Tatra T87 - In the Driver's Seat

[malycestovatel]

Tatra is synonimum for trucks.

[srercrcr]

Left-hand drive in Germany?

[polopost]

@srercrcr Why not? In Czechoslovakia, where was this awesome car built, cars used to be driven on left side of the road. Like in Uk now. But in the end of 30s "thanks" to big Hitler´s influence was bring driving on the right.

[MRoesterreicher1]

@srercrcr of course

[omgpuppies0707]

it's great to have someone that knows NOTHING about cars try to explain the design of this car, really great "artsmia"!

[Lasa328]

Tatra had a decline in sales and production since the political changes of the 90's. That is a pity. Especially those big V8's in the back of the 613 and so on had a very attractive howling-sound and this is surely missed by many! 

[Sarcasticscum]

These are rather rare. If you were to find one and attempt to restore it, the odds of fully restoring one are the same as winning the lottery.

[Seattlecarnut]

Another feature I've always liked are the semaphore "trafficators" turn signals on each side of the car. Why they were never offered on American sold cars? They'd provide better visibility than blinking lights since they stick out. If one's paying attention, he/she would be able to see one coming their way.

[Seattlecarnut]

Why is that?

[Threetails]

The symmetrical dash had a practical purpose too: A good number of these cars had right-hand drive.

[Seattlecarnut]

I also heard that Nazi officers got killed because they tried to take a corner at too high speed.

[Threetails]

The joke among the Germans was that it was "Czechoslovakia's secret weapon." XD

[desertrat2]

@Threetails and u know?because drive with tatra cars its like sail on boat.was impresive in high speet but for low experienced german officers who took this car was a deadly combination and really few german officers had very bad traffic incidents with this car.but anyway this is a art piece of czechoslovak engineering

[Seattlecarnut]

Jay Leno does have one in his garage, among many cars in his collection. Again, it's too bad they were never sold here in this country. I'd buy one instead of a VW Beetle. It's nicer looking (I think) than the Beetle.

[McLarenMercedes]

If you look at the front of the Tatra T87 it looks as if the VW Beetle took design cues directly from it.

According to Leno, nazi officers commendered these Tatra's when they had taken Czechoslovakia in 1938, and liked them since they could cruise at unheard of speeds on the few german freeways or autobahns they had in the late 30's

It also has an unusually low cW at a time most cars were square and boxy.

Sadly Tatra doesn't make roadcars for the past 15 years or so.

[cimmerianpraetor]

VW had to pay damages for intelectual property theft after the WW2. Basically Porsche stole ideas from Tatra V570 and T97.

[12valvepower1]

amazing car. the original peoples car.

[Seattlecarnut]

It's too bad the Tatra was never sold in the USA. Obviously, Czech Republic was caught on the wrong side of the Wall during the Cold War. Politics be damned, I believe it would've made a great car to compete with the VW Beetle and the Corvair.

[AlexDeLarge90]

Jay Leno has one I believe.

[MersiCZECH]

@Seattlecarnut But the biggest joke for you: After revolution was Tatra destroyed not from east, but from WEST! I hate our people, because they aren't proud of fathers heritage. Empty glasses who looking for just a money...EVERYBODY.

[peterfarrow]

VW payed Tatra 3,000,000 dm after the war as compensation for the design theft.

[limeboy21]

i saw this car in person it as very nice it reminds me of the VW Hebmuller and i know VW stole some design style of the Tatra

[stylophobia]

OOOOPS Koltrejn-I just posted the "Porsche nicked the design" blog on the other Tatra vid in this series !

[koltrejn]

Thanks for sharing. It's Czechoslovak design and engineering. It's a shame that David talks about that car as it would be German. Actually Ferdinand Porsche was working for Tatra before WWII later joined VW. Later VW was ordered by Hitler to construct asap a new car (Beetle). To speed up the process they've stolen Ledwinkas plans. Sad point is that Ledwinka died in poverty and forgotten, while Porsche... well.

[parmen2]

yeah you right, if you look at tatra V570 what can you see...? a vw beetle which was made 5 years later

[cimmerianpraetor]

Tatra is now manufacturing heavy duty trucks, but they plan to start production of replicas (in 2010), possibly T87 or T603. The rumours say that the maximum numbers would not be higher than 100, so all real fans should already take care to assure that they will get one.

[alna1287]

Real fans such as me aren't interested as they won't be true Tatras, just regular uninteresting mechanicals clothed in retro clothing. For me it wasn't just the fantastic styling of these cars that made them interesting, but the fascinating and unique mechanicals as well.

[cimmerianpraetor]

You are completely right. But with prices of original above 200 000 USD and almost nobody willing to sell his own one... it would be at least something.

[alna1287]

Perhaps for a T77, but nice T603s can be had for under 20K and even T87s like the one featured can be had in good condition for far under 100K USD.

[honussa]

good to know ... I bought mine in 1990 for 10 000 schillings (austrian money - 1 ats is 13,76 euros)

And I had it restored recently which means that I have a GREAT car and lots of money!