Wikov

Wichterle & Kovářik premises around 1900

The company Wichterle & Kovářik from Czechoslovakia produced around 800 cars under the name Wikov during the period from 1922 to 1935. The transmission manufacturer Wikov Industry, founded in 2004, relies on the tradition of this company.

development

Wichterle & Kovářik in Prostějov was founded in 1918 and initially specialized in agricultural vehicles and small trucks. From 1922 prototypes were developed under license Ansaldo . The actual series production only began in 1925 with the 7/28 model. In 1935 the production of cars was stopped again, until the outbreak of war only small trucks were made.

The models

Wikov 7/28 from 1931

Wikov 35 from 1931

Wikov 35 "Kapka" from 1930 with a streamlined body

Wikov 70 from 1930

IV

Of the first model, an Ansaldo license, only five prototypes were produced between 1922 and 1925. They had a four-cylinder four - stroke engine with initially 1000, later 1250 cm³ displacement.

V

20 vehicles of this model were built in 1925. They also had a four-cylinder engine, but with a capacity of 1350 cm³.

7/28

This first series model was produced in 280 copies between 1925 and 1935. The four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1478 cm³ developed between 28 HP and 40 HP , depending on the version  . There was the basic model, the 7/28 Sport model from 1928 and the 7/28 Roadster model from 1932. The 7/28 was also called the Type 28.

35

This model was produced in 150 copies between 1930 and 1935. The four-cylinder engine with 1743 cc made 35 hp. In addition to two-door sedans, coupes and roadsters, streamlined bodies were also offered.

40

The Model 40 was Wikov's most successful model. 330 copies were made between 1933 and 1935. The four-cylinder engine with 1942 cc had a capacity of 43 hp. Sedans and roadsters were offered.

In 1934 Adolf Szczyzycki was class winner up to 2000 cm³ with a Wikov 40 in the 1000 miles of Czechoslovakia .

70

The model 70 was the largest model. In the period from 1933 to 1935, only four prototypes were made. Two four-cylinder engines of the model 35 were assembled in series, so that an eight-cylinder engine with 3486 cm³ displacement and 70 hp was created.

literature

• Harald H. Linz, Halwart Schrader : The great automobile encyclopedia. BLV, Munich 1986, ISBN 3-405-12974-5 .
• Adolf Kuba, Milan Spremo: Atlas našich automobilů. 1929-1936. Nadas, 1989, ISBN 80-7030-049-3 .
• Classic car market . Edition 07/1989.

Web links

• www.wikov.cz (German)
• History automobilky Wikov ( Czech )
• Prostějovské továrny na stroje Wichterle a Kovářík as ( Czech )

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Reinhard Bauer: The "1000 Miles of Czechoslovakia" - only held three times! (PDF).