Škoda Favorit 136 L
The Favorit turned Škoda's family car around—literally—moving the engine and driven wheels to the front inside a crisp Bertone-designed hatchback.
1989 Škoda Favorit 136 L · Jiri Erben · CC BY-SA 3.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
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More than a set of wheels.
A government decision in December 1982 gave Škoda five years to create a modern front-engine, front-wheel-drive car. The Favorit debuted in 1987 and the first 136 L de Luxe cars reached dealers late in 1988. This 1989 profile is the ordinary road car, not the lighter and much more powerful 136 L/H racer.
Look a little closer.
Although it was 40 mm shorter than the rear-engine Škoda 120, clever packaging gave the Favorit an 85 mm longer cabin and a larger boot.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Czechoslovak engineering in an Italian coat
Petr Hrdlička led the home engineering team, while Stile Bertone shaped the body and interior concepts. Škoda engineers then reduced the body from 405 pressed parts to 227 so it could be built efficiently in existing factories.
Source: Škoda Storyboard · Favorit: entering an era of success ↗A bridge into Škoda's modern era
The Favorit's competitive layout and engineering helped interest Volkswagen after the 1989 Velvet Revolution. Škoda joined the Volkswagen Group in 1991, while the Favorit continued to win its Monte Carlo Rally class four years in a row.
Source: Škoda Storyboard · Favorit 136 L (1988–1994) ↗Where these facts come from
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.