MTX
MTX, short for Metalex, is a Czech specialist vehicle company known for racing cars, formula cars, motorcycles, coachbuilt road cars, and later vehicle modifications and restoration services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
MTX, derived from the name Metalex, is a Czech specialist automotive company whose roots lie in the racing and competition-car scene of former Czechoslovakia. The company began in 1969 as a repair operation for Škoda racing cars and developed into a manufacturer of purpose-built competition vehicles, formula cars, autocross buggies, rally cars, racing motorcycles, and limited-production road vehicles. Its work was closely connected with the technical and sporting ecosystem surrounding Škoda, Lada, VAZ, Tatra, and other vehicles used in Czechoslovak and broader Central European motorsport. The first single-seater associated with the company was the MTX 1-01, introduced in 1970. During the 1970s and 1980s, MTX expanded its engineering activities across Formula Easter, Formula Škoda, Formula Mondial, Formula Ford, touring-car racing, hill climbs, rallying, and autocross. Many vehicles used production-car platforms or drivetrains from Škoda and Soviet manufacturers such as Lada and VAZ, but were substantially modified for competition. This approach allowed MTX to serve racing teams and drivers with relatively specialized vehicles while building engineering expertise in chassis preparation, bodywork, suspension, powertrain adaptation, and low-volume fabrication. MTX also produced racing motorcycles and off-road motorcycles. Its portfolio included several road-racing motorcycle designs and the MTX 4-01 off-road motorcycle. In the automobile sector, the company developed two-seat racing cars, buggies, special-purpose vehicles, technical-assistance vehicles, ambulances, and vehicles adapted for testing or demonstration purposes. The breadth of this work made MTX less a conventional mass-market marque than a specialist engineering and fabrication house. After the political and economic changes of 1989, MTX moved further toward limited-series road vehicles and special modifications. In cooperation with the German firm Heinzinger, it produced a small number of Škoda Rapid convertibles in 1989 and 1990. It later developed the MTX Roadster, based on the Škoda Favorit, and the MTX Cabrio, based on the Škoda Felicia. The MTX Tatra V8, a mid-1990s-era super-sport project whose production began in 1991, became one of the company’s best-known designs and was produced in only a handful of examples. MTX’s competition record is described as including 14 international titles and nearly 100 national championships. These results are part of the company’s historical identity, although MTX’s present activities are less focused on series production than its earlier motorsport work. The company currently operates through activities such as special vehicle development and modification, automotive servicing, and restoration of veteran and historic vehicles. Its reported locations include headquarters in Prague, manufacturing operations in Plzeň, and an automotive service facility in Mělník. MTX should therefore be understood as a Czech automotive engineering and specialist-vehicle brand rather than a food or consumer-staples company. Its distinctive positioning comes from low-volume technical work, motorsport heritage, bespoke vehicle conversion, historic-car renovation, and the adaptation of mainstream Czech and Eastern European vehicles into competition or specialty applications.
History
MTX originated in Czechoslovakia in 1969 under the Metalex name. Its initial role was repairing and preparing Škoda racing cars, but the company soon moved into original vehicle construction. The first MTX single-seater, the 1-01 Formula Škoda, appeared in 1970. This established a pattern that continued for decades: MTX combined locally available production-car components with specialized chassis, body, suspension, and competition engineering. During the 1970s and 1980s, MTX created a large range of formula cars for Formula Škoda, Formula Easter, Formula Mondial, and later Formula Ford. It also produced two-seat spider racing cars, autocross buggies, touring cars, hill-climb machines, and rally cars. Škoda, VAZ, and Lada models provided the basis for many of these vehicles. The company’s competition portfolio included the MTX Škoda Buggy, Lada- and Škoda-based circuit cars, and rally versions such as the MTX 6-01, 6-05, and 6-06. Some projects were produced in meaningful small batches, while others were one-off prototypes or highly limited competition builds. MTX expanded beyond cars into motorcycles. Its road-racing motorcycle range included the MTX 3-01, 3-02, 3-03, and 3-04, while the MTX 4-01 served the off-road segment. The company also built or modified special-purpose vehicles, including rapid-assistance cars, testing vehicles, road-technical-assistance vehicles, utility vehicles, ambulances, and demonstration or show vehicles. This work reflected Metalex’s role as an adaptable engineering organization rather than a narrowly defined model manufacturer. The late 1980s and 1990s brought a change in the commercial environment after the end of the centrally planned Czechoslovak economy. MTX entered limited-series road-car projects and collaborated with Heinzinger on a small run of Škoda Rapid convertibles in 1989 and 1990. It then developed the MTX Roadster on the Škoda Favorit 136 platform, with production reported from 1991 to 1996, and the Škoda Felicia-based MTX Cabrio, produced from 1997 to 2000. The company’s most ambitious sports-car project was the MTX Tatra V8, built in very limited numbers from 1991 to 1993 and based on Tatra technology. Motorsport remained central to the company’s reputation. MTX racing cars are credited with winning 14 international titles and almost 100 national championship titles. These achievements covered multiple disciplines rather than a single series, including formula racing, rallying, touring-car competition, autocross, and hill climbs. In its current form, MTX is associated with specialist vehicle development, vehicle modifications, automotive servicing, and restoration of veteran vehicles. Its reported operational footprint includes Prague as headquarters, Plzeň for manufacturing, and Mělník for automotive service work. The company’s historical importance lies in preserving and extending Czech motorsport and specialist-vehicle engineering capabilities across changing political, economic, and technological conditions.
- 1997
MTX Cabrio production period begins
[1]The Škoda Felicia-based MTX Cabrio enters its reported 1997–2000 production period.
- 1991
MTX Tatra V8 enters limited production
[1]The MTX Tatra V8 super-sport project begins production, with four vehicles reported for the 1991–1993 period.
- 1991
MTX Roadster production period begins
[1]The Škoda Favorit-based MTX Roadster enters its reported 1991–1996 production period.
- 1989
Škoda Rapid convertible project
[1]MTX cooperates with German firm Heinzinger on a small number of Škoda Rapid convertibles.
- 1970
MTX 1-01 Formula Škoda introduced
[1]MTX presents its first single-seater formula car, the MTX 1-01, with reported production of 35 vehicles through 1984.
- 1970
Autocross vehicle development begins
[1]MTX develops its first listed autocross buggy, the MTX Škoda Buggy.
- 1969
Metalex begins as a racing-car repair operation
[1]The company begins in Czechoslovakia as a workshop repairing and preparing Škoda racing cars.
Products and positioning
A Czech specialist engineering and vehicle-conversion brand centered on motorsport, low-volume fabrication, bespoke modifications, service work, and restoration rather than mass-market automobile production.
Formula racing cars · 1970
MTX Formula cars
MTX built a broad family of single-seaters for Formula Škoda, Formula Easter, Formula Mondial, and Formula Ford. Models included the 1-01 through 1-10 series, with production ranging from individual prototypes to dozens of cars. These vehicles formed the technical foundation of the company’s early motorsport identity.
Competition cars · 1969
MTX Rallye and touring cars
MTX converted Škoda, Lada, and VAZ models for circuit racing, hill climbs, and rallying. The range included the MTX 6-01 Škoda 120 LS, MTX 6-05 Škoda 130 L, MTX 6-06 Škoda 130 LR, Lada-based rally cars, and other competition derivatives. Several models were produced in small batches for private and organized competition.
Super-sport car · 1991
MTX Tatra V8
The MTX Tatra V8 was a highly limited super-sport automobile developed around Tatra technology. Produced from 1991 to 1993 in a reported run of four vehicles, it represents MTX’s most ambitious attempt to create an exclusive road-going performance car rather than a competition derivative.
Roadster · 1991
MTX Roadster
The MTX Roadster was a limited-production open sports car based on the Škoda Favorit 136. Reported production ran from 1991 to 1996, with approximately 200 vehicles made. It translated MTX’s fabrication and body-conversion capabilities into a road-oriented specialty model.
Convertible · 1997
MTX Cabrio
The MTX Cabrio was a low-volume convertible based on the Škoda Felicia. Its reported production period was 1997–2000. Like the Roadster, it was a specialist body conversion rather than a mass-market model and extended MTX’s relationship with Škoda-derived platforms.
Racing and off-road motorcycles · 1977
MTX motorcycles
MTX produced road-racing motorcycles in the 3-01 through 3-04 series and the MTX 4-01 off-road motorcycle. The listed production figures range from small specialist batches to approximately 130 units for the off-road model, underscoring the company’s low-volume engineering approach.
Autocross buggy · 1995
MTX Beach Buggy
The MTX Beach Buggy was an autocross-oriented specialty vehicle produced from 1995 to 2002. Approximately 100 examples are reported, making it one of the larger production runs among MTX’s specialty vehicles.
Brand decisions
1991
Launch of the MTX Tatra V8Product launchBackground
MTX pursued a high-performance road-car project drawing on Tatra engineering and the company’s specialist fabrication capabilities.
Action taken
The MTX Tatra V8 super-sport car entered extremely limited production.
Aftermath
Only four vehicles are reported for the 1991–1993 production period, making the model a rare halo project in Czech automotive history.
1989
Move into limited-production road vehiclesStrategyBackground
After years focused primarily on competition machinery, MTX broadened its activities toward road-going specialty vehicles and collaborations.
Action taken
The company developed the Škoda Rapid convertible with Heinzinger and later created the MTX Roadster and MTX Cabrio.
Aftermath
These projects extended the MTX name beyond motorsport, but remained low-volume specialist programs rather than mass production.
Recent events
MTX launches Disease Monitoring and Control app[2]
Reported:
MTX launched its Disease Monitoring and Control app to provide real-time COVID-19 insights to government agencies, health officials and airports. The app offers insights on at-risk communities and disease growth rates.
Sources2 sources
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