1970s Skoda Estelle – Dangerous Handling That Prompted Government Action

Bottom line: In the late 1970s the Skoda Estelle 120L was deemed so unstable that Britain’s Department of Transport forced the maker to redesign the car before it could be sold any further.

Image: 1970s Skoda Estelle – Dangerous Handling That Prompted Government Action – Performance Comparison and Specifications

Design & Looks

The Estelle was supposed to be a fresh‑look replacement for the old 100/110 saloon. Instead of a new chassis, Skoda simply fitted a modern‑styled body onto the same rear‑engine, rear‑wheel‑drive platform that dated back to the 1964 1000MB. The result looked neat on paper, but the underlying swing‑axle suspension stayed unchanged.

Performance & Mileage

On a dry road the car could pull about 0.72g of lateral acceleration after the 1978 fix – roughly 37 mph around a corner. Before the fix it slipped at only 0.54g (≈30 mph). The swing‑axle design meant the roll centre sat above the wheel hubs, creating a “jack‑up” effect that could flip the car when the outer tyre lost grip. In wet conditions the threshold dropped to 0.67g.

Because the rear mass was so high, the car’s camber changed dramatically during cornering, making the handling feel like a roller‑coaster ride that required constant driver attention.

Price & Rivals

When launched in 1977 the Estelle sold for about £1,500 in the UK – cheap compared with contemporary front‑engine rivals like the VW Golf. However, buyers quickly learned that the low price came with a steep learning curve on the road.

Engine	Mileage	Price (1977 UK)	Top Features
1.2 L OHV rear‑engine	≈30 mpg (mixed)	£1,500	Rear‑engine layout, swing‑axle suspension, cheap price, optional £150 handling kit

Why the Government Got Involved

Autocar’s August 1977 road test called the handling “hilarious” and warned that a typical driver could lose control on wet corners. The AA and other motoring bodies echoed the concern. The Department of Transport took an Estelle for official testing, found that it could switch from gentle under‑steer to sudden over‑steer, and ordered Skoda to change the spec for all UK exports from 1 April 1978.

Skoda responded by offering a £150 “handling kit” on lower‑spec models and introduced the improved 120GLS with revised suspension geometry. The redesign was famously coordinated from a London hotel to a Czechoslovakian computer via telephone and teleprinter.

FAQ

What was the top speed of the 1970s Skoda Estelle?

The Estelle could reach roughly 85 mph (137 km/h) under ideal conditions, but safe cruising was usually limited to 60‑65 mph because of the handling limits.

Is the Estelle safe to drive today?

Original‑spec models are considered unsafe by modern standards. If an Estelle has been retrofitted with the 120GLS suspension updates and a proper alignment, it can be driven responsibly, but it still lacks many safety features expected today.

How does the Estelle’s fuel economy compare to its rivals?

At about 30 mpg (mixed) it was modest – similar to the early VW Beetle but noticeably lower than newer front‑engine hatchbacks that were beginning to dominate the market.