#Tatratuesday - The car that traveled the World: Tatra 87

We are still 30´s. Well exactly in 1936 when modernization of the T-77 was needed. Better acceleration, fuel consumption, less weight, more power….. So designers took what they already knew from curetly produced type 77 and redesigned it into type 87. And it was real success and let me try to prove it to you :)

Well, designers did really good job because T-87 was better than T-77 in every way. This luxurious and aerodynamic car was very popular. It stayed in production with few changes from 1936 till 1950 and was used by presidents and German officers etc. This car was able to travel around the whole world completely stock. Thats was proved by two travelers known by their sure names as Mr. Zikmund and Mr. Hanzelka those traveled across the Africa and south America, through the Asia and back home to Czechoslovakia from 1947 till 1950.

Lets take a look inside

Here are some specs those might be interesting…

Engine: 4 stroke, aircooled, petrol, OHC V8 - 2969ccm producing 75HP at 3500 RPM´s. Its actually HEMI engine because it has the same characteristic hemispherical combustion chambers as better known engines made by Chrysler a bit later :). With big help of great aerodinamics it was able to reach 160km/h (100MPH) which was the main reason of many accidents…

Gearbox: 4 speed stickshift witch synchronized 3rd and 4th gear, single plate clutch

Brakes: hydraulic system on all 4 corners with mechanical handbrake for the rear pair of drums

Chassis and suspension: Althought Tatra was and still is famous for their backbone chassis, T-87 was built on redesigned T-77 chassis with RR layout, independent front suspension and swing axles in the rear.

Basic type 87 was in production till 1948 when it was facelifted with new front end which was produced till 1950.

If you never heard about Tatra 87 althought you live in America, well youve made some mistake :). This car was considered as colectors car of the year 2010 by The New York Times and guess who has one mint T-87 in his garage? :)

I think it means something when even Jay Leno has this beauty in his awesome colection :)

Hope you´ve enjoyed this “episode” as I dare to call it :) and hope to see you next time. Don´t hesitate to post some tips or critics unless its about my grammar lol :P.
Thank you for reading and http://tatraportal.sk/ for many informations