Tatra Streamline: September 2020

Tatra T77 - Six Seater Rear Engine Streamlined Car with Jaray Bodwork at the Prague Motor Show

The 1935 ATK Automobiltechnische Zeitschrift, volume 3 (pg 78) featured a write up on the new Tatra T77a.

From the completely streamlined front, to the air-cooled three-litre eight-cylinder engine in the rear, the new Tatra conveniently provides seating for 6 people by using the full width of the car. Between the rear seats and the engine compartment is a roomy trunk. In the space between the front wheels there are two spare wheels, the battery, tools and spare parts. The streamlined windshield with wide, sloping front windows rises organically out of the streamlined body, that includes the fenders. The roof is so narrow that the side windows slope inwards, avoiding any reflection. The visibility that is thus created is almost equivalent to that of an open car, because the occupants have a completely clear view on all sides. Entry into the car for passengers is simple as they do need to any higher than a normal step.

The three-liter engine, which has 65 brake horsepower, gives the car, occupied by 5 people, a top speed of around 150 km/h. An average speed of 90 km/h can easily be achieved on suitable roads. The fuel consumption is only 14 liters per 100 km. In other words: thanks to the low aerodynamic drag of its Jaray designed body, this six-seater car consumes no more fuel than a four-seater standard sedan with a two-liter motor, despite its three-liter engine, and at a much higher top and cruising speed: full proof of the superiority of the properly built streamlined car.

1934 Motor-Kritik Berlin Motor Show Report on the Tatra T77

The Tatra T77 at the 1934 Berlin International Motor Show

"The foreign countries were keen to present the impression that they preceded us in technical design. For example, the prospectus of Tatrawerkes suggests that they are responsible for bringing us the car of the future, that is, the streamline car with rear engine. For this purpose, however, it was necessary [for them] to ignore the German precursors. Neither the Standard Superior nor the Hansa 400, which were revealed one year ago at the Kaiserdamm received a mention, and the Stuttgarter may readily see the Mercedes Benz 130 and Porsche experimental cars, whose construction and appearance we have previously described, remarkably resembled the new Tatra 77. Tatra would have been wise to have recognized these precedents in their prospectus."

"The Tatra Model 77 which was shown for the first time at the Berlin International Motor Show is in different size class to the aforementioned models. Our opinion is presented after only a brief review of the car’s features. The Tatra uses a partially self-supporting chamber body [fitted] over a steel tube chassis. Apparently only for increasing torsional rigidity and to serve as a connecting member, a medium sized carrier [cross-member] is installed. The front-wheels are suspended via a parallelogram and rack and pinion steering is used, while at the rear end, the middle carrier engages from the rear to the tailgate on three cross-members. The rear mounted drive unit consists of a Rumpler-deselectric pendulum gear selector gearbox with front-mounted four-speed transmission with freewheel. The V-eight-cylinder three-litre motor has angular lever-controlled hanging valves and air cooling. Forced air cooling takes place for each bank of cylinders by a separate blower driven by V-belt. The arrangement makes the use of large diameter flywheels superfluous, which benefits the ground clearance and allows the entire engine to be low slung."

"The Tatra 77 is a huge car. The location of the large, but particularly lightweight motor, behind the axles should not exercise noticeably harmful influences on the driving characteristics. Seating is for six people on two benches. The driver's position is located in the middle and slightly ahead of the front passengers. The luggage compartment is located above the rear suspension rail, separated by a curtain. In operation, the car is noisy as a result of the rear engine arrangement. The streamlined design of the car body assists in reducing wind resistance when traveling at the speed. According to a trusted driver on the AVUS, the gasoline consumption of 13 litres per 100 km at an average highway speed on the 168 km test drive Wroclaw to Berlin at an average speed of 85-90 km! However, this is not a glowing performance although the car is pretty good. Even more could be achieved with further development."

Original article is here - https://motor-kritik.blogspot.com/2021/04/1934-motor-kritik-nr-6.html

Rumpler Tropfenwagen brochure and specifications - https://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com/2021/11/1921-rumpler-tropfenwagen-streamline.html

1934 Motor Kritik Nr 6

In this edition we have Motor-Kritik's report on the 1934 Berlin Motor Show. Here we see the first results of Adolf Hitler's call to the auto industry to build a 'People's car'. Motor Kritik's editor, Josef Ganz' Standard Superior is featured on display. It is interesting to see how primitive some of the various 'volkswagens' were. All of these vehicles were overshadowed by the Tatra T77, which was unveiled at the show. Hans Ledwinka's stunning rear engine streamliner changed the trajectory of Hitler's thinking. Germans would not be made to put up with plywood microcars powered by motorcycle engines, they would require a modern, technically advanced, mass-produced steel car. The road to the Volkswagen was opened.