Vehicle exhibits

The Tatra Company began manufacturing cars in 1897 in Czechoslovakia making it the third oldest automobile manufacturer in the world. Tatra ceased car production in 1999 to focus on large off-road trucks.

The Tatra T77 is the first serial-produced truly aerodynamically designed automobile. It was developed by Hans Ledwinka and Paul Jaray, the noted Zeppelin aerodynamic engineer. 

Launched in 1934, the Tatra T77 is a coach-built automobile constructed on a central tube-steel chassis and is powered by a 75-horsepower rear-mounted 3.4-liter V8 engine. It possessed such advanced engineering as overhead valves, hemispherical combustion chambers, dry sump, fully independent suspension, rear swing axles and extensive use of lightweight magnesium-ally for the engine, transmission, suspension and body. 

The T77A was introduced in 1935. The updated and improved model had an increased V8 capacity of 3380 cc.  The output was now increased to 75hp and the maximum speed to 150kph due to the advanced aerodynamics which delivers an exceptionally low coefficient of drag of 0.212.

Three headlamps were now added to the front and the central unit was linked to the steering wheel on several models. Now three different directions of the headlight were possible with the lamp capable of being turned with the wheel.

This Example a T77A was imported from England in 1971 by the Southward Museum in a well-used condition and was later restored in our workshop.