The Škoda 160 RS MTX is one of the more specialised corners of 1980s rally history: a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive coupe developed in Czechoslovakia by MTX (Metalex) on the platform of the purpose-built Škoda 130 RS, itself in production from 1975. Car No. 1 at Rally Šumava 1984 carried a Night Version configuration — auxiliary driving lights and the period-correct livery markings associated with night-stage competition in the Czechoslovak Rally Championship.
The Škoda 160 RS MTX: a Czechoslovak Homologation Special
The Škoda 130 RS began life as a homologation coupe for international rally competition; the 160 RS was the larger-displacement evolution, bored out to 1,598 cc and developed by MTX for the demands of early-1980s Group 4 rallying. MTX — formally Metalex — was the Czechoslovak specialist firm responsible for translating Škoda's motorsport ambitions into competitive hardware. The result was a rear mid-engined machine that represented the ceiling of domestic rally engineering in that era.
Rally Šumava 1984 and the Night Version Livery
Rally Šumava, held in the Šumava (Bohemian Forest) region, was a fixture of the Czechoslovak Rally Championship calendar throughout the 1980s. Vladimír Blahna, one of the recognised names in Czech rally of the period, took the No. 1 plate alongside co-driver P. Scovanek — a starting number that denoted top-seeded status in the domestic championship. The Night Version designation refers to the car's lighting fit and associated livery markings prepared specifically for the night stages, a visually distinct configuration absent from standard daylight-spec replicas of the same chassis.
The 1:43 Scale Model by IXO Models
This 1:43 scale model is produced by IXO Models in die-cast metal. IXO has built one of the most comprehensive rally back-catalogues in the scale, and their coverage of Eastern European championship cars — including multiple Škoda 130 and 160 RS variants across different events and crews — is unmatched among mainstream die-cast producers. The RAC (Rally And Circuit) series, within which this casting sits, has systematically documented Czechoslovak rally machinery that Western-market manufacturers largely ignored.
In the Display Cabinet: Eastern Bloc Rally in Miniature
The Night Version livery and the No. 1 plate make this a visually distinct piece among Škoda rally replicas. It pairs naturally with other IXO releases covering the Škoda 130 RS and 160 RS across the Czechoslovak Rally Championship seasons of the late 1970s and early 1980s, as well as contemporaneous Eastern Bloc machinery such as the Lada VFTS — another IXO subject from the same competitive era. For collectors tracing Czech motorsport history, it anchors a coherent and niche sub-collection.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
What is the Škoda 160 RS MTX?
The Škoda 160 RS MTX was a rear mid-engined rally coupe developed by MTX (Metalex) in Czechoslovakia, based on the Škoda 130 RS platform first produced in 1975. The 160 RS used a 1,598 cc inline-four engine and competed in Group 4 rally events in the early 1980s.
Who drove car No. 1 at Rally Šumava 1984?
Vladimír Blahna drove with co-driver P. Scovanek. The No. 1 plate indicated a top-seeded entry, consistent with Blahna's standing in the Czechoslovak Rally Championship at the time.
What does 'Night Version' mean on this model?
The Night Version designation reflects the car's configuration for night-stage competition: auxiliary driving lights mounted on the bodywork and the associated period livery markings used during Rally Šumava 1984.
Who makes this model and in what material?
The model is made by IXO Models in die-cast metal at 1:43 scale, as part of their RAC (Rally And Circuit) series, which covers a wide range of rally and circuit cars including extensive Eastern European championship subjects.
