bring something new to the current Skoda roster - the company now presents the 1203 for the “new millennium.” The vision also turns the decidedly unattractive 1203 van into a pop top-style camper that sheds most of its connection with the past in favor of modern looks.
“I wanted it to be clear from my study that this is the same vehicle, but I didn’t want it to be too obviously retro. I designed a modern vehicle that pays homage to the legend,” explains Hájek. The stylist also put some thought into the possible mechanical bits, as the new 1203 (if ever made) would borrow the Volkswagen Group’s Transporter architecture, though it could “easily be all-electric as well.”
Although Hájek is a designer of user interfaces, the minimalist dashboard is all about horizontal lines and doesn’t even come with its own infotainment system. “The idea is that the driver uses his own device, like a smartphone or tablet, to access this information,” he explains. Instead, there’s just a small info display behind the steering wheel.
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