From Prague to Beijing in Just Three Weeks with Vintage Cars. The Czech Expedition Accomplished the Almost Impossible

A Week in China

It has been exactly one week since the Robot Expedition crossed the Kazakh-Chinese border and set off on its journey through the world’s second most populous country. Along the way, the Czech team has tackled high mountain ranges, crossed the Gobi Desert, and visited several significant sites, including the guarded city of Ürümqi and the historically important region of Lintao.

Now, the crews and their vintage cars are in Beijing, where they have a day off. They'll spend their time in the capital exploring the local culture and engaging in diplomacy. Their program includes a visit to an automotive museum, the Great Wall of China, and the embassies of Czechia and Slovakia, where they will meet with ambassadors and the media.

The Finish Line Is in Sight

On Wednesday, July 16, the Czech expedition will resume its journey, departing from China’s capital and heading to the coast. There, the vintage vehicles will board a ferry to South Korea. On the Korean peninsula, the support van will leave the convoy and head back to Czechia by ship. “We’re making this decision reluctantly, but there’s no other option. Foreigners aren’t allowed to drive N1-category utility vehicles in South Korea without a special permit,” explains expedition leader Josef Zajíček.

This means one thing: the seven vintage cars — some over 60 years old — will have to continue across the peninsula without their support vehicle. The mechanics will stay with the expedition, but instead of riding in the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, they’ll squeeze into the back seats of the Škoda 100s.

After crossing South Korea, the Robot Expedition will face its final ferry ride, taking the seven crews directly to Osaka, Japan — home to the ultimate destination, EXPO 2025. But before that, the team must first deal with border control procedures, which could take up to a full day. The finish line may be close, but there’s still a full week of challenges ahead.

Insights from the Crews

A lot has happened during the three weeks of the expedition. Each car faced different situations and dealt with different challenges. At the same time, the teams are made up of people with diverse personalities. So, how do they reflect on their experience in the Robot Expedition so far?

CREW NO. 1 – TATRA 603 (1959)
"Over the past three weeks, we’ve travelled through landscapes with our 1959 Tatra 603 that we would never have visited otherwise — and it’s been a huge learning experience. We’ve seen endless deserts, majestic mountains, and sprawling metropolises. Not many people can say they’ve done that in just three weeks. At the same time, we’ve suffered through a lot of technical issues. But rather than stopping us, they’ve only made us stronger. Now we’re on the other side of China, and in truth, we still haven’t fully grasped what we’ve accomplished. But with Josef Zajíček, we’re taking it one day at a time and refusing to get too comfortable. Our goal is Osaka, not Beijing. So we’re staying focused and motivated to keep going. Without a service vehicle behind us, we have to be especially careful — we can’t afford a single misstep. We’ll celebrate only when we reach the finish line," says Robin Běhal, speaking for the leading crew.

CREW NO. 2 – TOYOTA CELICA ST (1977)
"Georgia enchanted us, and China surprised us. Of all the places we’ve seen across Asia, China and Kazakhstan stood out the most — but it was Georgia that truly stole our hearts. We were amazed by China’s advanced infrastructure and the quality of its highways, as well as the friendliness and hospitality of the locals. People often wave, stop to talk, and want to get to know us — all of which adds a beautiful atmosphere to the journey. Our favourite city so far? Almaty in Kazakhstan — for its location, energy, and culture," say Lubomír Pešák and Ivan Uher.

CREW NO. 4 – ŠKODA OCTAVIA (1962)
"Octavias are the slowest and least technically advanced cars in the expedition, but they’re still full-fledged partners in the journey. On highways, they can go over 100 km/h. Our crew is fully enjoying the diversity of this expedition and the time spent with its amazing members. We’ve come an incredible distance — so far and yet somehow still so close," say Alois Krejčí and his son, Alois Krejčí Jr.

CREW NO. 5 – ŠKODA 100 (1973)
"Beijing lies ahead, and behind us are 9 countries and 3 weeks spent mostly in a single cubic meter of our little Škoda’s cabin. Our feelings? Still a bit surreal, and mostly joy that the car’s holding up. But there’s still a long way to go. From a mismatched bunch of guys and crews who signed up for this road movie, a great team has emerged — one with an unforgettable shared story. Everywhere we go, we’re met with bright eyes, smiles, and curious questions. So now, plenty of people across a big chunk of the globe know where Czechia and Slovakia are — and more importantly, that the Škodovka has driven, is driving, and will keep on driving," say Václav Dědek and Jan Drbohlav of the GenX130 team.

CREW NO. 6 – ŠKODA 120 (1980)
"Robot Expedition 2025 — a brilliant idea and wonderfully executed. After three weeks, the whole expedition is running smoothly with no major issues. The minor problems we’ve faced on the road have been manageable and expected. You just need to be patient at border crossings — each one has its quirks, but that’s to be expected.

The expedition is made up of great, talented people who form an amazing team. Every country we’ve passed through has exceeded our expectations — in a good way. China continues to amaze us. It’s a land of endless contrasts and possibilities. The country seems to have everything our planet offers — from parched wastelands to lush lowlands and towering mountains.

What moves us most is seeing how intelligently things are managed here. In barren regions, you’ll find massive wind and solar power plants. In more temperate areas, agriculture thrives. It’s bittersweet to compare that with home, where we’re paving over fertile soil with industrial boxes.

The Chinese are also excellent builders — we’re impressed by the highways, railways, and other infrastructure they’ve constructed even in rugged terrain.

As for the people — they’re incredibly friendly and welcoming, and we feel very safe here. One special moment was a walk through the city in the evening, where we saw joyful seniors dancing outdoors and simply enjoying a summer night. And at 10:30 p.m., we watched small children playing unsupervised — a reminder of our own childhoods. If we were to talk about digitalisation here, it’d be a long story — but with a happy ending. If we only run toward it, we’ll never catch up.

And our Škoda 120? It’s doing great. It’s basically a stock car with no modifications, and so far, it’s handled everything without a hitch. We’re just fine-tuning to make good things even better — like swapping out a backup carburettor or doing other little adjustments. We’re excited to reach the finish and to head back home — even though, truth be told, it’s great here too," say Slovak crew members Miroslav Kuchár and Mikuláš Koščo.

CREW NO. 7 – FORD MUSTANG (1966)
"What we’ve loved most about this journey from Europe to Asia is the amazing group of people — most of whom only met a few times before setting off — who’ve come together to form a well-functioning team. We pull together when needed and relax and have fun when the moment calls for it. This journey has been full of great moments.

We’ve been struck by China’s technological advancement, by the speed of its progress — progress that seems to have happened in the blink of an eye compared to Europe — and by its fantastic highways and infrastructure. The natural beauty and the hospitality of the people are also impressive. That said, Georgia — and especially the city of Almaty — left a lasting impression on us. But perhaps the deepest memories come from Kazakhstan — a country that’s harsh and beautiful at once. It really put our cars to the test. We’ll never forget the herds of horses, cows, and camels crossing the road in front of us.

Our 1966 Ford Mustang has been excellent — safe, comfortable, and reliable. Aside from one issue we more or less caused ourselves, it’s been running smoothly with high performance and careful preparation. Although it’s taken a few hits along the way, which we’ll need to fix later.

Today we’re hoping to get a new brake booster from a friend who, by coincidence, just flew to Beijing on vacation. We’re looking forward to seeing Beijing — and then it’s on to South Korea and Japan. We can’t wait to reach the finish line," say Dalibor Šebek and Martin Novotný.

Crews and Their Vehicles

• Tatra 603 (1959) – Josef Zajíček a Robin Běhal
• Toyota Celica ST (1977) – Lubomír Pešák a Ivan Uher
• Škoda Octavia (1961) – Ivo Tůma a Radek Toman
• Škoda Octavia (1962) – Alois Krejčí jr. a Alois Krejčí
• Škoda 100 (1973) – Jan Drbohlav a Václav Dědek
• Škoda 120 (1980) – Miroslav Kuchár a Mikuláš Koščo
• Ford Mustang (1966) – Dalibor Šebek a Martin Novotný

At the final destination — EXPO 2025 on Yumeshima Island in Osaka Bay — the ROBOT Expedition will be showcased during the Czech National Day on July 24.

Follow the Journey Online
Fans can follow the journey of the Czech vintage cars to Osaka not only on social media, but also on the website www.czecholdtimerexpress.cz/expedice-osaka, where the expedition shares its real-time location thanks to a vehicle tracking system provided by Commander.