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Tatra 77 - Streamlined V8

Name: Tatra 77 1934
Brand: Tatra

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Created on January 1, 2023

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Corey Escobar - Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

Bruno von Rotz

- Courtesy RM Sotheby's

Werkfoto Tatra, Archiv Martin Schröder

- Courtesy RM Auctions

Kimball Studios - Courtesy Pebble Beach Concours d'Elégance

- Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Corey Escobar - Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

Bruno von Rotz

- Courtesy RM Sotheby's

Werkfoto Tatra, Archiv Martin Schröder

- Courtesy RM Auctions

Kimball Studios - Courtesy Pebble Beach Concours d'Elégance

- Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

Archiv

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Tatra 77 (1934) - the front is not really elegant

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Tatra 77 (1934) - the good aerodynamics are immediately recognizable

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Tatra 77 (1934) - from this perspective it looks a bit like the Batmobile

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Tatra 77 (1934) - the tail fin is intended to improve stability at high speeds

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Tatra 77 (1934) - headlights positioned far inwards

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Tatra 77 (1934) - direct insight into the technology for those who follow

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Tatra 77 (1934) - completely restored example

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Tatra 77 (1934) - good all-round visibility thanks to the three-part windshield

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Tatra 77 (1934) - the rear bench seat is also feudal, there were also models with a partition window

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Tatra 77 (1934) - three people can also sit in the front

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Tatra 77 (1934) - with the exception of a few examples, all were right-hand drive

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Tatra 77 (1934) - clearly arranged dashboard

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Tatra 77 (1934) - a clock takes up a lot of space, there is no rev counter

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Tatra 77 (1934) - speedometer up to 160 km/h, certainly very exotic at the time

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Tatra 77 (1934) - Fuses in the direct field of vision

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Tatra 77 (1934) - a lot of manual labor was required to build one example

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Tatra 77 (1934) - the 3rd and 4th gears are synchronized

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Tatra 77 (1934) - with wide seat backrest

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Tatra 77 (1934) - the view to the rear is limited

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Tatra 77 (1934) - V8 engine with 2996 cm3 and 60 hp at 3200 rpm

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Tatra 77 (1934) - belt-driven cooling fans on both sides

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Tatra 77 (1934) - relatively short and longitudinally mounted V8

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Tatra 77 (1934) - central carburetor above the engine

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Tatra 77 (1934) - the front doors open to the rear

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Tatra 77 (1934) - the spare wheel is under the front flap, there is not much luggage space

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Tatra 77 (1934) - the all-round visibility, at least to the front, was significantly better than in other cars of the time

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Tatra 77 (1934) - the tail fin was intended to reduce crosswind sensitivity due to the rear engine

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Tatra 77 (1934) - the fin makes quite an impression

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Tatra 77 (1934) - Cooling air for the V8 engine

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Tatra 77 (1934) - Air intake by the roof

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Tatra 77 (1933) - early example, still showing side cooling fins

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Tatra 77A (1936) - Ledwinka's innovation and its advantages

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Tatra 77A (1936) - Comparison of visibility to the front with a "conventional" car

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Tatra 77 (1933) - View of the engine, gearbox and rear axle

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Tatra 77 (1934) - Insights into the construction

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Tatra 77 (1934) - cross-sectional drawing of the engine

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Tatra 77 (1935) - good access to technology

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Tatra 77 (1934) - with rear fin to stabilize the directional stability and rising underbody in the rear area (diffuser)

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Tatra 77 (1935) - it's safer to ride in a Tatra

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Tatra 77 (1937) - in the advertisement of the Swiss importer

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Tatra 77B (1937) - with external headlights

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Tatra T87 (1947) - streamlined sedan with rear engine

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Tatra 87 (1948) - during test drives with Peiseler wheel

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Tatra 87 (1938) - at the 1938 Geneva Motor Show, more compact and lighter than the Tatra 77

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Tatra 87 (1938) - Chassis and basis of the rear-engined cars

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Tatra 97 (1938) - at the Geneva Motor Show 1938

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Tatra V570 (1933) - small, rear-wheel drive car - part of the Tatra special show - Rétromobile Paris 2020

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Tatra 77 (1934) - C-30 - Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2017

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Tatra Type 87 (1941) - at the Concours d'Elégance of the Schloss Bensberg Classics 2014

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Tatra 87 Sedan Aerodynamic (1939) - at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2012 - Category 'C - The Art of Streamlining'

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Tatra 87 (1937) - Wind-up egg for the desert, part of the Tatra special show - Rétromobile Paris 2020

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Tatra 87 (1937) - also successful in the desert, part of the Tatra special show - Rétromobile Paris 2020

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Impressions from the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elégance 2014 - Tatra T77 and Mercdes Benz 540K Streamliner

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Tatra T 97 (1938) - ACS Concours d'Excellence International Lucerne 2022

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Tatra 87 Sedan Aerodynamic (1939) dashboard view - at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2012 - Category 'C - The Art of Streamlining'

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Tatra T87 (1948) - Classic Gala Schwetzingen 2019

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Tatra T87 (1947) - Concours d'Excellence International 2017

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Tatra T87 (1948) - as lot 361 at the RM/Sotheby's auction in Monterey on August 13 - 15, 2015

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Tatra T87 (1948) - offered as lot 2180 at the RM/Sotheby's Elkhart Collection auction 2020

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Tatra T87 Limousine (1948) - auctioned as lot 159 by RM Auction on August 17, 2013 in Monterey

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Summary

It looks like a Batmobile from behind, it was as expensive as a property and at the same time as fast as a racing car. It could transport six people comfortably and economically. The Tatra 77 revolutionized the automobile and yet was not successful. This vehicle report tells the story of the Tatra 77 and shows it in current and historical images, as well as in the sales literature of the time.

This article contains the following chapters

The streamlined fans
In just over a year, a completely new vehicle will be built
The innovative V8 engine
Outstanding aerodynamics
Presentation in Prague, Berlin and Paris
Fast
Safe
Comfortable
Continuous improvements
Few survivors

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In the 1930s, everyone was talking about the "streamline". These particularly streamlined cars were mostly one-offs, but Tatra built the first series-produced vehicle with an aerodynamically optimized body. And they went much further than the competition, not forgetting the vehicle occupants and safety. Tatra was one of the oldest car manufacturers of all, with the first automobile being built as early as 1898 in the Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau-Fabriks-Gesellschaft, which was then called Tatra from 1919. Hans Ledwinka had clear ideas about the ideal vehicle. It should offer as little resistance to the wind as possible and at the same time be able to transport five to six passengers in comfort and at high speed.

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