Tatra T87 Aerodynamic Sedan
The Tatra T87 is one of the most remarkable cars in automotive history — a genuine design milestone that was decades ahead of its time. Designed by the brilliant Hans Ledwinka and aerodynamicist Paul Jaray, the T87 was a masterclass in streamlining applied to a full-size luxury sedan.
The T87's aerodynamic bodywork — with its central dorsal fin, integrated headlights, split rear window, and sweeping curves — achieved a drag coefficient of 0.36, extraordinary for 1937. Most cars of that era had Cd values above 0.60. This aerodynamic efficiency meant the T87 could reach 100 mph with just 75 hp from its air-cooled V8.
The engineering was unconventional by any standard. The 3.0-liter air-cooled V8 was mounted in the rear (predating the Porsche 911 by 25 years), the chassis was a central backbone tube, and all four wheels were independently sprung. The combination of rear engine, rear-wheel drive, and swing-axle rear suspension made the T87 a handful at speed — a characteristic that led to one of automotive history's darkest legends.
During World War II, the Wehrmacht commandeered many T87s as staff cars. The Autobahn-capable speed combined with the tricky rear-engine handling proved fatal for many German officers unfamiliar with the car's characteristics. It's said (perhaps apocryphally, but with some truth) that more German officers were killed by T87s than by the Czech resistance. The car was banned from use by non-experienced drivers.
Ferdinand Porsche was deeply influenced by Ledwinka's work — the Volkswagen Beetle shared many concepts with the Tatra (rear engine, air cooling, backbone chassis). Tatra sued VW after the war and eventually received a settlement of DM 3 million.
The T87 was produced from 1937 to 1950. After the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia, Tatra was nationalized and shifted to producing trucks and government limousines (the T603, T613, and T700).
The T87 is extremely rare and virtually all surviving examples are known. Most are in museums or serious private collections. If one comes to market, expect strong interest from European collectors and museums. Key concerns: the air-cooled V8 requires specialist knowledge, body panels are complex and expensive to restore, and the swing-axle rear handling can be dangerous for the inexperienced. Parts availability is very limited — Tatra enthusiasts and the Tatra Technical Museum in Kopřivnice are primary resources.
Total T87 production: approximately 3,056 units (1937-1950). The T87 succeeded the even more dramatic T77 (1934-1938, the first series-production aerodynamic car). Post-war Tatra was nationalized and produced the T600 Tatraplan, T603, T613, and T700 — all rear-engine, air-cooled V8s. Tatra stopped car production in 1999 with the T700. The factory in Kopřivnice now produces trucks only.