At that time, the Tatra T87 was one of the most modern cars on the market. It was new, sleek, and featured amazing amenities, including a V-8 engine cooled by air at the back. After being found in a Lithuanian barn last year, this species was fixed. When the Tatra T87 came out, most cars moved and rode like covered wagons and were as aerodynamic as barns. It was as sleek as an airplane and packed with smart engineering. You might think of the Tucker Torpedo when you see the strange three-headlight layout, but the first T87s were made more than 10 years ago. When it comes to new car technology, the T87 is better than its competitors. It moves quickly, is quiet, and is a little hard for a careless driver. This 1941 Tatra T87 is for sale on Bring a Trailer. It has all the required paperwork, was recently restored, and has a somewhat complicated history. It’s a beautiful and interesting look at what the Czech auto business might have been like if World War II hadn’t happened. The years Tatra spent making cars led to the creation of a number of unique and innovative vehicles, even though the company remains primarily a trucking business. With the T77 in 1934, the world saw some of the first mass-produced aerodynamic cars, led by Hans Ledwinka, a great head design engineer. Even though a world war was ongoing, a little more than 3,000 T87s, which were a more advanced version of the T77, were built over 14 years. It was a 1940s-style drawing of what a prototype Panamera would have looked like if it had been more like a 911. It had an air-cooled magnesium metal V-8 engine in the back. A lot of people knew that Ferdinand Porsche used some of Ledwinka’s ideas to make the first Volkswagen Type 1. However, the official Stuttgart family tree does not have a polite Czech uncle. However, this luxury car is related to every 911 that has ever been made. This example’s 3.0-liter V-8 engine is cooled by air and has overhead camshafts, hemispherical combustion chambers, and cylinders with fins. Due to its streamlined design, it should be able to hit speeds of around 100 mph and make around 85 horsepower. There are four speeds on the manual engine. The structure has only one body, the drag coefficient is less than 0.36, and the suspension can move in any direction. This T87 is surprisingly up-to-date for a car that is about 80 years old. When the idea of six people sitting calmly and happily at 90 mph on a brand-new autobahn was first brought up, it must have seemed like something out of science fiction. At the time it was made, the T87 was made for low-grip tires, but its rear swing-axle design makes it sensitive to tire pressure. Because the speed is so smooth, you have to be very careful behind the wheel so that you don’t look like you’re driving a newer car. It was first sent to Prague, which was captured by the Germans, on November 7th, 1941. It could have been left behind and put in a barn when the Soviets took over Lithuania again late in the war. Luckily, it was found again and taken to a doctor in Kopřivnice, which is where Tatra was born. It’s beautiful with its modern look and design. The outside is painted red, and the inside is lined with shiny brown leather. Hans Ledwinka never received the credit or compensation he deserved for all the good things he did in his life. Still, the T87 and its siblings are highly valued today, and rightly so; they are seen as some of the most important and beautiful cars ever made. It’s great that this specimen was saved from the barn and brought back to the perfect state it deserves. The auction ends on September 10th.
