THE ZBROJOVKA/JAWA SIBLINGS

A GERMAN MODEL MAKER introduced me to two Czech siblings, the introduction brought about by my favorite British car magazine. Here are tidbits gleaned from several sources. 

The Introduction. Classic & Sports Car has a monthly review of car models, and the November 2023 issue displayed the fetching little 1934 Zbrojovka Z4 1000MIL from AutoCult.

1934 Zbrojovka Z4 1000MIL. Image from AutoCult.

Looking sorta like an Everyman’s Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic, the car prompted me to visit the AutoCult website. Since its first offerings in 2015, this German model maker has focused on out-of-the-ordinary designs. What fun!

And in its December 2015 edition (its models offered at 333 each), there’s the Jawa 750 Coupe. 

The Jawa 750 Coupe. Image from AutoCult.

Separated at birth?? Or certainly a sibling of the Zbrojovka Z4. This calls for some research. 

Nick Georgano’s authoritative Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars provides clues: “Jawa (CS) 1934–1939 Zbrojovka Ing. Janeček, Prague…. Streamlined specimens of this make in open and closed versions were quite successful in numerous sporting events.” 

Also: “Z (CS) 1924-1939 Akciova spolećnost Ćesklovenská zbrojovka, Brno. This ex-armaments factory—like many others—had to look for new business after World War I…. The company became more widely known through their unorthodox competition cars, which also used 2-stroke engines….” The Z4 is mentioned only briefly. 

By the way, both firms still exist. Jawa (pronounced “java”) Moto produces motorcycles and mopeds. 

Zbrojovka Brno, s.r.o. is a small-arms maker wholly owned by Colt-CZ Group. In the past, Wikipedia notes, “it also made light artillery, cars, motorcycles, tractors and various tools, such as typewriters and early computers.”

The CS 1000 Mil, 1933–1935. Czechoslovakia had its own “Mille Miglia,” traveling from Prague to Bratislava and back. Indeed, FIVA notes the event lives on.

The No Speed Limit website gives details: “When the Zbrojovka Brno factory introduced in 1933 its small Z-4 car with a two-cylinder, two-stroke engine and a front-wheel drive, it immediately registered four of these new models in the first year of the Czechoslovak 1000 Mile. The cars competed in category up to 1100 cc, all finished the race, but none achieved much success.”

No Speed Limit continues, “Their participation in the second instalment of this race in 1934 was thus something of a surprise: a total of thirteen Z-4 cars were entered in the category of up to 1100 cc but many of them were specials prepared by the Zbrojovka with more efficient engines and an aerodynamic chassis.”

This and the following two images from No Speed Limit.

The website recounts, “A Z-4 driven by Mamula and Mašek won with average speed of 92 km/h in category up to 1100 cc and a trio of Z-4 factory cars won the prestigious Prize of the President of the Republic for the most successful team.”

The victorious team upon return to the factory.

Details: “Sport car with liquid-cooled two-stroke two-cylinder engine, located lengthwise behind the front axle, with a front-wheel drive. Engine displacement 987 cc, output app. 33,1 kW (45 hp), maximum speed 140 km/h. Producer: Československá zbrojovka a.s., Brno.” 

The 1935 CS 1000. Translated from the Czech, Wikipedie recounts, “This last year of the race, which was started in Prague on June 15, 1935 at half past five in the afternoon, was attended by the Jawa factory with six red-painted cars built exclusively for this race.” Three were coupes; three, roadsters.”

With evident Czech pride, Wikipedie continues, “The riders wore white overalls, red hoods and brown gloves. The success in the race was extraordinary. Jawa 750 cars won the seven hundred and fifty category as well as the prestigious award of the President of the Republic for the most successful team.”

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2023 

The Zbrojovka Z4 and Jawa 750 both earned prestige among model car collectors by being selected as AutoCult limited editions. ds