A very rarely seen Tatra 603 from early in their production life
A fascinating cold war era car with an advanced specification
Presenting very well following a bare metal respray in 2017
A must for those who like their classics rare and unusual
The Appeal
Frustrated by the limited supply and poor quality of Russian imports, Czech manufacturer Tatra was tasked with developing a new car for government officials. It launched the T603 project in 1953, and the car was ready by 1956.
The 603 looked quite unlike anything else on the road before or since, and the three big headlamps behind a curved glass panel seemed to chime with the exciting new age of the Sputnik. The mechanicals were no less revolutionary with a new 2,545cc air-cooled V8 engine mounted in the tail of the car providing a very healthy 95bhp. Limited to use by Communist Party officials and never officially exported outside of the Eastern Bloc, these cars represent guaranteed head turners and conversation starters in the UK today.
The History and Paperwork
This Tatra is plated as a 1957 car from early production
Believed to have been allocated to one of the Ministries of the Communist government
Like most Tatras, this one was returned to the factory on numerous occasions
This was the usual process for maintenance and repair
During this process a later body shell (from the post ’64 model) was fitted
This includes the later four headlamp arrangement
Documents also suggest a total of six engines were fitted during this routine
Current owner Paul is part Czechoslovakian and was looking for a Tatra
He was alerted by family in the country of this car’s availability
The car was bought on his behalf and Paul imported it to the UK in 1994
It has remained in his ownership ever since
In 2017 it underwent a full body restoration and respray
The paperwork includes its original Czechoslovakian logbook
The car is registered in the UK as a Historic Vehicle
As such it is considered MOT and VED exempt
Numerous earlier MOTs are present however
The last recorded MOT was in July 2008
Other paperwork includes a workshop manual and various correspondence
A number of invoices are included for maintenance and repairs undertaken
The car has had little to no use in the past five years and will require some recommissioning
The Condition
A striking looking car in gleaming black paintwork applied in 2017
It exhibits a deep shine and is further lifted by generous chrome adornments
Fascinating design touches include the large, split rear window and the rear cooling vents
The cabin is charmingly presented in tan velour and black vinyl
There is a little wear to the front bench seat squab
Otherwise, the condition is impressive for a 1957 car (with possible later additions!)
The overall condition of this Tatra speaks volumes about the care and attention it has enjoyed at the hands of owner Paul. The 2017 respray results in a car that would still pass muster for Ministerial duty. There are a few bubbles under the paint noted as well as the off very minor ripple or blemish in places.
The interior provides room for six courtesy of two full width bench seats. The upholstery is quite plush for an Eastern Bloc product of the 1950’s even if carpets are forgone in favour of hard-wearing rubber matting. A generous luggage compartment in located in the front of the car and more than adequate for all your Ministerial paraphernalia.
The Mechanics
For the period of car, the mechanical specification is both impressive and unusual
The rear mounted, air cooled V8 engine weighed a mere 180kgs
It featured a single centre camshaft and hemispherical combustion chambers
With 95bhp and potential for more, the engine had a surprisingly successful competition history
The four-speed manual gearbox is a full synchromesh unit
The transaxle and swing axle arrangement was advanced for the time
Other cars using something similar included the Porsche 356 and Mercedes SL300
The brakes have been upgraded to a disk arrangement at some point in the past
Tatra’s unusual but efficient return to factory maintenance program meant that any worn, substandard, or damaged parts were swapped out for what ever was current at the time. As such it is common for Tatras to have many parts from later models as well as replacement engines, gearboxes, and other components. Whilst this makes it hard to identify the age of cars it helped ensure the Tatra fleet was always ready to perform its duties.
Summary
Cars as unusual and rare as the Tatra can help but capture people’s imaginations. To then learn how sophisticated and ahead of their time they were makes for a fascinating journey of learning. The lucky new owner of this car can be pretty sure they won’t pass another one coming the other way at any time. With the support of an active UK based Tatra Register they can also rely on access to knowledgeable owners when needed. Definitely a car for those that prefer the path less trodden and all the better for it.
BEFORE YOU BUY
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