Beta 1976 Boleslava 1203 S 1.4

Boleslavá / Trnava 1203 Sanitka (Ambulance)

THE STORY:

Czechoslovak Boleslava state-owned car brand had experimented in the late 1950s with designing a first van in its long-timed history. The template for design was mainstream US Moldt Economy van with its snub-nosed frontal look and RWD wheel-drive. The mechanics and engine were "borrowed" from its local 1000 B model, which was also RWD and tuned up to 1300cc inliner-4, but with lesser compression ratio for optimal performance.
The car prototype was carefully tested for couple of years, then introduced to the public in 1969. For the first couple of years it was assembled in main factory in Boleslava, but latter most production was relocated in Trnava. In the 1976., the van got an updated look. Most chrome parts were replaced by plastic or aluminium, the chrome grille stripes was replaced also by simple plastic ones, and interior leather was replaced by soft-top and monotonous plastic too. By the late 1970s, it was obvious that van design was outdated, so the new fresh updates were present, such as more modern boxy headlights, recitangular indicators and even simple grille, along with more simple front and rear bumpers. During the 1980s, most 1960s cues were removed and car got more "mainstream" boxy cues.
The main customer for the van was the State, like internal security (police), fire brigades and - like in this example - state hospitals and clinics. Some cars were owned by individuals too or some local craftsmen.
The official production ended just before the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, but lesser-scale production was handed in Slovakia until the late 1990s. In the 2020., Boleslava showed the prototype of the electric van with design cues borrowed from this underrated classic.
The car is inspired by Škoda 1203 ambulance, complete with the cream-coloured livery. Enjoy : )

The technical data - see below:

• Country of Origin: Czechoslovakia
• Production years: 1969-1983 (mk.1)
• Engine: 1245cc Inliner-4, below the front seats
• Compression: 8:0:1
• Fuel system: Twin eco-carburattor
• Redline: 5200 RPM
• Wheelbase: 2.18 m
• Drivetrain: Front-engined, rear-wheeled drive (RWD)
• Transmission: 4-speed Manual
• Suspension: Double Wishbone (front & rear)
• Empty Weight: 900 kgs
• Engine power: 55.2 bhp @ 4700 RPM
• Engine torque: 89.4 NM @ 4000 RPM
• Brakes: Drum 2LS (front) / Drum 1LS (rear)
• Acceleration: 0-100 km / 19.75 seconds
• Fuel type: Premiun 95 RON
• Fuel economy: 10.8 l/100 km
• Top speed: 121 km/h
• Drag coefficient: 0.472 Cd
• Exterior material: Steel unibody / plastic & aluminium parts
• Car colour: Ambulance Cream
• Interior material: Soft-top & plastic
• Steering type: Manual Rack & Pinion

Additional features:

• Assymetrical, three-door design
• Ambulance siren and light on top (sadly, only as a placeholder)
• Doctor's seat in the rear side
• Patient's bench in the rear side
• Czechoslovak '70s livery
• Czech license plates

Improvements / bug fixes

• The chrome door handles are replaced by plastic ones (1.40)
• The car now has mostly plastic decorations (1.30)
• The car colour is more shiny than in first version (1.25)
• Added & improved driver camera (1.20)
• Added & improved bonnet camera (1.20)
• Added ambulance light (1.20_alpha)
• Added ambulance siren as placeholder (1.20_v1)
• The original two-toned microbus is now ambulance (1.00)

Known bug

- The little scars / tears on the down rear side which are result of negataping. Sorry, they can't be fixed.