Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
The Skoda W720 Berlina design proposal by Italdesign Giugiaro.
The Skoda 720 Berlina, internally designated as ID-1, was a prototype passenger car developed in 1969 through a collaboration between Automobilove zavody, n.p. Mlada Boleslav (Skoda) and Italdesign S.p.A., the Italian design and engineering firm founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The project formed part of a broader initiative, designated W720, to replace the aging Skoda 1000 MB series with a modern mid-size sedan suitable for both domestic and export markets. The prototype Berlina featured a monocoque steel body designed by Italdesign, characterized by rectilinear proportions, flat body panels, and a subdued front fascia. The design language reflected Western European aesthetic conventions of the period and marked a notable departure from contemporary Eastern Bloc automotive styling. The vehicle measured approximately 4.37 meters in overall length, with a wheelbase of 2.55 meters. Width and height were approximately 1.65 and 1.46 meters, respectively. The mechanical configuration employed a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Power was provided by a 1.5-litre inline-four engine mounted longitudinally, paired with a four-speed manual gearbox. Suspension was independent at all four wheels, utilizing coil springs. Braking was managed by front disc and rear drum brakes. The interior was arranged for five-passenger accommodation, with front bucket seats and a rear bench. The dashboard and controls followed standard European layout practice of the time, with instrumentation positioned directly ahead of the driver. Three body variants were planned within the 720 program: a sedan (Berlina), a fastback, and a station wagon. Italdesign completed the Berlina prototype in mid-1969. Testing and evaluation proceeded under factory oversight; however, the project was cancelled prior to series production. Political considerations under the centrally planned economic structure of Czechoslovakia at the time prevented further development, and the W720 was officially terminated. Surviving examples of the W720 Berlina remain limited. No verified production chassis numbers have been disclosed. Known prototypes were retained by Skoda or allocated for internal use. The vehicle represents one of the earliest instances of cross-border industrial design cooperation between a manufacturer in a socialist state and a Western European design consultancy.
Explore how Italy’s famed coachbuilders like Pininfarina, Bertone, and Giugiaro left their mark on both Western and Eastern Bloc cars during the Cold War—blending high style with political savvy in a story of design diplomacy.
