Tatra 77

  • Tatra 77
  • Tatra 77a
Overview
Manufacturer TATRA, a. s.
Production
  • 1934-1935 Tatra 77
  • 1935-1938 Tatra 77A
  • 249 produced[1]
    (+ 4 pre-serial in 1933) [2]
Assembly Kopřivnice, Moravia, Czechoslovakia
Designer
Body and chassis
Class 4-door sedan
Executive luxury vehicle
Body style limousine (Finned Fastback)
Layout RR layout
Powertrain
Engine
  • 3.0L Tatra 77 V8 (T77)
  • 3.4L Tatra 77a V8 (T77a)[1]
Transmission 4-speed manual[1]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 3,150 mm (124.0 in)[1]
Length
  • 5,000–5,200 mm (196.9–204.7 in) (T77)
  • 5,300–5,400 mm (208.7–212.6 in) (T77a)[1]
Width
  • 1,650 mm (65.0 in) (T77)
  • 1,660 mm (65.4 in) (T77a)[1]
Height
  • 1,420–1,500 mm (55.9–59.1 in) (T77)
  • 1,600 mm (63.0 in) (T77a)[1]
Curb weight
  • 1,700 kg (3,700 lb) (T77)
  • 1,800 kg (4,000 lb) (T77a)[1]
Chronology
Predecessor Tatra V570
Successor Tatra 87

The Czechoslovakian Tatra 77 (T77) is the first serial-produced, truly aerodynamically-designed automobile. It was developed by Hans Ledwinka and Paul Jaray, the Zeppelin aerodynamic engineer. Launched in 1934, the Tatra 77 is a coach-built automobile constructed on a central tube-steel chassis and is powered by a 75 horsepower (56 kW) rear-mounted 3.4-litre air-cooled V8 engine. It possessed advanced engineering applications such as overhead valves, hemispherical combustion chambers, a dry sump, fully independent suspension, rear swing axles and extensive use of lightweight magnesium-alloy for the engine, transmission, suspension and body. The average drag coefficient of a 1:5 model of Tatra 77 was recorded as 0.2455. The later model T77a has a top speed of over 150 km/h (93 mph) due to its advanced aerodynamic design which delivers an exceptionally low drag coefficient of 0.212,[3][4][5][6][7] although some sources claim that this is the coefficient of a 1:5 scale model, not of the car itself.[8][9]

History

The Tatra Company began manufacturing cars in 1897 in Kopřivnice, Moravia, today's Czech republic, making it the third oldest still existing automobile manufacturer in the world. Under the direction of Hans Ledwinka, the company employed many genius minds of automotive history, including Erich Übelacker and consultant Paul Jaray, who all designed the Tatra 77.[10]

Tatra 77 model 1:10 by Paul Jaray, 1934
Tatra 77 early prototype, 1934

Paul Jaray and Tatra V570

Paul Jaray first worked at Luftschiffbau Zeppelin (LZ) where he gained experience in the aerodynamic design of airships. He used his access to LZ's wind tunnels and subsequently established streamlining principles for car design. In 1927 he founded a company specializing in developing streamlined car bodies and selling issuing licences to major vehicle manufacturers. Tatra was the only manufacturer to incorporate Jaray's streamlining principles into their series car production, starting with the Tatra 77.

Before designing the large, luxurious T77, Jaray designed an aerodynamic body for the Tatra 57, a mid-range model. This prototype was not further developed and failed to reach production. Instead, Jaray constructed two prototypes for a concept designated as the Tatra V570, which more closely conformed to his aerodynamic streamlining principles, featuring a beetle-shaped body.

Decision to make luxurious state-of-the-art car

However, at the time Tatra already had a cheap, strongly-selling car in its production range, which was moreover popular due to its continuation of the tradition of simplicity and ultra-reliability inaugurated by the Tatra 11. Although Tatra management saw the advantages of Jaray's concept, they believed that the new model would make sense only as an additional model with limited production, which meant that it should be aimed at the top of automobile market. Ledwinka's team subsequently stopped work on the V570 and concentrated on designing large, luxurious cars. Tatra aimed at making state-of-the-art cars that would be fast, stable, nearly silent, economical and built to the most rigorous engineering standards, as well as reflect modern aerodynamic research.[11]

Public response

"Tatra 77, the car of the future"
Contemporary advertisement

Hans Ledwinka was the chief designer responsible for the development of the new car, while Erich Übelacker was responsible for the body. Development was very secretive until the last moments of the official presentation on March 5, 1934 at Tatra's offices in Prague. The car was demonstrated on the road from Prague to Karlovy Vary, where it easily reached 145 kilometres per hour (90 mph) and amazed journalists with great handling and a comfortable ride at speeds of about 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph). That same year the T77 was presented at the Paris motor show, where it became the centre of attention, due not only to its atypical design but also to its performance. There were even demonstration rides after doubt was cast on the ability of the car to reach 140 kilometres per hour (87 mph) with a mere 45 kilowatts (60 hp) of engine power: normally at that time twice the power was required for a car to reach such a speed. Director Maurice Elvey was so amazed by the looks of the car that he used the T77a in his science-fiction movie The Transatlantic Tunnel.[9][12]

"It is a sensation when it comes to its construction, to its appearance and to its performance. However, it isn't a sensation that has just fallen from the skies, but is a logical extension of roads [themselves], which Hans Ledwinka made thirteen years ago. The ideological principle of the new Tatra is an understanding that the car is moving along the dividing line between the ground and the air. ... The car maintained 145km/h, it has astonishing handling, it drives through curves with speeds that are both mad and safe, and it seems just to float on any kind of road. ... It is a car which opens new perspectives to car construction and automotive practice."
Vilém Heinz, Motor Journal, 1934 [13]
"That is the car for my highways!"
Adolf Hitler to Ferdinand Porsche [4][10][14] See Volkswagen controversy

Notable owners

"Tatra 77, the elegant car"
Contemporary advertisement

The Tatra 77 was the particular favourite of Tatra design engineer Erich Übelacker, who owned and used a T77 himself since 1934. Other famous owners of T77s were Milos Havel, the proprietor of the film studios in Prague who bought a T77 in 1935, Austrian car designer Edmund Rumpler, who designed the aerodynamic Rumpler Tropfenwagen in 1921, Edvard Beneš, the 1930s minister of Foreign Affairs and later president of Czechoslovakia, who both owned a T77a.[15]

Design

The Tatra 77 and its motor engine being shown at the Berlin Motorshow

A number of designers around the world were trying to construct an aerodynamic car at the time, but Tatra was the first one to successfully introduce it into serial production. There were numerous reasons why Tatra designers took such a revolutionary approach to the conception of the new car: First of all it was the aim to reduce drag, mostly air-drag, which increases with the square of speed. A car with a more standard body shape of the era needed a very powerful engine to reach higher speeds. The Tatra's new body shape was tested in a wind tunnel. However, the new requirements this brought about resulted in far-reaching changes to the car's design.

The requirement of a small front face area limited the car's height, which in turn required the use of a flat floor. That led to putting the engine in the rear of the car, directly above the driven axle. Subsequently there was no more need for a floor tunnel with a drive shaft and exhaust pipes, which contributed to weight loss. As the designers wanted to reduce the rolling resistance, they did their best to produce an engine as light as possible – an air-cooled V8 with a crank case made from elektron, a magnesium alloy. The gearbox was made from elektron as well and it was positioned in front of the rear axle and engine.

The rear position of the engine was favourable for air cooling, while the oil cooler, battery and spare wheel were positioned in the front of the car. The frameless body was characterized by its central frame member, which was firmly welded to the floor panels and which covered the linkage to the brakes, gears, etc.

The front of the car had basically a rectangular cross section and was rounded all the way to the floor. The front bumper covered the rounded fenders, while the lower half of the lights was embedded in the front bonnet. The rear of the car had a continuous dropping form, and was divided by a vertical fin, which started at the rear end of the roof and ended almost at the rear end of the car. The rear wheels had aerodynamic covers. The door handles were embedded into the door panels, from which only the door hinges protruded slightly. The car had no rear window, limiting rear visibility to what could be discerned through slots on the sheet metal.

The first prototype of 1933 had a split windscreen, while other prototypes had a one-piece windscreen or even one formed by three separate pieces of glass, with one large central piece and two side parts angled sharply and flowing into the sides of the body.

Air was directed to the engine by rectangular ventilation inlets behind the side windows, and left the engine compartment through exit vents at the rear. At the time, Tatra registered numerous patents regarding air flow to the rear engine compartment.

Later the rear part of the body was widened so that both the rear fenders and door hinges were embedded into the bodywork itself. The air now flowed through transverse inlets, which were raised above the rear of the rounded roof. The trailing edge was also raised.[16]

Tatra 77a

In 1935 the T77 was updated and improved, which resulted in the T77a. The capacity of the V8 was increased to 3.4 L (207 cubic inches). This accomplishment was achieved by enlarging the bore diameter from 75 to 80 mm (3.0 to 3.1 inches). The new motor increased output to 75 hp (56 kW) and maximum speed to 150 km/h (93 mph). The front now had three headlamps of which the central unit was linked to the steering on some models, making it possible to turn the lamp while steering. Some T77s and T77as were also equipped with canvas Webasto roofs. The smooth body of the T77a gave a coefficient of aerodynamic drag of 0.212. This is an incredibly low value even for today's cars: only a few modern prototypes are able to achieve this figure. Some sources, though, claim that this figure was based on a 1:5 scale-model test.[8][9]

Versions

Erich Übelacker in front of the prototype T77, a two-door coupé.

The Tatra 77 was a hand-built car with a leather interior. Some cars had a glass partition between the front seats and the rear seats. A sliding roof was available.

An unusual feature equipped on a few of the T77 models was a central position for the steering wheel in the dashboard. The front-seat passengers were seated on either side of the driver and the seats placed slightly back, as in the modern-day McLaren F1. All other T77's had the steering wheel on the right-hand side as Czechoslovakia, like various other European countries, drove on the left before the Second World War.

The unique car pictured here is the two-door coupé prototype used by Erich Übelacker. This one also had the more powerful engine from the later Tatra 87.

Further development

Ledwinka was not entirely satisfied with the T77's handling, caused by its rather heavy rear. He started work on a successor to the T77, which was to be less heavy and with improved weight distribution. Tatra achieved just that with the now famous Tatra 87[17] that was introduced in 1936.

See also


Streamlined Tatras

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "CARS & HISTORY: TATRA 77 & T77A (1933-1938)". tatra.demon.nl. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  2. Tatra - Passenger Cars, Karel Rosenkranz, TATRA, a. s., 2007
  3. "Cheating Wind - Aerodynamic Tech and Buyers Guide". europeancarweb.com. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  4. 1 2 "Tatra 77 aerodynamic car (czech)". Retrieved 2010-05-17.
  5. Optimization and computational fluid dynamics, Gàbor Janiga, Springer, 2008, page 196
  6. Winning the oil endgame: innovation for profits, jobs and security, Amory B. Lovins, Rocky Mountain Institute, 2004, page 53
  7. "Conceptcarz.com". Retrieved 2010-05-17.
  8. 1 2 Ivan Margolius, 'Model Behaviour', Octane, February 2012, pp. 38-9
  9. 1 2 3 http://www.tatraplan.co.uk
  10. 1 2 Ivan Margolius and John G. Henry, Tatra - The Legacy of Hans Ledwinka, SAF Publishing, Harrow 1990.
  11. "History of aerodynamics". Retrieved 2010-05-17.
  12. "Tatra 77 at tatraportal.sk (czech)". Retrieved 2010-05-17.
  13. "Galery of industrial personalities: Hans Ledwinka (czech)". Retrieved 2010-05-17.
  14. Car Wars, Jonathan Mantle, Arcade Publishing, 1997
  15. "International streamlined Tatra site". Retrieved 2010-05-17.
  16. "Tatra oldtimer:T77 (czech)". Retrieved 2010-05-17.
  17. "International streamlined site". Retrieved 2010-05-17.
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