“Retro Garage 2021: A Recap of the Adrenaline-Pumping Auction of Classic Domestic Vehicles in Lysá nad Labem”

In Lysá nad Labem, at the Exhibition Center, adrenaline was once again flowing, as a traditional event called Retro Garage took place here, which is connected with live auctions of veterans, especially of domestic production. We invited you to this event last week, but we ourselves were not lazy and came to see the auction in person.

The duo of moderators was once again made up of specialist Marek Odrobina and senior Retrogarážník Pavel Kočí, who is behind this entire project. Newly, the auctioneers had at their disposal a color brochure with photographs, a description of the goods and a general history of the given model. This helped potential buyers, possibly also the general public who could purchase this catalog, to navigate between the vehicles on offer.

The first block stuck to the traditional nostalgic note, so it started with Pionýr, early Jawa-ČZ “half drum” and Stadion S11 and S22 from the crown. The auctioneers showed a desire to buy, so the sums flew into the tens of thousands.

A rare export Jawa 250/353 for the French market came before the eyes of the auctioneers. However, the real show only started during the battle for the blue-white Jawa-ČZ 350/354 with sidecar and PAV truck (see opening photo). It was nerve-wracking, as the final amount reached the 300,000 CZK mark.

As usual, the piglets entered the auctions. Of course, we don’t mean the live, grunting one, but the motorized one. The first boat, the classic Čezeta 502 from 1962, went to the new owner for 81,000 CZK. However, the second model was special, as it was an electric reincarnation called Čezeta 506 with huge investment potential. We expected a big fight, but…

As it is a pig for flashlights, the interest was lukewarm, even weak. It was clear from the audience that they were not interested in electromobility, which was also reflected at the auctioneers. The starting price was CZK 145,000 and the final price was CZK 153,000. Loser.

The second block was focused on rare motorcycles from Jawa, some of which were exclusively for export. Those who longed for an original Jawa 250/590 Sport in the rare color white ivory had to fork out 195,000 CZK in the end.

The auction also featured a Jawa Panelka and a Californian for the West German trade network Neckermann, whose rarity was complemented by the Jawa 350/361 Sport originally intended for the United States of America. All three machines ended up selling well.

A definite highlight was the Jawa 500 OHC, however, as we already announced in the invitation, it is a regular that usually costs a million crowns. And the auction showed that we were not mistaken and hit the spot exactly.

The third block included automobiles, with one exception of domestic production. The offer for a preserved Favorit from 1989, which was intended for export and offered in Tuzex, sounded quite interesting. Bidding started from CZK 40,000, but the final price rose to CZK 180,000.

One of the most beautiful Czechoslovak car models, the original Škoda Felicia, impressed the new owner so much that he paid 610,000 CZK for it. However, the starting price was CZK 550,000 and the auction itself lasted four minutes. So again, no surprises.

The Škoda Garde converted to a Rapid and a cabriolet, nor the completely renovated GAZ 69, did not interest anyone enough to eventually sell the cars. The repaired Gazik probably lost its charm during the restoration, while for the disgraced Garde, in our opinion, the owner simply wanted too much money. The price of veterans is often determined by the market and it is often uncompromising.

However, the approaching final did not disappoint, as it featured a Tatra 54/30 with a certified birth certificate from the factory, in addition to a taxi with a period taximeter. It is therefore not surprising that the starting price of CZK 850,000 ended up being CZK 1,420,000.

Our secret tip for the winner is finally out! The unique Wikov 7/28 flatbed truck from 1930 pays for the ultimate rarity and the purchase of a lifetime. The new owner was fully aware of this, which is why he was not sorry to pay a record 1,650,000 CZK for the utility vehicle. By the way, did you know that Wikov cars were nicknamed the Czech Rolls-Royce?

The very last auction was a charity auction of an originally Mostek safety car, nicknamed Bába. It is a Škoda Octavia RS of the first generation, which has a light ramp on the hump according to FIA regulations and almost 40,000 sharp kilometers.

A car with a clear history and racing spirit was offered from a symbolic one crown, but in the end it went to the world for 92,000 CZK. Autodrom Most will use this money for charitable purposes.

That was the spring Retro Garage, and we can already invite you to this year’s second part, i.e. the autumn one. It will take place on November 11, 2023 again at Exhibition grounds in Lysá nad Labem. You won’t miss out on the fun of auto-moto parts or exciting auctions full of interesting vehicles again. We will be there, so you will find out everything from us in detail and in advance.