When it comes to classic cars, I noticed a clear divide between the two sides of Europe. The massive high-end car shows (even small gatherings) in France, Germany or Belgium usually boasts dream cars of our youth. Visitors will hardly find any Opel Kadetts or Renault Dauphins. In the east, however, people are more often keep common oldtimer models from the past decades of the communist years, often referred to as “veterans”. These cars, like Zhigulis and Skoda 105s are seldom guests at western cars shows (similarly to less cherished mass-market brothers from the west). This is also confirmed at Auctions where the successful sales clearly indicate a much lower price level.
The few exceptions of successful eastern cars include the early (pre-war) luxury models of the Czech Tatra brand. These are traded well beyond the 100.000 euros price range, and their reputation goes beyond the old continent. A special exhibition at Rétromobile will further build this reputation.
The Tatra exhibition took place in the passageway from Hall 3 to the main hall and showcased the technical finesse of the Czech brand. It relied on a diverse range of contributions from the Kopřivnice Tatra Museum, the Brittany-based Manoir de l’Automobile and the Ecorra workshop (Czech Tatra specialist).
The stages featured about half a dozen young and eager engineers, many of them had much better knowledge of English than French. They kindly explained to me that the Tatra Museum is undergoing a major refurbishing. Therefore, I put it on my bucket list for the next Central-Eastern European road trip.
Some exceptional Tatra vehicles were borrowed from Czech collectors, and the Zlín Museum also provided images and films retracing some of the highlights of the brand’s history.
The background images also showcased the deeply moving adventure of Jiří Hanzelka and Miroslav Zikmund – two Czech students who set off to circumnavigate the world behind the wheel of a 1947 Tatra 87.
Also, photographer Vladimír Cettl shed light onto Tatra’s forgotten past with an exhibition of previously unseen photographs.
The first car of the exhibition is from 1897, Präsident automobile was the first car from Nesselsdorf (which would later become Tatra in 1920).
The Präsident was followed by two cars with a classic layout and an engine of an imposing size from a Tatra Dakar racing truck.
Following the communist takeover, the automobile production department was reduced to supplying the Communist Party with limousines, while lorry production continued to expand.
Their sturdiness was eternalised by the Tatra’s success at Paris Dakar with six victories in the auto-camion category, all with rally raid driver Karel Loprais at the wheel.
Next up was a blue Tatra V570 from In 1933, a small aerodynamic car with an air-cooled rear-mounted engine. This is a true revolution from the traditional layout.
While the aim was to create a cheap people’s car, the V570’s ultramodern design served to develop the Tatra 77 in 1934. This car was the world’s first serially produced aerodynamic limousine.
It is now a common fact that the design of both the V570 and the Tatra 77 greatly inspired Ferdinand Porsche who went on to produce the Volkswagen Beetle and several post-war Porsches.
At that time it was subject to legal disputes that were temporarily settled by World War II, but later Volkswagen and Tatra reached an agreement in 1955. The Tatra 77 also takes the podium in VW’s Zeithaus museum, among the most inspiring cars of automotive history.
The 77 is followed by a beautifully restored light blue Tatra 87, with the bonnet open in the back of the car, allowing a good overview of the mechanics.
The Tatra 87 has a streamlined bodywork, designed by Hans Ledwinka and Erich Übelacker on proposals submitted by Paul Jaray.
This model gained a legendary reputation when Jiří Hanzelka and Miroslav Zikmund – two Czech students who set off to circumnavigate the world behind the wheel of a 1947 Tatra 87. The Zlín Museum provided images and films about their adventures.
For four years, the two young adventurers shot films, wrote articles for newspapers and magazines and kept up a journal that was broadcast over Czech radio. In their absence, Czechoslovakia’s political regime was shifting, and the new totalitarian government ordered the two young adventurers to return. Thanks to their financial autonomy, they were able to refuse and decided to continue their travels.
Suddenly, their trip took on its true meaning: they realised that they could provide Czech people with a rare chance for vicarious escape to the outside world. Henceforth, they were the eyes of the world for Czechoslovakia.
When they returned in 1950, Hanzelka and Zikmund found their country right in the midst of a political war. Under the new regime’s extremely tight control, they published a complete account of their travels in several books and screened their films. Their media success afforded them protection. In 1960, the two adventurers were able to continue with their odyssey crossing the Asian continent. In 1968, Jiří and Miroslav protested violently against the invasion under the Warsaw Pact.
Next up is a white Tatraplan, a rear-engined large family car produced from 1948 to 1952.
The next segment showcases two Tatra 603s, probably the only car from the communist era that seems really impressive. In 1948, Tatra’s production was significantly reduced by the directives of a new political regime that was highly influenced by the USSR.
The last segment consists of two modern Tatras, the 603 designed by Vignale and the 700 that was marketed following the fall of the iron curtain.
Tatra’s automotive history ended in 1999 with the production of the extremely rare Tatra 700, only 65 of which were ever built. The Tatra brand still exists, but it produces lorries exclusively.
Nevertheless, the exhibition illustrates well the efforts of the Tatra Museum and other institutions keep the spirit alive. At the exhibition, I was told that the Tatra museum undergoes an overhaul and hence an even better destination for a Central-Eastern European road trip.
For the introduction to the Rétromobile event including links to the detailed articles, please visit the main article:
