{"id":67010,"date":"2025-07-28T14:18:07","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T18:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/meet-the-man-saving-skodas-forgotten-classics-for-future-generations\/"},"modified":"2025-07-28T14:18:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T18:18:07","slug":"meet-the-man-saving-skodas-forgotten-classics-for-future-generations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/meet-the-man-saving-skodas-forgotten-classics-for-future-generations\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Man Saving Skoda\u2019s Forgotten Classics for Future Generations"},"content":{"rendered":"

What Drives Someone to Collect Over 70 Skodas?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever wondered what it takes to become a true car collector, Mark Torok\u2019s story is one for the books. His passion for Skoda isn\u2019t just a hobby\u2014it\u2019s a way of life. Imagine walking into a barn and finding not one, not ten, but more than seventy Skodas tucked away, each with its own story. For Mark, it all started with a simple fascination that quickly spiraled into a full-blown obsession. He jokes that there was a time when he was buying Skodas like most people buy groceries. That\u2019s dedication on a whole new level.<\/p>\n

But what\u2019s behind this love affair? For Mark, it\u2019s about more than just the cars themselves. It\u2019s about preserving a slice of automotive history that many overlook. While some collectors chase after rare Ferraris or classic Jaguars, Mark is on a mission to save Skodas\u2014especially those from the company\u2019s transitional years in the 1990s, a period often forgotten by mainstream enthusiasts.<\/p>\n

Which Skodas Make the Cut in Mark\u2019s Collection?<\/p>\n

You might think a collection this size would be all about the rarest or most valuable models, but Mark\u2019s approach is refreshingly different. His oldest Skoda is a 1973 S110 DeLuxe, rescued from a scrapyard in the Czech Republic. The newest? A 2006 Skoda Superb V6, saved from being shipped off to Eastern Europe. But ask him about his favorite, and he\u2019ll point to the original 2002 Superb\u2014the so-called \u201cstretched Passat\u201d\u2014a model that perfectly captures Skoda\u2019s evolution from Soviet-era workhorse to modern contender.<\/p>\n

Mark\u2019s collection fills assorted farm buildings, each car waiting for its turn in the spotlight. He calls it his \u201cSkoda orphanage,\u201d a safe haven for models that might otherwise be lost to time. Most of these cars just need a bit of TLC\u2014a wash, some basic recommissioning\u2014and they\u2019re good as new. It\u2019s a testament to Skoda\u2019s durability, especially considering the brand\u2019s rocky reputation in the 1980s.<\/p>\n

Why Do Some Skodas Fall Through the Cracks?<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s where things get interesting. In the UK, Skoda\u2019s reputation tends to skip a beat. People remember the quirky Estelle from the 1970s and 80s, then fast-forward to the Fabia and Octavia of the 2000s. But what about the Favorit and Felicia? These models, launched during Skoda\u2019s partnership with Volkswagen, are often overlooked\u2014trapped in what Mark calls a \u201cno man\u2019s land of obscurity.\u201d He\u2019s made it his mission to rescue these forgotten gems, believing they deserve a place in the spotlight.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t just nostalgia talking. According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the number of Favorits and Felicias on UK roads has dropped sharply over the past decade. As emissions regulations tighten and scrappage schemes become more common, cars from the 1990s are disappearing at an alarming rate. Mark\u2019s collection is a direct response to this trend\u2014a way to ensure these models aren\u2019t lost forever.<\/p>\n

How Did Skoda Go from Punchline to Powerhouse?<\/p>\n

To really understand Mark\u2019s passion, it helps to look at Skoda\u2019s journey. Founded in 1895 as Laurin & Klement, the company built its first car in 1905 and adopted the Skoda name in the 1920s. For decades, Skoda produced solid, if unremarkable, vehicles. But after World War II, the brand struggled under communist rule, and by the 1980s, Skoda was synonymous with unreliability\u2014a punchline in car jokes across Europe.<\/p>\n

Everything changed in the early 1990s when Volkswagen stepped in as a partner. Suddenly, Skoda had access to modern engineering, better materials, and a global distribution network. The result? A string of impressive new models, starting with the Favorit and Felicia, and culminating in the Fabia and Octavia. These cars not only changed public perception but also set new standards for value and reliability. Today, Skoda is one of the fastest-growing brands in Europe, with record sales and a reputation for quality that rivals its German parent.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the Real Value in Preserving Unexceptional Cars?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to see the appeal of saving a rare sports car or a luxury sedan. But why bother with everyday models like the Skoda Favorit or Felicia? For Mark, the answer is simple: these cars tell the real story of motoring for millions of people. They\u2019re the vehicles families relied on, the first cars many young drivers owned, and the unsung heroes of daily life.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a growing movement among collectors to preserve so-called \u201cunexceptional\u201d cars\u2014models that were once common but are now rare simply because nobody thought to save them. Events like the Festival of the Unexceptional celebrate these everyday classics, shining a light on the cars that shaped our roads and our memories. Mark\u2019s \u201cSkoda orphanage\u201d fits right into this ethos, offering a home to cars that might otherwise be forgotten.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next for Mark\u2019s Skoda Orphanage?<\/p>\n

Right now, Mark\u2019s collection is spread across several farm buildings, each car waiting for its chance to shine. His dream is to bring them all together under one roof\u2014a true Skoda museum where enthusiasts can see the full arc of the brand\u2019s history. Until then, he\u2019s content knowing they\u2019re safe from the scrapyard, preserved for future generations.<\/p>\n

Mark\u2019s story is a reminder that car collecting isn\u2019t just about rarity or value. It\u2019s about passion, preservation, and the joy of sharing something you love with others. As he puts it, the doors to his orphanage will always be open to any unwanted Skoda. In his own way, he\u2019s doing for Skoda what the Schlumpf brothers did for Bugatti\u2014creating a treasure trove that will delight future fans and keep the brand\u2019s legacy alive.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever thought about saving a car from obscurity, take a page from Mark\u2019s book. It\u2019s not rocket science\u2014just start small. The outcome? Game-changing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"Skoda<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Mark\u2019s Skodas live barn-find style in assorted farm buildings<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Think this year’s Festival of the Unexceptional winner knows about Skodas? Mark is the real Skoda oracle<\/p>\n

\n

Mark Torok says his love affair with Skodas<\/a> has, at times, got a little out of hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a stage in my life when I was buying Skodas like other people buy groceries,\u201d he admits.<\/p>\n

The Skoda enthusiast has amassed a collection of more than 70 cars for what he calls his \u2018Skoda<\/a> orphanage\u2019, many of them dating from the company\u2019s transition period in the 1990s.<\/p>\n

The oldest is a 1973 S110 DeLuxe that Mark rescued from a scrapyard in the Czech Republic. The newest is a 2006 Skoda Superb<\/a> V6 that he saved from re-export to eastern Europe. His favourite is an original \u2018stretched Passat\u2019 Superb of 2002.<\/p>\n

\"Luc<\/p>\n

Mark says: \u201cIn the UK, people\u2019s interest in Skodas stops at the Estelle and starts again with the Skoda Fabia<\/a> and Skoda Octavia<\/a> of the 2000s. Sadly, the Favorit and Felicia in between are trapped in that no man\u2019s land of obscurity. That\u2019s where I come in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark\u2019s Skodas live barn-find style in assorted farm buildings but his aim is to get them together under one roof. For the time being, the main thing is that they are safely hidden away from the scrapyard.<\/p>\n

Remarkably, most of them require just basic recommissioning and a good wash. Skoda can trace its origins to 1895 when it was founded as Laurin & Klement. It made its first car in 1905 and was renamed Skoda in the 1920s. A succession of well-regarded models followed until progress was interrupted by World War II. The firm barely recovered under communism and, by the 1980s, \u2018Skoda\u2019 was a byword for unreliability.<\/p>\n

\"Luc<\/p>\n

With the fall of communism and the arrival of new partner Volkswagen<\/a>, things began to improve and a succession of impressive new models including the Favorit, Felicia and Skoda Fabia<\/a> helped prepare the ground for the brand\u2019s revival.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy grandfather was the biggest Skoda fan going and got me hooked on the company,\u201d says Mark. \u201cIt\u2019s been fascinating seeing the firm develop and grow. I often wonder what he would make of it all now.\u201d He says the UK scraps and wastes cars far too quickly and believes there\u2019s never been a more important time to secure vehicles such as his Skodas for preservation: \u201cPeople say I am wasting my time but my girlfriend Victoria says they are not thinking in the fourth dimension, as Doc Brown does in Back to the Future. She says I am creating a treasure trove that will delight future fans of the Skoda marque.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe doors to my orphanage will always be open to any unwanted Skoda. I will be to Skoda what the Schlumpf brothers were to Bugatti<\/a>!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":67011,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-featured","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67010","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67010"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67010\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67010"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67010"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67010"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}