After creating a sensation on the European exhibition circuit in 1934, Tatra began fulfilling orders for their new T77. These cars were extremely expensive, only affordable to those with very deep pockets so each car was virtually a custom build and no two T77s were exactly alike. In part these stemmed from the purchaser's expectations - wealthy customers expected customization to their specific requirements, but also because the T77 was basically an experimental design - the two exhibition cars that toured the European motor-show circuit in 1934 were in fact the only T77s in existence at that time. Subtle changes were made to the engine and suspension to improve the car's handling.
In early 1935, Tatra wrote to everyone who had purchased a Tatra T77 to check their satisfaction with the car. Many owners wrote back with their observations. The directors of Policky and Popper, a tannery and shoe manufacturer in Brno, provided their response to the factory on 5th March 1935:
"It is our great pleasure to inform you that we are completely satisfied with your car, TATRA, model 77.Popper and Polický's commentary aligns with that of other reviewers of the period, such as the English concessionary Captain Douglas Fitzmaurice. Fitzmaurice's positive is relatively well known as it's the only one in English. A copy is republished here:
Your eight-cylinder TATRA drives surprisingly fast and easily in any terrain with a relatively low fuel consumption (14 - 16 liters per 100 km). The ride is noiseless even at high speeds, is unusually comfortable and smooth even on bad roads. The car starts from a standstill and the speed reached quickly makes the ride very pleasant. The car sits well on the road in bends and even at a high speed, the high braking ability and easy steering of the car guarantee safe driving, so that the momentum of the car can be used perfectly. The highest speed we used was 150 km and in practice it comes to about 130 km on bad roads.
Wishing you much success in the production of these cars and many more successes, we congratulate you and say, with absolute respect
Frederich Popper and František Polický"
