Austrian engineer Hans Ledwinka's first aerodynamic, V8-powered Tatra sedan was 1934's T77, and it was co-designed by Paul Jaray, creator of the Zeppelin and Hindenburg-class airships. The later T87 was an evolution of the concept with a drag coefficient of 0.36, confirmed by Volkswagen's wind tunnel. The five-seater Tatra 87 was a luxury car by all means, capable of returning up to 20 miles per gallon while maintaining an average of 60 mph. Using a four-speed manual, its top speed was nearly 100 mph, partly thanks to a completely flat undercarriage and that unique central stabilizer fin at the rear.
In the name of stability, with a pair of spare tires, tools, fuel tank, the reservoir of the central lubricator system and a large oil cooler at the front, 38 percent of the T87's weight rests over its front axle. At the rear, the Tatra also features the 1936 manual equivalent of Lamborghini's cooling slots introduced for 2020. And with those doing their jobs, this air-cooled, overhead-cam, hemi V8 is known for working flawlessly in any weather. This is evidenced by Hanzelka's and Zikmund's adventures through Africa and Latin America after the Second World War, during which they crossed 44 countries driving their Tatra 87.
