1951 Tatraplan Obituary

In 1951 the Central planning committee of the Socialist government of Czechoslovakia instructed Tatra to cease production of passenger vehicles and concentrate on trucks. At the time Tatra were manufacturing the T600 Tatraplan. Being a relatively popular seller and export commodity, Tatraplan production was not simply shut down but transferred to the Skoda plant at Mlady Boleslav. The decision was not popular with either company and Skoda would only persist with the Tatraplan for one year. Over at Tatra, someone published a humourous obituary for the Tatraplan that made much to the car's difficult development. Government authorities did not see the humour in it however.

It is with a heavy heart that we inform you, all fans and customers, that, at the young age of only 5 years, our praiseworthy automobile, the Tatraplan, so named, manufactured by us, exported abroad, loved by all and pampered, has left us forever.

We are overwhelmed by this blow, but we console ourselves with the hope that this child of our love will return to us again, after his soul has passed through the thorny path and served his punishment for his sins in purgatory.

Despite his youth, he was a child that was nimble, restless, and playful. As a result, he has caused many and many divergent acts, when his guides, guardians and nurses were sure that they were holding it firmly in their hands.

A short time after his birth, during his first steps under the supervision of his Lojzo, he broke his head on a bridge near Valasske Mezirici.

Then again in the plant, out little child threw his father out of the saddle in an unguarded moment. His creator and foster parent Lado pushed him to a fight with his older brother, however, our child lost the fight, and Lado rolled on the grass holding his ribs. With his guide, Karel, he crumpled a lot his muscles and his nose. Our Jaroslav also failed to restrain our child, who with arrogance did not follow orders from the father of rail vehicles. On the way to his native village, he turned him into a ditch twice out of rage and tousled his lush curls.

As we say, he was a naughty child, disobedient and did not respect anyone, even the comrade director. He also dared to throw this director out of the saddle several times and he stood on his head even with his master.

He completely ignored all his stepfathers, Ing. Soukal and Ing. Kordula and teased and played with his true creators.

Just as naughty children are dearest to their parents, this one, our playful and naughty Tatraplan has grown to our hearts the most, and now all the more so because he left us so suddenly at such a young age and left us in mourning forever.

In honor of his memory

Photo and translation by Peter Mika.