1937 Jawa A-700 Airline Coupé

• FWD, 684cc water-cooled, two-stroke with a 3-speed gearbox and a freewheel
• One of just two known examples still on the road today and the only one in the UK
• Fully and meticulously restored in a workshop attached to the walls of Colditz Castle
• Fastidiously returned to its original fit and finish. Now correctly UK registered
• Extensive history including comprehensive restoration details and factory build sheets

A four-wheeled Jawa vehicle is a rare sight on British roads and, we believe, unique on the UK register. Only very few dedicated enthusiasts are aware that the well-known Central European motorcycle maker ventured into automobile manufacture in the 1930s, producing barely 1,000 units in the first series, of which only a few remain, mostly in Eastern Europe. Nowadays, one brave survivor lives happily in Hampshire and its colourful history is truly intriguing, having crossed international borders in difficult times and lived through World War II and periods of civil war and political upheaval.

Jawa’s move into the world of four wheels started in late 1933 and their first effort, the Type A/2474- Model 700, was introduced to the public at the Prague Autosalon in April,1934. Technically very advanced for its time, it featured a transverse, two-stroke, water-cooled twin-cylinder of 684cc offering 20bhp fed through the front wheels and with three forward gears, a freewheel facility and a comparatively light Beech wood frame, performance was surprisingly brisk with 90kph available in the right conditions.

This well-travelled example dates from February 1937 when it was delivered to its first owner, Mr Bohumil Wölflik, the proprietor of a motor repair workshop and petrol station, in the town of Děčín in northern Bohemia. After the war it is recorded as having been sold in Pirna and subsequently in the 80s moved to an owner who lived near Colditz. Our vendor’s late father was a retired aircraft engineer who lived in a house that was attached to Colditz Castle and was looking for a project to restore, ideally a Jawa. He found this car, looking very sorry for itself, not far from his home and purchased it in 2010, moving it to his workshop on the edge of the castle. A meticulous restoration was commenced, returning the car to its original specification and the results speak for themselves. By 2017 the car was 90% finished but the passing of his parents meant that our vendor needed to retrieve it from Germany and it arrived in the UK during February 2020, since when the restoration has been fully completed to the same exacting standards. The story of these years is fascinating and it’s covered in a very well written article in The Automobile, March 2021. There will be a copy with the car at the sale and Silverstone are happy to email a copy of the article to interested parties.

With its fastback looks, sweeping wings and pleasingly finished in its original Jawa Beige with a black fabric roof and black-painted wire wheels, this rare little car looks absolutely delightful. Internally the fully refurbished four-seater cabin has an air of exclusivity with its polished wooden dashboard and door cappings, hand-stitched cream leather and even coat hooks to keep the interior clutter free!

Our vendor managed to get a contact to go to the Prague Motor Museum and take photos of the original builders log book and the original builders homologation papers and drawings, extraordinary that they survived the German occupation and the Iron curtain days, and these photos accompany the car along with an extensive history, comprehensive restoration details, the aforementioned magazine article and the car’s UK registration documents.

This Czechoslovakian beauty would be welcome at events and shows anywhere, comfortable in the knowledge that it’s highly unlikely that its new custodians will ever find themselves parking next to another example.

Good looking, rare, superbly restored and very sensibly guided. Remarkable.