But like the A3 it isn't a real estate. Just a silly moniker.

The rear-engined version, methinks! I seem to remember that this was quite 'rapid' and its handling better than that of the Estelle that spawned it.

As for handling saying it was better than the Estelle is like saying Shipman was a better serial killer than West.

Actually, just about the only thing those cars had going for them was the handling and rather good it was too. You have to remember here that the Estelle won its class in the RAC rally for so many years it wasn't funny and there's not a lot of scope for modification in the lower classes.

I ran a Rapid at the same time as a mate had an Astra GTE on fleet. I used to severely embarass him on the wiggly bits, to the extent of being able to make up all the distance he'd pulled out on the straight bits.

Two sacks of sand in the front end was de rigeur in the winter, if you felt that luxuries like brakes and steering were important.

Smashing fun to drive and while the engine was short of grunt, as the vehicle itself was very light the overall package was quite nippy. Also here, not having to slow down for the corners disguises a multitude of performance sins......

The Estelle/RApid were as powerful as their competitors of the day.

Their main failing concerned the lack of investment pre-VW, and having to use suspect-quality outsourced components.

As far as engineering was concerened, they were right up at the front.

Their engines [especially the 136 motor] couldn't be beaten for power to weight...certainly not by anything else in the then-current VAG range...a reason why the 136 1300cc pushrod motor continued well into FWD roduction...and could be found even in the Fabia [in 1400cc form.

The transaxle gearbox was an excellent piece of work...

Those Skodas really reaped the rewards of the factory competition heritage....take a look at the gearbox ratios, for example?

Chosen specifically to make full use of the engine's power band and rev range, from 1st to top gear....all useable to the engine's maximum.

[Just what a racing driver would specify?]

Other makes were more focussed on overdriven gears, to minimise driver input....where the theoretical top speed would never really ever be achievable.

Not so the Skoda.

The RApid became the first cheap production car to be fitted with 4-pot front brake calipers....courtesy of the rallying programme. [just another example?}

Sure, they had their faults..but then so did 99.9% of all other cars on sale in their day.

But then..back in the early 1970's, when Porsche wanted to produce a smaller-engined sports coupe, they turned to SKoda for collaboration. Perhaps the Bonn government didn't like this..for they ended up in an unholy alliance with the likes of Audi.

For me, there's more to any vehicle than meets the eye?

[yup, I've seen some seriously-mad Reliant three-wheelers too! Check out the LAnds End Trial?]]