Mr. František Honc (1925-1992) from Bakov nad Jizerou worked all his life as a clay modeler in the nearby Škoda factory. Paradoxically, his family never had the means to buy their own car during the years of so-called real socialism. In the seventies, therefore, he began to develop vehicles of his own design in his shed under the brand name HOBA - a humble acronym of HOnc-BAkov.
For homologation purposes and in view of the regulations of the time, he had to base his cars on the frame of an existing vehicle, the characteristics of which had to be completely preserved. Mr. Honc could only afford an old Velorex Oskar, a wobbly 1950s tricycle for invalids covered with faux leather. He rebuilt it from the ground up and modified it to an extreme degree into the Velorex HOBA II supersport.
For homologation purposes and in view of the regulations of the time, he had to base his cars on the frame of an existing vehicle, the characteristics of which had to be completely preserved. Mr. Honc could only afford an old Velorex Oskar, a wobbly 1950s tricycle for invalids covered with faux leather. He rebuilt it from the ground up and modified it to an extreme degree into the Velorex HOBA II supersport.
The car boasts a meticulously sculpted, aerodynamic body crafted from a single piece, housing a trademark Jawa engine. Honc's attention to detail extended to custom anatomical removable seats, four headlights, or a sleek flat windscreen. It is a benchmark of DIY automotive design and features superb craftsmanship.
The fully functional prototype soon began to create a stir on the roads around Bakov and beyond, prompting Honc to approach Velorex with his blueprints. Regrettably, amidst the winds of Perestroika, the production line was already in upheaval, and the prospects of mass production faded away.
The fully functional prototype soon began to create a stir on the roads around Bakov and beyond, prompting Honc to approach Velorex with his blueprints. Regrettably, amidst the winds of Perestroika, the production line was already in upheaval, and the prospects of mass production faded away.
In an interview for the Motoristická současnost magazine in the early 1980s, Mr Honc promises that he would now like to build his own electric car...
