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Featured Automobile!

1947 TATRA Type 87
Though virtually unknown in the United States, the Tatra Works in Czechoslovakia has supported the tradition of manufacturing carriages, wagons, trucks and automobiles for over 150 years. From 1905 most all the cars that came out of the Tatra factory were designed by the legendary Hans Ledwinka. The name Tatra, comes from the Tatra mountains where the cars were tested under extreme conditions.

The 1920s saw exciting new concepts by Ledwinka. He designed and pioneered an air cooled engine mounted in the rear of a car, independently sprung suspension and aerodynamic coach work.

He created the T 57 that was a four cylinder air cooled engine and very successful. Then came the T 87, which Ledwinka always said was his favorite.

Built to the lines of an aircraft with a smooth nose that tapers to a finned tail on the streamlined body, it had been aerodynamically tested in wind tunnel tests. The coefficient results would be quite acceptable today. The engine was a remarkable air cooled V-8 of 180 cubic inches that put out 75 horsepower. Two large scoops on the upper half of the long hood supplied air to the finned cylinders while a mass of louvers down the rear acted as vents for the warm air. On time trials, the Tatra 87 could hit 100 miles an hour.

There were recessed door handles, the main windshield had two angled side windows that enhanced forward vision, the seats reclined, and the novelty that was ahead of Tucker was the third cyclops headlight in the middle of the hood that turned with the steering wheel. When viewing the Tatra, one can’t help wondering how much of it influenced Dr. Porsche.

It’s only setbacks were the tiny rear window with visibility almost nonexistent. And, with 38 % of the weight in the front and 62% at the rear, the Tatra had a tendency to slide off a rainy street tail first.

Few collectors own Tatras. Why do I? If nobody else wants one, I have to have it. I bought this one from Mr. Karl Ludvigsen, noted automobile historian and writer. After the car arrived I had a full restoration performed on it. The suspension is amazing. You can roll over railroad tracks and not notice them.

The car was first sold new to the Czechoslovakian Ministry of Defense. It was later shipped to this country by a Hungarian doctor named Grueninger. Then it went to Tom Galen, Karl Ludvigsen and me.

Clive Cussler

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