Transverse leaf spring, huh? And the transmission case serving as a structural/suspension component? Fairly advanced for the 1930's.

I've always heard this vehicle had a great hidden compartment under the rear seat. It was perfect for transporting bodies (both dead and alive).

Good to see these up on the tubes. The real credit of course goes to the intrepid Glenn Arlt, who purchased this brochure on his vacation this past winter.

Nice to see these on the tubes. I must credit the intrepid Glenn Arlt who purchased this lovely brochure at the Lane Motor Museum last this winters past.

Damn it.

Speaking of tubes, what are the two tubes sticking out of the side of the tranny ahead of the leaves?

One of the nicest side-profiles of any car.

Pretty bad camber, by the looks of that transaxle.

I wonder what Ralph Nader would have to say about that.

@Isetta: British Intelligence owned about a dozen T87s for secret missions in Europe involving the captures of Nazi's on the run. The luggage compartment behind the rear seat was used to hide dead bodies of captures and executed Nazi's. From: http://www.tatra.demon.nl/cars_history_T87.htm I seem to remember hearing this on History Channel or something too.

BOOOO

Thank you Glenn Arlt; this made my day. The text of the brochure is wonderful writing.

@FreeMan: I believe those tubes are structural members to mount the transaxle to the body.

@smalleyvb122: the camber would be better if there was some weight on the springs, no?

@elwood: the concept of the transaxle/swing axles was already used in the brilliant type 11 Tatra of 1923, but in a front engine/RWD configuration. This took it to the next step.

Wow, I can't think of the last time I actually LOLed at a Nazi reference.

Don't worry, Tatra got back at the Nazis, all those SS guys were "borrowing" these Tatras because of their speed, agility and cost ;) and many of them died wrapping them around trees due to the handling that makes a Corvair feel like a 944.

So how many "Hookers dressed as Nazis" can you fit in one of those.

Still my favorite line....

@P161911: You could do this in a Beetle, too, just fold the body in half.

Plus, short wheelbase and low power means you'll get back to base in one piece. Unless, of course, Goebbels in his 3.5-ton Merc 770 gets a bead on you.

Didn't Hitler go as far as to order his top-ranking doggs to stop cruising the autobahn on these things due to the number of crashes and deaths?

Unsafe at Any Speed: "Swing arms are a poor design compromise at best." Or something to that effect. Tuck under, anyone? *flip* Still, Corvair post-63 used a transverse leaf spring like this one to minimize tuck-under. Add in some hefty front sways (and a nice 10psi or so front to rear tire pressure differential) and you can _sort of_ make it all work.

@brandegee: I believe that this was all post-war 1945-6 time frame. They needed something faster with room for a black ops team of 4-6 guys. Also, there were probably more Tatras around in 1945 than Beetles.

@SmaartAasSaabr: Exactly right. These cars earned the name of "Nazi Killers" during the war.

@teargas: If anyone is around Nashville, you have to go the Lane Motor Museum. They have the largest display of Tatras outside of the motherland as well as a slew of other very cool and very wierd vehicles.

very nice. Love them rear engine sedans. Why doesn't porsche do something like this?

Wow, that is a nice profile. Could be an amazing rat rod.

@akirachan: Some people would suggest that Porsche may have gotten an idea or a hundred from Tatra, but you didn't hear it from me...

What a coincidence. Anyone interested can take this car out for a virtual test drive. I created a 1936 V-8 Tatra 77 with realistic physics for the free car-simulator "Racer" which is also available thru my links. (The sim can be run remarkably well with just a mouse.) The aircooled V-8 was pretty low power, but the slippery body can build up enough speed so that if you don't go gently around corners you will discover yourself why this rear engined car was called the Czech "secret weapon." Download car and connect to Racer downloads here [home.maine.rr.com]
Tatra 77 for Racer in game

Looks like the rear suspension from my '84 corvette.

@junkman: Hear hear. The Lane Museum's T77 is still one of my favorites there. I got a chance to ride in one of the Tatra 603's, and it's actually pretty impressive even once it's in motion. Comfortable (aka soft ride), surprisingly quiet on the highway, fits five people very comfortably, and honestly, there's just something comforting about hearing the air-cooled V8 doing it's thing somewhere towards the rear of the car.