A new round of Autocult models... and the annual book and special model

As we close in on the end of 2025, Autocult continues their tradition of issuing unusual models.

1938 Škoda Rapid OHV Prototyp

In 1934, Škoda launched the first model with the suffix ‘Rapid’. Initially equipped with a 1,195cc engine, a water-cooled four-cylinder engine with 31 hp was enlarged to 1,386cc. The passenger car remained on offer until 1938, when Škoda officials planned to replace it again and to continue the Rapid product line.

The main feature of the new model was the installation of a more powerful engine, but this was not done by simply increasing the displacement, but by completely redesigning. While the previous four-cylinder engine used a side-controlled valve train, the new engine featured an OVH valve control. This was generally very progressive – even more so for a car in the middle class. From then on, 43 hp were available from a displacement of 1,564 cc.

The factory offered the car in a tried and tested look – with free-standing fenders, upright radiator section and two or four doors as a sedan. This variant was probably intended to continue to win over the previous buyer clientele of the Rapid line, and yet there were also very serious efforts within the factory to approach a new group of buyers, namely those who followed the trend for an aerodynamic look. The initial contour of the streamlined Rapid provided for concealed rear wheels and the windscreen was also divided with a central strut. The headlights sat quite low in the two fenders, but all this was ultimately not taken over for series production.

The name Rapid remained in very good memory at Škoda, because exactly 50 years later the advertising strategist remembered it again and added the addition to the Type 130 in 1984. Since 2010, the name Rapid has been synonymous with the models manufactured in Pune, India.

1949 Drews Cabrio

On New Year’s Day, January, 1945, the trained coachbuilder Gerhard Drews founded a workshop under his own name ‘Drews Karosseriebau’ in Wuppertal-Oberarmen, Rauental 36.

He bridged the short post-war period with repairs of various kind and in 1947 he realized his idea of a modern 2+2-seater convertible based on the Volkswagen Beetle chassis for the first time. However, it took another two years from is prototype to its public debut before he presented his sports car convertible to the public for the first time a the ‘1st West Germany Motor Show’ in Reydt. Many visitors were certainly fascinated by it, but at the same time most of them also knew that such a vehicle would remain a dream, especially because of the very high price of just under DM 10,000 at the time. In comparison, a Beetle series model cost exactly DM 5,300 in September, 1949.

At the end of the 1940s, Gerhard Drews cleverly positioned his body store on the market and reached and agreement with the Volkswagen plant to order his convertible via the Volkswagen specialist dealer and at the same time marketed it himself. As far as the number of units produced is concerned, there are two different vague statements circulating – “… less than 100 units …” or “… at least 150 vehicles…”. This was, of course, far too few to maintain long-term production. The Drews-Karosserie Wuppertal company continued to produce a few bodies until around 1960 and then switched to a repair business.

2025 Edition and Model of the Year

1983 Volvo 760 GLE Mellberg