Tatra T87 - Intelligent Design

Part 2 of 3. Curator David Ryan talks about the Tatra T87 four-door sedan. The Tatra is in the permanent collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. It was designed by Hans Ledwinka in 1936 and manufactured in 1948. For more, go to http://www.artsmia.org/viewer/detail.php?v=12&id=98653

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Entertainment

Tags:

• tatra
• T87
• cars
• antique
• minneapolis
• institute
• of
• art
• czech
• Czechoslovakia
• WW2
• WWII
• autobahn

[PajkaLS]

This is no made in east Europe but in the middle Europe. This is not the same! The Czech(oslovakia) was one of the most advacend country in the Europe this time.

Even after the second world war (on the communist age).

[MadIgor1]

Dear Mr. Ryan, what German and Austrian autobahn are you referring to? In time of creation of this car Germany had one autobahn in length of 108km and Austria none. This car was a Czechoslovak project, not German, it was used by Germans after occupation, but that doesn't make it a German car.

[blindfluggegner]

einfach nur schön

[blindfluggegner]

einfach nur shön

[HORVATH1962]

When GOD spoke to Henry Ford ... this is what he meant.

Genious Design. Unlike current BMW, BENZ & AUDI with their retina burning modern headlights.

[tertommy]

rear visibility must be iffy

[omgpuppies0707]

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

[JBC814]

Tucker saw one of these during WW2 and tried to make the same car here. Actually, William Stout made the same type of car in the 30's in the U.S., but it was a rear-engined van. Very practical for weight distribution, but I think Toyota made the final statement in that department with their Previa van in the 90's, which had a centrally located engine with optional 4WD and supercharger. Unfortunately Toyota did not see its greater potential as an SUV or pickup, which would have been a winner.

[Arainion]

Czech cars are the best. And this car was like from another world that time.

[Thinsid]

@McLarenMercedes RE Lamborghini: What you say is correct, BUT it ranks as a great car for the following reasons. When it appeared (About 1975!!) There was NO other car on earth that looked like it OR went like it. Lamborghini claimed a top speed of 193 Miles/ Hour, HOW Long Before ANYONE else claimed a speed in excess of 190?? ABOUT 15 Years!! Even with today's technology there is NO perfect car. 

[McLarenMercedes]

@Thinsid

Ever driven a Lamborghini? I am going to let you in on a secret from former owners. They require a lot of service, and their reliability (even if imporved under Audi supervision) is still nowhere near Porsche levels.

The Countach had no servo, which meant you had to be buff like a bodybuilder to steer the thing in traffic, the airconditioning was pitiful and on summers it's like sitting in a sauna.

The Countach's outrageous looks gave it more fans than its actual quality as a car.

[xjerzy]

Why is he talking about driving down the autobahn? This car is Czech not German!

The Germans did steal some the Tatra"s other designs to make the VW bug!