Tatra - Revision history

Red marquis at 11:39, 10 May 2010

2010-05-10T11:39:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:39, 10 May 2010
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	* [[Tatra T816]]		* [[Tatra T816]]

	~~{{Tatra}}~~		==Photos==

	== See ~~also~~ ==		<gallery>
			Image:Tatra logo.png

			</gallery>

			== See Also ==

	*[[List of automobile manufacturers]]		*[[List of automobile manufacturers]]

Red marquis at 11:33, 10 May 2010

2010-05-10T11:33:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:33, 10 May 2010
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	*[[List of automobile manufacturers]]		*[[List of automobile manufacturers]]

			{{Tatra}}

	== External links ==		== External links ==

Red marquis at 04:56, 19 February 2007

2007-02-19T04:56:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:56, 19 February 2007
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	{{List of ~~(Insert Marque)~~ Models}}'''Tatra''' (named after the Tatra mountains) is a vehicle manufacturer in Kopřivnice, Czech Republic. The company was founded in 1850 as Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau-Fabriksgesellschaft, a wagon and carriage manufacturer, and produced the first motor car in central Europe in 1897, the Präsident. In 1919 it changed its name to Tatra. One source claims that Tatra is the "third oldest car maker in the world after [[DaimlerChrysler\|Daimler Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Peugeot]]". Production of Tatra cars ceased in 1999 but the company still produces a successful range of primarily all-wheel-drive 4x4, 6x6, 8x8 10x10 and 12x12 trucks (see [http://www.tatra.cz Tatra trucks]).		{{List of {{PAGENAME}} Models}}'''Tatra''' (named after the Tatra mountains) is a vehicle manufacturer in Kopřivnice, Czech Republic. The company was founded in 1850 as Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau-Fabriksgesellschaft, a wagon and carriage manufacturer, and produced the first motor car in central Europe in 1897, the Präsident. In 1919 it changed its name to Tatra. One source claims that Tatra is the "third oldest car maker in the world after [[DaimlerChrysler\|Daimler Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Peugeot]]". Production of Tatra cars ceased in 1999 but the company still produces a successful range of primarily all-wheel-drive 4x4, 6x6, 8x8 10x10 and 12x12 trucks (see [http://www.tatra.cz Tatra trucks]).

	== Early years ==		== Early years ==

Red marquis at 03:32, 19 February 2007

2007-02-19T03:32:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:32, 19 February 2007
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	'''Tatra''' (named after the Tatra mountains) is a vehicle manufacturer in Kopřivnice, Czech Republic. The company was founded in 1850 as Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau-Fabriksgesellschaft, a wagon and carriage manufacturer, and produced the first motor car in central Europe in 1897, the Präsident. In 1919 it changed its name to Tatra. One source claims that Tatra is the "third oldest car maker in the world after [[DaimlerChrysler\|Daimler Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Peugeot]]". Production of Tatra cars ceased in 1999 but the company still produces a successful range of primarily all-wheel-drive 4x4, 6x6, 8x8 10x10 and 12x12 trucks (see [http://www.tatra.cz Tatra trucks]).		{{List of (Insert Marque) Models}}'''Tatra''' (named after the Tatra mountains) is a vehicle manufacturer in Kopřivnice, Czech Republic. The company was founded in 1850 as Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau-Fabriksgesellschaft, a wagon and carriage manufacturer, and produced the first motor car in central Europe in 1897, the Präsident. In 1919 it changed its name to Tatra. One source claims that Tatra is the "third oldest car maker in the world after [[DaimlerChrysler\|Daimler Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Peugeot]]". Production of Tatra cars ceased in 1999 but the company still produces a successful range of primarily all-wheel-drive 4x4, 6x6, 8x8 10x10 and 12x12 trucks (see [http://www.tatra.cz Tatra trucks]).

	== Early years ==		== Early years ==
	~~[[Image:Ignac Sustala memorial plaque.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|[[Ignác Šustala]], founder of the company]]~~
	[[Ignác Šustala]] (1822 - 1891), founder of the company in what was then Nesseldorf, Moravia, started the production of horse-drawn vehicles in 1850. In 1891 he branched out into railway wagon manufacture naming the company Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau-Fabriksgesellschaft and employed Hugo Fischer von Roslerstam as technical director in 1890. After the death of Šustala, von Roslerstam took over running the company and in 1897 he bought a Benz automobile. Using the Benz for inspiration the company made its first car, the Präsident which was exhibited in 1897 in Vienna. Orders were obtained for more cars and under the direction of a new young engineer called [[Hans Ledwinka]] (1878-1967) ten improved cars were made.		[[Ignác Šustala]] (1822 - 1891), founder of the company in what was then Nesseldorf, Moravia, started the production of horse-drawn vehicles in 1850. In 1891 he branched out into railway wagon manufacture naming the company Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau-Fabriksgesellschaft and employed Hugo Fischer von Roslerstam as technical director in 1890. After the death of Šustala, von Roslerstam took over running the company and in 1897 he bought a Benz automobile. Using the Benz for inspiration the company made its first car, the Präsident which was exhibited in 1897 in Vienna. Orders were obtained for more cars and under the direction of a new young engineer called [[Hans Ledwinka]] (1878-1967) ten improved cars were made.

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	== Tatra concept ==		== Tatra concept ==
	~~[[Image:T-11.JPG\|thumb\|right\|250px\|Tatra T-11 of 1924]]~~
	At the end of World War I in 1918 a new country, Czechoslovakia was created incorporating Moravia and Nesseldorf became Kopřivnice. Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau was renamed Kopřivnice vozovka and in 1919 the name Tatra was given to the car range. Leopold Pasching took over control and Hans Ledwinka once more returned in 1921 to develop the revolutionary [[Tatra 11]].		At the end of World War I in 1918 a new country, Czechoslovakia was created incorporating Moravia and Nesseldorf became Kopřivnice. Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau was renamed Kopřivnice vozovka and in 1919 the name Tatra was given to the car range. Leopold Pasching took over control and Hans Ledwinka once more returned in 1921 to develop the revolutionary [[Tatra 11]].

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	Tatra's specialty was luxury cars of a technically advanced nature. In the 1930s, under Austrian engineer [[Hans Ledwinka]] and his son Erich, Tatra started building advanced, streamlined cars starting with the large ''[[Tatra T77]]'' in 1934, the world's first production aerodynamic car. The fastback T77's drag coefficient of 0.212 is rarely bettered even by the sleekest modern cars. It featured, as did almost all subsequent big Tatras, a [[RD layout\|rear-mounted]], [[aircooling\|air-cooled]] [[V8]] engine, very technically sophisticated for the time.		Tatra's specialty was luxury cars of a technically advanced nature. In the 1930s, under Austrian engineer [[Hans Ledwinka]] and his son Erich, Tatra started building advanced, streamlined cars starting with the large ''[[Tatra T77]]'' in 1934, the world's first production aerodynamic car. The fastback T77's drag coefficient of 0.212 is rarely bettered even by the sleekest modern cars. It featured, as did almost all subsequent big Tatras, a [[RD layout\|rear-mounted]], [[aircooling\|air-cooled]] [[V8]] engine, very technically sophisticated for the time.

	~~[[Image:Tatra-t97-small.JPG\|thumb\|right\|250px\|A Tatra T97]]~~
	Ledwinka discussed his ideas with [[Ferdinand Porsche]] who used many Tatra design features in the 1938 Kdf-Wagen, later known as the [[VW Beetle]]. This is particularly evident when compared with the smaller T97 model which had a rear-mounted, air-cooled, [[flat-4]] engine and rounded body styling. Tatra immediately started legal action, but the matter was not resolved until 1961 when [[Volkswagen]] was ordered to pay 3,000,000 Deutsche Mark in damages.		Ledwinka discussed his ideas with [[Ferdinand Porsche]] who used many Tatra design features in the 1938 Kdf-Wagen, later known as the [[VW Beetle]]. This is particularly evident when compared with the smaller T97 model which had a rear-mounted, air-cooled, [[flat-4]] engine and rounded body styling. Tatra immediately started legal action, but the matter was not resolved until 1961 when [[Volkswagen]] was ordered to pay 3,000,000 Deutsche Mark in damages.

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	== Postwar Communist control ==		== Postwar Communist control ==
	~~[[Image:Tatra T600 Tatraplan.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|Tatra T600 Tatraplan]]~~The factory was nationalised in 1946 after the Communist Party was elected to power. Although production of prewar models continued, a new model, the ''Tatra T600'' [[Tatraplan]] was designed -- the name celebrating the new Communist planned economy. It went into production in 1947. In 1951, the state planning department decided that the Tatraplan should henceforth be built at the [[Skoda Auto\|Skoda]] plant in Mladá Boleslav, leaving Tatra free to concentrate on trucks, buses and railway equipment.		The factory was nationalised in 1946 after the Communist Party was elected to power. Although production of prewar models continued, a new model, the ''Tatra T600'' [[Tatraplan]] was designed -- the name celebrating the new Communist planned economy. It went into production in 1947. In 1951, the state planning department decided that the Tatraplan should henceforth be built at the [[Skoda Auto\|Skoda]] plant in Mladá Boleslav, leaving Tatra free to concentrate on trucks, buses and railway equipment.

	== The Tatra T603 ==		== The Tatra T603 ==
	~~[[Image:Tatra T603.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|Tatra T603]]~~
	A mere three years later, amid much dissatisfaction among officialdom about the poor-quality official cars imported from Russia, Tatra was again given permission to produce a luxury car, the famous Tatra T603. A fair successor to the prewar cars, it was also driven by a rear-engined, air-cooled V8 and had the company's trademark aerodynamic styling. Uniquely, the Tatra T603 featured three headlights, and the first prototypes had a central rear stabilising fin, though this was lost for production. Fitted with almost American-style thick chrome bumpers with bullets (a.k.a. [[Dagmar\|Dagmar bumpers]]), the Tatra T603 was an amazing looking car for 1955. Looks weren't all it had going for it; performance was spritely for a large, six-seater car, and the ride was smooth as glass. Almost entirely hand-built, Tatras were not for everybody; normal citizens could not buy them. They were reserved for Party elites, Communist officials, factory presidents and other notables, as well as being exported to most other Communist nations as official cars. Even Fidel Castro had a white Tatra T603, custom-fitted with air conditioning.		A mere three years later, amid much dissatisfaction among officialdom about the poor-quality official cars imported from Russia, Tatra was again given permission to produce a luxury car, the famous Tatra T603. A fair successor to the prewar cars, it was also driven by a rear-engined, air-cooled V8 and had the company's trademark aerodynamic styling. Uniquely, the Tatra T603 featured three headlights, and the first prototypes had a central rear stabilising fin, though this was lost for production. Fitted with almost American-style thick chrome bumpers with bullets (a.k.a. [[Dagmar\|Dagmar bumpers]]), the Tatra T603 was an amazing looking car for 1955. Looks weren't all it had going for it; performance was spritely for a large, six-seater car, and the ride was smooth as glass. Almost entirely hand-built, Tatras were not for everybody; normal citizens could not buy them. They were reserved for Party elites, Communist officials, factory presidents and other notables, as well as being exported to most other Communist nations as official cars. Even Fidel Castro had a white Tatra T603, custom-fitted with air conditioning.

Red marquis at 23:39, 22 January 2007

2007-01-22T23:39:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:39, 22 January 2007
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	[[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers of the Czech Republic]]		[[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers of the Czech Republic]]
	~~[[Category:Companies of the Czech Republic]]~~
	[[Category:Rear-engined vehicles]]		[[Category:Rear-engined vehicles]]
	[[Category:Luxury motor vehicle manufacturers]]		[[Category:Luxury motor vehicle manufacturers]]
	[[Category:Truck manufacturers]]		[[Category:Truck manufacturers]]
	[[Category:Makes]]		[[Category:Makes]]

Red marquis at 06:45, 3 January 2007

2007-01-03T06:45:01Z

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	[[Category:Luxury motor vehicle manufacturers]]		[[Category:Luxury motor vehicle manufacturers]]
	[[Category:Truck manufacturers]]		[[Category:Truck manufacturers]]
			[[Category:Makes]]
	~~<!-- Other languages -->~~

Red marquis: /* 1970s makeover—the Tatra T613 */

2007-01-03T03:47:47Z

1970s makeover—the Tatra T613

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:47, 3 January 2007
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	[[Image:Tatra_613-4.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|Tatra T613-4 Mi Long Model 1995]]		[[Image:Tatra_613-4.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|Tatra T613-4 Mi Long Model 1995]]
	[[Image:Tatra T613 Engine.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|Tatra T613 V8 petrol air cooled engine]]		[[Image:Tatra T613 Engine.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|Tatra T613 V8 petrol air cooled engine]]
	In 1968 a replacement was developed; the [[Tatra T613]]. It was styled by the ~~[[Italia]]n~~ styling house of [[Vignale]] and was a more modern, less rounded shape. It was not until 1973 that any were actually produced by the factory, and volume production did not begin until the following year. Although the layout remained the same, the body and engine were all new, the unit being equipped with 4 overhead camshafts, a greater volume (3495 cc) and delivering close to 165 bhp. In addition, it had been moved somewhat forward for improved balance. These cars were built in 5 series and several modifications until 1996. It is a tribute to Vignale's excellent styling that they did not look outdated until rather late in that time period. Over 11,000 cars were built, slowing to a trickle of but a few dozen a year towards the end as Tatras began to seem more and more outdated.		In 1968 a replacement was developed; the [[Tatra T613]]. It was styled by the Italian styling house of [[Vignale]] and was a more modern, less rounded shape. It was not until 1973 that any were actually produced by the factory, and volume production did not begin until the following year. Although the layout remained the same, the body and engine were all new, the unit being equipped with 4 overhead camshafts, a greater volume (3495 cc) and delivering close to 165 bhp. In addition, it had been moved somewhat forward for improved balance. These cars were built in 5 series and several modifications until 1996. It is a tribute to Vignale's excellent styling that they did not look outdated until rather late in that time period. Over 11,000 cars were built, slowing to a trickle of but a few dozen a year towards the end as Tatras began to seem more and more outdated.

	== Final steps, and the end ==		== Final steps, and the end ==

Red marquis: /* The Tatra T603 */

2007-01-03T03:46:59Z

The Tatra T603

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:46, 3 January 2007
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	== The Tatra T603 ==		== The Tatra T603 ==
	[[Image:Tatra T603.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|Tatra T603]]		[[Image:Tatra T603.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|Tatra T603]]
	A mere three years later, amid much dissatisfaction among officialdom about the poor-quality official cars imported from [[Russia]], Tatra was again given permission to produce a luxury car, the famous Tatra T603. A fair successor to the prewar cars, it was also driven by a rear-engined, air-cooled V8 and had the company's trademark aerodynamic styling. Uniquely, the Tatra T603 featured three headlights, and the first prototypes had a central rear stabilising fin, though this was lost for production. Fitted with almost ~~[[Passenger vehicles in the United States\|~~American]]-style thick [[chrome~~]] [[bumper]]s~~ with bullets (a.k.a. [[Dagmar bumpers]]), the Tatra T603 was an amazing looking car for [[1955]]. Looks weren't all it had going for it; performance was spritely for a large, six-seater car, and the ride was smooth as glass. Almost entirely hand-built, Tatras were not for everybody; normal citizens could not buy them. They were reserved for Party elites, Communist officials, factory presidents and other notables, as well as being exported to most other Communist nations as official cars. Even [[Fidel Castro]] had a white Tatra T603, custom-fitted with air conditioning.		A mere three years later, amid much dissatisfaction among officialdom about the poor-quality official cars imported from Russia, Tatra was again given permission to produce a luxury car, the famous Tatra T603. A fair successor to the prewar cars, it was also driven by a rear-engined, air-cooled V8 and had the company's trademark aerodynamic styling. Uniquely, the Tatra T603 featured three headlights, and the first prototypes had a central rear stabilising fin, though this was lost for production. Fitted with almost American-style thick chrome bumpers with bullets (a.k.a. [[Dagmar\|Dagmar bumpers]]), the Tatra T603 was an amazing looking car for 1955. Looks weren't all it had going for it; performance was spritely for a large, six-seater car, and the ride was smooth as glass. Almost entirely hand-built, Tatras were not for everybody; normal citizens could not buy them. They were reserved for Party elites, Communist officials, factory presidents and other notables, as well as being exported to most other Communist nations as official cars. Even Fidel Castro had a white Tatra T603, custom-fitted with air conditioning.

	Tatra T603s were built until 1975, a twenty-year reign as Communism's finest car. Numerous improvements were made over this time, but not all the new cars built in this period were actually new. When a new Tatra replaced an old, the old vehicle was returned to the factory. There, it was upgraded to modern condition, refinished, dubbed ''new'' and sent out again as a putatively new vehicle to replace another older Tatra. This makes it hard to trace the history of surviving vehicles.		Tatra T603s were built until 1975, a twenty-year reign as Communism's finest car. Numerous improvements were made over this time, but not all the new cars built in this period were actually new. When a new Tatra replaced an old, the old vehicle was returned to the factory. There, it was upgraded to modern condition, refinished, dubbed ''new'' and sent out again as a putatively new vehicle to replace another older Tatra. This makes it hard to trace the history of surviving vehicles.

Red marquis: /* War years */

2007-01-03T03:45:14Z

War years

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:45, 3 January 2007
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	== War years ==		== War years ==

	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-engine design\|rear-engined]] Tatras faster around corners than they could [[car handling\|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.		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-engine design\|rear-engined]] Tatras faster around corners than they could [[car handling\|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.

	== Postwar Communist control ==		== Postwar Communist control ==

Red marquis: /* Prewar streamliners */

2007-01-03T03:44:53Z

Prewar streamliners

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:44, 3 January 2007
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	== Prewar streamliners ==		== Prewar streamliners ==
	Tatra's specialty was luxury cars of a technically advanced nature. In the 1930s, under Austrian engineer [[Hans Ledwinka]] and his son Erich, Tatra started building advanced, streamlined cars starting with the large ''[[Tatra T77]]'' in 1934, the world's first production aerodynamic car. The [[fastback]] T77's drag coefficient of 0.212 is rarely bettered even by the sleekest modern cars. It featured, as did almost all subsequent big Tatras, a [[RD layout\|rear-mounted]], [[aircooling\|air-cooled]] [[V8]] engine, very technically sophisticated for the time.		Tatra's specialty was luxury cars of a technically advanced nature. In the 1930s, under Austrian engineer [[Hans Ledwinka]] and his son Erich, Tatra started building advanced, streamlined cars starting with the large ''[[Tatra T77]]'' in 1934, the world's first production aerodynamic car. The fastback T77's drag coefficient of 0.212 is rarely bettered even by the sleekest modern cars. It featured, as did almost all subsequent big Tatras, a [[RD layout\|rear-mounted]], [[aircooling\|air-cooled]] [[V8]] engine, very technically sophisticated for the time.

	[[Image:Tatra-t97-small.JPG\|thumb\|right\|250px\|A Tatra T97]]		[[Image:Tatra-t97-small.JPG\|thumb\|right\|250px\|A Tatra T97]]