Tatraplan - A Technically Interesting Car

One of the most important automobile plants in Czechoslovakia is Tatra. As early as 1897 - more than 50 years ago – Tatra built their first automobile. From the start, the company’s construction program was dominated by a spirit of progressive design. In 1899 a Tatra car reached the extraordinarily high speed for the time of 112 km/h. In 1923, they introduced a series of vehicles with a central tubular frame chassis and independently sprung wheels, powered by an air-cooled two-cylinder boxer engine. From this type, the company won the extremely difficult cross Russia reliability trail. Later the car received an air-cooled, flat four-cylinder boxer engine. These cars were first built under license in Germany at Rohr in Oberramstadt and later by the Stoewer works in Stettin. https://tatrat600.blogspot.com/2021/05/deutsche-license-tatra-automobile-delta.html

In 1925, a Tatra car won one of the most difficult automobile races in the world, the Targa-Florio in Sicily. In 1934, the streamlined Tatra with a rear-mounted, air-cooled V8 engine, was unveiled. This car [Tatra T77] was revolutionary in its entire structure and with a top speed of 159 km/h, represented one of the fastest vehicles of its time. This type is still produced, with some improvements, as the "Tatra 87." The Tatraplan arose from the positive experiences that were made with this vehicle.

The Tatraplan’s exceptionally pleasing, self-supporting all-metal body in pontoon shape is welded to the central frame. The interior is very spacious and well equipped with bench seats wide enough to provide space for three people. The gear lever and handbrake are under the steering wheel or under the left-hand side of the instrument panel, leaving the floor clear for freedom of movement. Warm air heating is built-in as standard.

The air-cooled 4-cylinder boxer engine is located in the rear of the car and produces 52 hp with its 1950ccm at 4000 rpm. The side valves are hung at an angle, driven by a push rod driven by the cam shaft. The four-speed gearbox with three synchronized gears and the differential are integrated in a block with the engine.

The good aerodynamic design of the body and the flat four engine allow a top speed of 130 km/h with an average fuel consumption of 13 liters per 100 km. The Tatraplan is an economical, fast and comfortable mid-range vehicle, which the Czech state automobile industry promises will be a major export, even to the west.

Paul Pietsch

Das Auto, Nr 9 1949

The original German article