A stylistic development of bodywork
An influence of conception of vehicles, stylistic traditions and fashion trends
The basic shape of the bodywork of passenger cars Wikov was largely predetermined by the design of its chassis, especially the size, shape and fit of the engine with radiator. It was also conditioned by period style, prevailing lifestyle, fashion trend and technological possibilities in the given development period.
The bodywork of vehicles Wikov which came into existence in a body shop of the car maker, were certainly stylistically very strongly influenced by the traditions and fashion trends, especially in Western Europe. Therefore, they had a number of characteristic bodywork elements identical to other domestic and European car makers that were typical of all cars at the time. Particularly, it was a typical protruding bonnet shape between the individually shaped and elongated front wheel wings, which smoothly merged into flat footrests. Sameness or similarity with the other vehicles had also side ventilating apertures on a bonnet of an engine, organization of headlights, a placement of a spare tire and side shape of the vehicle.
Especially in the early days of the production in car maker Wikov, Wikov cars were characterized by a longer bonnet of an engine, simple, smooth and clean bodywork lines that were at the heart of their legendary elegance.
All of the vehicles Wikov had chassis, semimetal bodywork of a mixed construction which was as a whole attached on a standard chassis. This periodically conditioned conception was appropriate especially for a jobbing production and small-scale production and enabled easy adaptation of the shape, design and equipment of bodywork to the requirements of demanding clients.
A vehicle Wikov 7/28 landaulet
Angular shapes
For the first series production of the car maker Wikov from the second half of the 20th century, it was typical: angular shapes of their bodywork, slightly marked by the shape relics of old carriages which in their entirety acted with refined sophistication and austere, even prim impression of proved quality, robust simplicity and practical elegance.
A vehicle Wikov 40 Standard
Dynamic lines
Thanks to development of technology skills of the company under the influence of change of period style, fashion trends and acceleration of lifestyle, the shapes of bodywork of Wikov vehicles were changed. Dynamic lines began to emerge shape variability and greater difference from cars of other brands. This change, which happened at the beginning of thirties of the 20th century, started to show in elongated front and rear wings, in more rounded of corners and sides of the bodywork, at the incline of the windscreen and rear part of the vehicle even at the incline of the radiator grille.
A vehicle Wikov 35 roadster, Eugen Wichterle behind the steering wheel
Aerodynamic shapes
The last series production cars Wikov had already after 1932 strongly aerodynamic, even streamlined shapes which corresponded with new knowledge of a construction of motor vehicles. Especially from the point of view of reducing air resistance at higher speeds, and gave them visual lightness, agility and the typical expression of aristocratic gentility.