Henry Catchpole gets behind the uniquely-shaped wheel of the Praga Bohema in the latest episode of The Driver’s Seat. He also drives its incredible ancestor, the Praga Super Piccolo from 1934. Two amazing road racers from the Czech Republic with a focus on aerodynamics and lightweight.
The Praga Bohema has 700bhp, weighs just 982kg (2165lb) and can generate 900kg of downforce, but the experience of driving it is about so much more than the impressive numbers. Just sitting in the laid back driving position and holding that wheel in your hands is so different to most cars – even most hypercars. It is up there in rarefied air with the Aston Martin Valkyrie and the Porsche 963 RSP in terms of its top-tier race car ambience.
With a price of around $1.5million the engine is perhaps the biggest question mark, because a turbocharged V6 isn’t as exotic as a V10 or V12. However, this is the first time that Nissan has allowed anyone else to use its VR38DETT engine from the GT-R (and if Ferrari can use a V6 in its F80…). What isn’t in question is that the Bohema looks like it’s worth the money – not just from a distance but up close where you can see the fabulous artistry in the engineering solutions. It really is beautiful.
And engineering detail is clearly something that runs in the family as the 1934 Praga Super Piccolo demonstrates. This is the only one in existence, having been painstakingly restored and recreated over the last ten years. With a perspex roof, aluminium bodywork and magnesium used for the engine block and gearbox it is a marvel. It’s got a good horn too. And four pedals…
Watch Henry Catchpole Drive the Praga Bohema
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