1983 Skoda Estelle 105 S

This charming left-hand-drive example is fitted with a 1046cc engine that develops just 44bhp. With only 6,548kms showing on the odometer (sadly, we can’t verify that that is accurate), it was built in around 1983 and allocated an age-related number plate by the DVLA after being imported into the United Kingdom in 2016.

It spent most of its life in Poland, where a friend of the seller’s bought it on a whim and then drove it home in a fit of glorious optimism. It made the journey without missing a beat, and when he got bored with it (I know, how is that even possible?) he passed it on to its current owner who has enjoyed smoking around London in it.

But, as is so often the case, a lack of use is doing it no favours, so rather than keeping it as 1:1 model to sit and enjoy looking at with a glass of something refreshing to hand, he has decided to offer it in this no reserve auction in the hope that someone out there will appreciate its charms in the same way they both did.

The attractive blue coachwork is offset by white steel wheels and whitewall tyres; while no-one could ever claim that the 105S is beautiful, this example demonstrates that the car has a cheeky charm that we’d never appreciated before. As the seller so eloquently puts it, “it’s a joyous little thing”.

Its matt black door handles, rear spoiler, and front grille are a nod to modernity that are undercut by the chrome hub caps and bumpers that confirm its roots are firmly embedded in the seventies. Which is exactly how it should be; if you’re buying an Eastern bloc car, then these are exactly the sort of contradictions that will make you fall in love with it.

It appears to be almost completely free of rust, which those who have followed the model over the years will recognise is very, very unusual. The seller tells us that the bottom of the sills do have the merest trace of rust starting, but goes on to insist that it’s very much a developing problem rather than a serious one and could be sorted out without major welding being necessary. We’re of the opinion that he may be being over-cautious because he’s notoriously fussy, but we’d encourage you to go and view the car to decide for yourself, if only because he’s a very nice chap with more than a few good car stories to tell…

The panel gaps and interior panels all appear to be original too, and the bottom of the doors shows leakage of rust-proofing fluid, which goes a long way to explaining the car’s remarkable condition.

The side-hinged bonnet reveals a front boot area that bears further witness to the application of considerable quantities of rust-proofing goo. It doesn’t look especially attractive, but it’s done its job and the surplus could be removed easily enough with something like white spirit if the new owner prefers a cleaner look. There is a tool kit within, along with a fire extinguisher.

The centre section of the under-bumper panel is misaligned but this looks to be as a result of missing fasteners rather than anything more serious such as rust or accident damage.

The steel wheels and chromed hubcaps (which are embossed with the Skoda logo and so likely to be the originals) are in good shape, as are the matching Atlas whitewall tyres.

The black vinyl seats are in very good condition, with only slight wear to the side bolsters and small holes at the top of the offside seat and the base of the offside rear seat. Interestingly for a saloon, the rear seats fold to provide a large area for the carrying bulky items.

The dashboard is in very good condition, as are the plastic floor mats and door trims. The rear parcel shelf features a period first aid kit, and problems appear to be limited to a headlining that is taut at the top but slightly wrinkly at the sides; initially, we thought it was a fault but after closer consideration we think it might just be symptomatic of poor quality control at the factory...

A twin-spindle radio-cum-cassette player is installed in the dashboard and the glovebox is full of cassette tapes, which the vendor assures us will be included with the car!

The tiny engine looks a little lost in the engine bay but it starts on the button and ticks over and runs cleanly. (It will also reacquaint you with the use of a choke, which is really rather adorable.)

Having successfully made its way back from Poland, it’s continued to perform flawlessly both in the city and on the motorway. The owner tells us that it will cruise at 70mph but admits that it flatters a good driver and punishes a bad one; if you jump in it expecting it to drive like an eighties’ hatchback then you’re probably going to be in for a bit of a shock but if you set your sights accordingly, we can’t imagine many cars would be more fun to throw along a deserted country lane in the pre-dawn hours. As he told us: “It drives even better than it looks!” (If, like us, you’re imagining how much fun it would be in a snow-covered car-park, then you’re our kind of driver.)

The Skoda will have a new MOT, although anyone checking its online MOT history may initially see the car showing as having failed the MOT because of an inefficient handbrake. The seller is in the process of having this repaired, and he assures us that the car will have a brand new MOT with no advisories by the time the auction finishes. Now, you can’t ask for more than that when you’re bidding on a no reserve car, can you?

The car will be supplied with all the paperwork to confirm its legal status in the United Kingdom, along with some paperwork from its early life in Poland. We’d love to be able to tell you what they say, but I’m afraid we don’t speak Polish…

It will also come with a brand new MOT certificate and any invoices that arise from sorting out the handbrake. Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing to see these.

This is an extraordinarily rare, almost once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy a low mileage, ultra clean Skoda 105S. And, best of all, it is being offered with no reserve, so it will sell once the first bid has been placed! We’ve no idea what it’s worth, but if we were to take bets, then we think it’ll generate enough interest to reach around £3,500-4,000 when the (virtual) hammer falls.

(As an aside, we’ve been tipped off that one of the better-known car restoration TV programmes has restored an Estelle. The programme will be shown early next year, so we can only imagine that demand for these cars will increase.)

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Hayes, Middlesex; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.