It was the first Czechoslovak aerodynamic car and one of the first in Europe. Wikov 35 called Kapka had at that time advanced shapes of the jet body, which provided the car with less resistance to aerodynamic air. From the outside, he looked more like a submarine. In October this year, it is 90 years since the car appeared to the world.
The merger of two Prostějov engineering works, Wichterle and F. and J. Kovařík, created the Wikov company in 1918, which initially focused on the production of agricultural machinery, engines and steam boilers. From 1925, it also began producing cars. The Wikov 35 model called Kapka is considered unique, the first aerodynamic car made in Czechoslovakia and one of the first in Europe. It was first presented at the Prague Motor Show exactly 90 years ago, on October 22, 1931.
The car was built on the chassis of the Wikov 35 series. It was a two-door four-seater car with a Tudor body and a classic engine concept at the front with rear-wheel drive, thanks to its pointed front it resembled a submarine or torpedo for many people.
Under the hood was placed a four-cylinder engine with a capacity of 1743 cm3 with an output of 26 kW (35 hp). They equipped the car with a mechanical three-speed transmission. Although Wikov was ahead of the era of aerodynamic Tatra trucks, he was not very successful. According to the press, about three Drops were made. The reason was that the maximum speed was only slightly higher than the standard Wikov 35 model, as well as the high weight increased by the aerodynamic body.
The first mass-produced Wikov car was the Wikov 7/28 model from 1925. The Prostějov company produced cars until 1939, during its existence it produced only about 800 cars and a hundred trucks. After the Second World War, the government nationalized the factory and renamed it Agrostroj Prostějov. At present, it belongs to the Wikov Industry group and focuses mainly on the production of mechanical gearboxes and gears.
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