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You don't see this everyday.....

Started by Grant V, 08 March 2007, 02:31 AM

gregdeklerk

Grant, Graham van Heerden's 600 is a RHD SWB with a partition. The car was owned by Brett Kebble!!

Brian Crump

Craig S, I have just been reading your list of cars!! WOW - that is serious!! I looked at a Tatra at an auction in Sydney late last year and it was to die for - the engine bay was so well laid out and neat. To say nothing of unusual!! What is a Tatra like to drive?
BC


Mforcer

Is that engine bay "well laid out and neat" or is it just empty without ancillary systems such as air-conditioning and power steering?
Michael
1977 450SE [Brilliant Red]
2006 B200

Brian Crump

I think it is too early for aircon - power steering I don't know. But it is so neat and in the metal it was so beautifully crafted. Even the jack on the left looked like it could hold up an armoured tank. Mforcer, I can see you and Rae in one!!!  8) 8) 8)
BC

CraigS

To use your words, UNUSUAL ! They are a little light in the steering because there is no weight over the front wheels. The engine itself "hangs" off the gearbox - it is not supported at all, other than a brace coming down from the top of the body. Changing gears is also a challenge - it is a 4 speed, reverse pattern, column shift, and of course, being LHD, means you also change with your right hand. Engine bay is here, but with all the covers removed, it looks like a motorbike engine - 2.5 litres of aircooled V8 !



and without it's covers



Quote from: Brian Crump on 16 March 2007, 12:50 AM
To say nothing of unusual!! What is a Tatra like to drive?
BC
[url="http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n77/Aegeanfoods/My%20Cars/"]http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n77/Aegeanfoods/My%20Cars/[/url]

robgee

You can see where Dr.Porsche got his inspiration from for the VW. can't you?
Unfortunately Hitler wasn't to anamoured with them as at the start of WW2 more German officers were dying in high speed road accidents as Tatra's were very popular as they were so quick but as craig was saying didn't handle or stop to well.I think they look great i had the chance to ride in a friends car that he had bought back from Prague when I was domiciled in the UK.It was a tatra 613 I think produced about 1985.

After the 1938 invasion of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany, Tatras continued in production, largely because Germans liked the cars. Liked them too well, in fact; many German officers met their deaths when pushing heavy, rear-engined Tatras faster around corners than they could handle. In fact, the Tatra became known as the Czech Secret Weapon for the scores of officers who died behind the wheel; at one point, it seems, official orders had to be issued forbidding German officers from driving Tatras.
There can't be to manny in Oz then Craig!
Regards,
rob

robgee


CraigS

Quote from: robgee on 16 March 2007, 06:50 AM
You can see where Dr.Porsche got his inspiration from for the VW. can't you?

VW aka Dr Ferdinand stole the Tatra designs in order to build the VW. This was finally proven in the 1990's I believe and VW had to pay something like 50 million Euros to Tatra.

QuoteThere can't be too many in Oz then Craig!

There are 4 603's that I know of, including the one that was auctioned in Sydney last year. There are also quite a lot of (RHD) Tatraplans (600) as they were imported in the early 1950's.

A T87 was recently restored by Sleeping Beauties in Brisbane over the past couple of years, and is owned by a doctor in Brisbane. It has a 603 engine, however they have since found an original engine for it.


Craig

[url="http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n77/Aegeanfoods/My%20Cars/"]http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n77/Aegeanfoods/My%20Cars/[/url]

CraigS

For those wondering what the aluminium box is hanging off the right hand side of the engine bay, it is the "black box" for the electronic ignition - from 1963 !

Craig
[url="http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n77/Aegeanfoods/My%20Cars/"]http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n77/Aegeanfoods/My%20Cars/[/url]

robgee

Definately ahead of its time Craig thanks for sharing that mate, the Czech's have some great engineers and their women are pretty easy on the eye too.
Rob.