Tatra On Display Now
Tatra has a long 100-year history of producing unique and highly engineered automobiles. Their origin as a company dates back to 1850 with the Sustala Wagon Werks, growing and changing through the tumultuous early 1900s and eventually emerging in 1919 as Tatra, named after Czechoslovakia’s most prominent mountain range. Throughout the manufacturer’s long and storied history, Tatra produced 65 different models – many of them prototypes or race cars.
Tatra’s first production vehicle, the T11 in 1923, is widely regarded as the first European “People’s Car.” Throughout the prewar years Tatra became known for their impeccable styling and advanced technological developments. The majority of Tatra’s significant designs are attributed to Hans Ledwinka, chief engineer and technical director of Tatra until World War II. His accomplishments include the majestic air-cooled and rear-mounted V8 engine of the T-77 and the ability to comfortably reach 100 mph in the T-87, a feat few other cars could match. While Tatra’s advanced engineering technology was impressive it was massively aided by visual appeal and aerodynamics by airplane and Zeppelin designer Paul Jaray who designed the iconic teardrop shape that defined Tatra design. Tatra continued to build cars after World War Two, pushing the envelope of luxury and design.
Although Tatra produced many significant engineering designs, car production was relatively limited. In its 100-year history Tatra produced around 92,000 cars, In comparison, Volkswagen delivered almost 5 million vehicles in 1999, the same year that Tatra produced its last passenger car.