New Autocult models - Cezeta, Lancia, and Mercedes

1967 Cezeta 505 Karosa Krilo with flashdrive

First, the new 184-page AutoCult Edition 2026 is far more than just another automotive book. It's an essential read for enthusiasts interested in discovering forgotten cars, obscure manufacturers, unusual engineering developments, and the designers behind them. From rare and remarkable to downright bizarre, the book brings together a collection of fascinating stories, each enriched with historical context, archival photographs, and images of the AutoCult models released in 2026. As in previous years, the book is also included in digital format on a USB drive.

A youth competition in the early 1960s inspired a group of aspiring craftsmen at the Karosa company to put their skills to the test by designing and building three-wheeled vehicles reminiscent of rickshaws. Their efforts produced two visually striking prototypes, both of which remained one-off creations. A few years later, someone apparently saw an opportunity to breathe new life into one of the tricycles, reimagining it in a rather unexpected form.

The idea was to transform one of the vehicles into something resembling an airplane. The resemblance, however, was strictly visual.

The project finally came to fruition in 1967. The young builders retained the basic rickshaw configuration, reusing its steerable front wheel and rear axle. Power came from a 350 cm³ JAWA engine producing 18 PS. The aircraft inspiration was unmistakable, with two subtly sculpted wings and a fixed tail fin giving the vehicle the appearance of a modern jet aircraft. An enclosed cockpit accommodated the driver and a passenger seated directly behind.

Remarkably, the young team secured road approval in the ČSSR for their creation, named the Krílo. With a top speed of 70 km/h, this unusual motorized glider was more than just an imaginative design exercise; it was a road-legal vehicle.

In 2018, the Krílo resurfaced after decades of obscurity. Unfortunately, time had not been kind. The vehicle was heavily rusted, partially stripped of its components, and in desperate need of restoration.

1983 Lancia Rally 037 "Mazinga" (round back and with rear wing)

In 1980, Lancia, then a subsidiary of Fiat, set its sights on returning to international rallying for the 1982 season. A new rally car was developed through a collaboration between Lancia, the Pininfarina design studio and Abarth, Fiat's performance and tuning specialist. The project, soon assigned the Abarth designation 037, got underway in May 1980.

As was typical of purpose-built rally cars, the 037 shared little with its production-car counterpart beyond a few basic design elements. While the public may have expected Lancia to challenge immediately for the World Championship, the team's internal strategy was more measured. The 1982 season was viewed as a development year, with the realistic goal of competing for the championship from 1983 onward.

The mid-engined 037 featured a Roots-type supercharger and produced up to 310 PS. It made its competition debut at the Rallye Costa Smeralda, but the outing proved disappointing, with both factory cars forced to retire early because of gearbox failures. Nevertheless, the car's potential soon became evident, and the team secured its first victory at the Pace Rally.

Lancia's measured approach paid off in 1983. Although the team missed out on the Drivers' Championship, it captured the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers. Factory drivers Walter Röhrl and Markku Alén finished second and third, respectively, in the drivers' standings, helping secure the title.

The 037 holds a special place in rally history as the last two-wheel-drive car to win the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers, defeating the increasingly dominant four-wheel-drive competition.

1951 Mercedes-Benz 170D OTP Polizei

It's the three letters following the model designation that reveal what makes this Mercedes-Benz so unusual: OTP, short for Offener Tourenwagen Polizei (Open Touring Car for Police).

In response to strong demand from police departments in the late 1940s, Mercedes-Benz offered a special police version of its 170D, Series 136. The offer was readily embraced. The 170 had been in production since 1936, apart from an interruption during World War II, and had earned a reputation for reliability, durability, and solid engineering. By 1951, it was still a highly regarded choice, particularly as many competitors were relying on civilian models whose basic designs dated back to the late 1930s.

For this government-specification version, the Mercedes-Benz factory in Stuttgart equipped the 170D OTP with a hypoid rear axle as standard. Unlike the civilian model, it featured a continuous, non-adjustable front bench seat in place of individual seats for the driver and passenger, along with wider wheels than those fitted to the standard 170.

Most 170D OTP models were finished in distinctive fir green, the preferred color of police forces and the newly established Federal Border Guard at the time. There were regional variations, however. Vehicles assigned to the Berlin police were painted gray-blue, while those serving in Baden-Württemberg featured a black stripe along the fenders.

Between 1951 and 1953, Mercedes-Benz supplied 530 examples of this special-purpose 170D to government agencies, although some sources cite a total of 531.

Interested in learning more about Autocult and its founder Thomas Roschmann? Read more here.