The Tatra 97: A Futuristic Mid-Size Car That Met an Untimely End – Design You Trust

The Tatra 97: A Futuristic Mid-Size Car That Met an Untimely End

tatra-97-1

The Tatra 97, or T97, was a mid-size car built by Tatra in Kopřivnice, Moravia from 1936 to 1939. Despite its futuristic design and unique features, only around 500 units were produced. Unfortunately, the car’s production came to an abrupt end due to the outbreak of the Second World War, specifically the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany.

h/t: vintag.es

tatra-97-2

The T97 was designed to complement Tatra’s two full-size cars, the Tatra 77 and Tatra 87, which were launched in 1934 and 1936, respectively. All three models had air-cooled rear engines and shared similar aerodynamic fastback four-door sedan bodies. However, the T97 had a flat-four engine instead of the large V8 engines used in the T77 and T87. The T97 was also characterized by two headlights and a one-piece windscreen, while the T77 and T87 had three headlights and a three-piece windscreen. With its 1,759 cc flat-four engine, the T97 could produce 40 horsepower (30 kW) and reach a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph).

tatra-97-3

Tatra already had a mid-size car in the same class, the more conventional Tatra 75 that it had launched in 1933. Despite this, Tatra continued to produce the Type 75 alongside the futuristic Type 97. Interestingly, the Type 75 outlived the Type 97 and remained in production until 1942.

tatra-97-4

The Tatra 97 was a unique and forward-thinking vehicle that showcased the company’s dedication to innovation and design. It’s a shame that it didn’t get a chance to thrive, but its legacy lives on as a reminder of Tatra’s contribution to the automotive industry.

tatra-97-5
tatra-97-6
tatra-97-7
tatra-97-8
tatra-97-9
tatra-97-10
tatra-97-11
tatra-97-12
tatra-97-13
tatra-97-14
tatra-97-15
tatra-97-16
tatra-97-17
tatra-97-18
tatra-97-19

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to 'Oh, Design You Trust,' our brand new Facebook page! Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

More Inspiring Stories

Vintage Photos of Stunning Custom Cars Painted by Larry Watson in the 1950s
20 People Whose Parents Could Easily Be On The Cover Of Fashion Magazines
ALIVE! Fred G Johnson’s American Sideshow Banners
Diathermy in Beauty Culture From From the 1930s
Stunning Vintage Photos of Woody Station Wagons From the 1960s and 1970s
Looney Tunes: The Original Model Sheets
Beautiful Postcards Capture Everyday Life Of American Indians In The Early 20th Century
Wonderful Sunny Pics Document A Spring Break In United States In The 1980s
"Arrival": The Superb Digital Nostalgic Artworks of Stew Romero
Cool Pics That Capture Naughty Ladies of the 1950s
Amazing Black and White Photos Capture Street Scenes of Liverpool in the 1980s
Arizona Desert “Boneyard” – World's Largest Storage Site for Old Military Planes
Fifteen Young Women About to Break the World Record for Passengers in a Mini, 1966
Rarest And Oldest Porsche: Yours For About $20 Million
After Watching Chernobyl, Couple Decided To Design Their Apartment In Soviet Style And Listed It In On Airbnb
"Your Soul Is the Whole World": Beautiful Surreal Retro Collages of Hugo Bastos
Scary Photos of a Young Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil in "The Exorcist", 1973
Christine Osinski’s Photographs Of Staten Island’s Overlooked New Yorkers In 1980s
Behind the Scenes Photographs From a 1950s Casting Call for a Long-Haired Model
Before Seatbelts and Airbags: Terrible Photos of Car Accidents in the Early 20th Century
Glamorous Vintage Camper Is Your Midcentury Dream Home On Wheels
The Original Hells Angels: Amazing Photographs Capture Daily Life Of A Notorious Biker Gang In California In The 1960s
These Colourised Photographs Show How People Took Shelter in The London Underground in The 1940s
Back To Beat Street: Photos of Hip-Hop In The Bronx Back in the 1980s