Tatra 87

Tatra 87
Overview
ManufacturerTatra
Production
  • 1936–1950
  • 3,056 produced[1]
AssemblyKopřivnice, Moravia, Czechoslovakia
Designer
Body and chassis
ClassLuxury car, 5-seater Sedan
Body stylelimousine (finned fastback)
LayoutRR layout
Powertrain
Engine2969 cc (3.0L) Tatra 87 V8[2]
Transmission4-speed manual[1] (3 and 4 synchronized)
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,850 mm (112.2 in)[3]
Length4,740 mm (186.6 in)[4]
Width1,670 mm (65.7 in)[4]
Height1,500 mm (59.1 in)[4]
Curb weight1,370 kg (3,020 lb)[3]
Chronology
PredecessorTatra 77a
SuccessorTatra 603

The Tatra 87 (T87) is a car built by Czechoslovak manufacturer Tatra from 1936 to 1950. It was powered by a rear-mounted 2.9-litre air-cooled 90-degree overhead cam V8 engine that produced 85 horsepower and could drive the car at nearly 100 mph (160 km/h). It is ranked among the fastest production cars of its time. Competing cars in this class, however, used engines with almost twice the displacement, and with fuel consumption of 20 liters per 100 km (11.8 mpg). Thanks to its aerodynamic shape, the Tatra 87 had a consumption of just 12.5 litres per 100 km (18.8 mpg). After the war between 1950 and 1953, T87s were fitted with more-modern 2.5-litre V8 T603 engines.[5]

The 87 was used by Hanzelka and Zikmund for their travel through Africa and Latin America from 1947 to 1950.[6]

  1. ^ a b "1948 Tatra 87". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
  2. ^ "1947 TATRA 87 SALOON". Lane Motor Museum.
  3. ^ a b "Tatra 87". tatraportal.sk. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "Tatra 87". aerotatra.czweb.org. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  5. ^ Karel Rosenkranz, 100 Years of Tatra Passenger Cars, Motormedia 1998
  6. ^ Horáková, Pavla (29 December 2005), "Zikmund and Hanzelka's legendary Tatra 87 car added to cultural heritage list", Radio Praha, retrieved 3 June 2016