Retro Garage Auction: Vintage Cars & Motorcycles to Bid For
The Czech Republic’s classic vehicle auction scene is revving up for a significant spring event in Lysá nad Labem on . Building on the success of last year’s “Retro Garage” collection, which saw over 46 lots change hands for more than 17 million Czech crowns, organizers are preparing another auction featuring 31 motorcycles and 15 automobiles.
The upcoming auction promises a diverse range of vehicles, catering to collectors with varying tastes and budgets. As is customary, the event will feature entry-level machines – primarily Czechoslovakian small-capacity motorcycles and mopeds – alongside more valuable and rare models. Among the more affordable offerings will be a 1958 Stadion S11, known as the “smrták” (death machine) due to its distinctive front fork design, a Jawa Pařez, and a ČZ 175/487 from the late 1980s. Despite starting bids as low as one Czech crown, these machines typically sell for several tens of thousands of crowns.
A “tombola” – a raffle – will again be a feature of the event, offering attendees the chance to win a Jawa 50/555 pioneer motorcycle for the price of a single entry ticket. This tradition has been a mainstay of the Retro Garage auctions since its inception.
Beyond the entry-level options, the auction will showcase several exceptional motorcycles. A particularly noteworthy item is a 1994 ČZ 180/487.6 OHC, a unique prototype featuring a four-stroke engine – the only one ever produced in this configuration. A 1968 Jawa 250/623, from a unified series, is also expected to attract significant interest, with a starting price of 265,000 Czech crowns.
Perhaps the most remarkable collection on offer is a set of six virtually new ČZ motorcycles from the 1990s, a period marking the decline of the iconic Strakonice manufacturer. These machines retain their original paint, tires, and other components. Five of the motorcycles were purchased as a package by the current owner from the then-Italian director of ČZ-Cagiva in the 1990s, while the sixth, a Roland model, was originally exported to the United States before being returned to the Czech Republic.
The auction will also feature classic models such as various iterations of the Pérák, the iconic Jawa 500 OHC 15/01, and a pre-war Jawa Robot. A pre-war Praga 500 BD with a sidecar, recently renovated sixteen years ago, is also set to be a highlight, with a starting price of 720,000 Czech crowns reflecting its rarity.
Foreign marques will also be represented, including Harley-Davidson and Zündapp motorcycles.
The automotive portion of the auction will offer a mix of Czech and foreign vehicles, including several unique examples. A pre-war British Triumph Dolomite roadster, equipped with a two-liter six-cylinder engine, is a standout offering. The vehicle has a documented history including participation in the Olomouc Veteran Arena and is being offered for sale by the arena itself.
Another notable automobile is a 1931 Wikov 35 Labuť (Swan), named for the curved line of its doors. Only one example of this particular body style is believed to remain. In total, only twelve Wikov 35s with different body styles are thought to still exist, including the Labuť.
For Škoda enthusiasts, a 1978 Škoda 130 RS racing car, in factory rally specification, will be a key attraction, with a starting price of nearly 1.5 million Czech crowns. This car was later converted into a hill climb special.
Other Škoda models on offer include an MBX coupé with a retractable roof, a Škoda 450 cabriolet, and a Škoda 120 in the luxurious GLS trim level. Completing the selection of classic Czech automobiles are a Tatra 603, a Trabant 601 Universal, a green Škoda Garde, and a meticulously restored Volha 24 in its signature black paint.
The auction is scheduled to begin at 12:30 PM on , in Lysá nad Labem, as part of the Retro Garage fair. In addition to in-person bidding, attendees will again have the opportunity to participate in the auction online through Aukro. A 10 percent auction premium will be added to the final “hammer” price of each item, a practice implemented last year.