April 25, 1936: Skoda Rapid expedition sets off on around-the-world trip
Exactly 90 years ago, Břetislav Jan Procházka and Jindřich Kubias set out from Prague on an ambitious expedition meant to promote the quality of the Skoda car brand. In a production Skoda Rapid, they crossed three continents, fifteen countries, and covered nearly 28,000 kilometers. Their feat became one of the boldest automotive undertakings of the interwar era.
Ninety years ago, Břetislav Jan Procházka and Jindřich Kubias set off from Old Town Square on a round-the-world journey in a production Skoda Rapid.
When the modest Skoda Rapid rolled out of Old Town Square in Prague on April 25, 1936, it was more than just an adventure trip. Czechoslovakia was then a young state, and the Škoda company was striving to establish itself on the international market. Long-distance drives were meant to demonstrate that its cars were reliable, modern, and capable of performing even under extreme conditions.
The expedition was led by Prague entrepreneur Břetislav Jan Procházka, an experienced traveler and promoter of the brand. His co-driver was Jindřich Kubias, who served as navigator as well as second driver. The two set out in a lightly modified production car—the four-cylinder Skoda Rapid featured a backbone frame, independent suspension on all wheels, and hydraulic brakes, all advanced features for its time.
Europe and the road east
The first part of the route led through Germany, Poland, and the Baltic states into the Soviet Union. In Moscow, the crew turned south and continued as far as Baku on the shores of the Caspian Sea. From there, the car was shipped by boat to Iran. It was here that the vehicle’s resilience was tested—the crew was caught in a sandstorm that caused a significant delay.
To catch a ship to India, Procházka and Kubias had to cover the stretch from Quetta in present-day Pakistan to Bombay virtually nonstop within three days. Only there could they afford a brief rest before the next sea crossing.
Southeast Asia and Japan
From Bombay, the journey continued to Sri Lanka, then through Malaysia and Singapore. Further sea transfers took them via Hong Kong and Shanghai to the Japanese port of Kobe. For international readers, it is worth noting that at the time much of Asia’s road network consisted of gravel roads, and infrastructure was incomparably more modest than today. All the more attention the expedition attracted.
Across the Pacific to the USA
From Japan, the crew traveled via Honolulu to San Francisco. The United States represented a key part of the journey—not only because of the distance, but also because of prestige. Automotive records were closely followed in the interwar period, and Škoda wanted to show it could keep pace with American brands.
Record-breaking drive across America
The route between San Francisco and New York measured 5,300 kilometers. The Rapid completed it in 100 hours and 55 minutes, beating the existing speed record by more than nine hours. In 1936, this was an extraordinary achievement that made it into the American press and significantly raised awareness of the Czechoslovak automaker.
Return to Europe
From New York, the car was shipped to the French port of Cherbourg. From there, the crew continued by road via Paris and Nuremberg back to Prague. They reached their destination on August 1, 1936, five minutes before noon. They had spent 97 days on the road, including 44 days of actual driving. The rest consisted of sea transport and customs procedures.
Significance for the Škoda brand
In the 1930s, Škoda undertook a number of long-distance drives to promote the quality of its vehicles. The Popular model completed a journey from Prague to Calcutta in 1934, and other expeditions crossed Europe, the USA, and Mexico. In the same year, the Rapid also set off on an African safari covering more than 52,000 kilometers.
KEY FACTS ABOUT THE JOURNEY
Vehicle used: SKODA Rapid 1.4 SV
Total duration: 97 days
…of which driving time: 44 days
Number of countries visited: 15
Continents crossed: Europe, Asia, North America
Distance covered: 27,700 km
Longest daily stage: approx. 1,000 km
Shortest daily stage: 50 km
Total fuel consumption: 2,820 l
Average consumption: 10.2 l/100 km
Oil consumption: 54 l
Cost of the journey: more than 89,600 CZK (in 1936 prices)
