If a classic Mercedes-Benz or BMW seems a little too obvious, this Tatra 2-603 could be the answer to your executive car dreams.
Produced in the former Czechoslovakia at the height of the Cold War, the Tatra 603 was typically reserved for high-ranking government officials.
Fast-forward to 2023 and this 1967 example will soon be offered for auction on the Car & Classic website.
Your new Czech mate
Tatra launched the original T603 in 1956, with an unconventional triple headlight design. Extensive wind-tunnel testing created the unusual body shape. Tatra had first experimented with the aerodynamic 77 in 1935.
A facelift in 1962 produced the 2-603 version seen here. This had four headlights instead of three, along with a different dashboard and an upgraded engine.
This particular example moved to the Netherlands in the 1980s, then was later sold in Denmark. Now fully restored in painstaking detail, the Tatra currently resides in Slovakia.
Eastern Bloc Party
The restoration sees the interior finished in a mixture of vinyl and velour, with the original fabric preserved on the seats. All the original instruments, switchgear and radio are present, although the vendor opted not to reconnect the petrol-fuelled heater.
Opening the boot reveals the biggest surprise, as that is where the Tatra’s engine lives. The rear-engined machine is powered by an air-cooled 2.5-litre ‘Hemi’ V8, producing 104hp.
The unconventional V8 is entirely original, and still uses the same Jikov carburettors as when it left the factory. The four-speed manual gearbox has a column shift to maximise interior space.
‘Innovation and boundless creativity’
Car & Classic head of editorial Chris Pollitt said: “This is not simply a car produced by and for the Eastern Bloc.
“Tatra is synonymous with innovation, boundless creativity and being off the beaten track. The aerodynamic lines, revolutionary engine and unusual styling set the model apart from everything else, but this particular car is even more desirable because of the high standards of its thorough restoration and overall originality.”
The online auction for the special Tatra begins on Sunday, 5 February 2023, with those interested in some Eastern European glamour able to place pre-bids now.
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