Tatra, a Czechoslovak car brand, was famous for its high-end luxury cars. In the 1920s they invented the backbone chassis, and in the early 1930s they created the Tatra Type 77, the first aerodynamic road car. Hans Ledwinka, his son Erich, and Erich Überlacker created the T77, with Zeppelin designer Paul Jaray designing the groundbreaking exterior.
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Groundbreaking rationalization principles influenced the vehicle's stylish and innovative design. The vehicle's futuristic, low-slung exterior was created to reduce drag and improve efficiency and high-speed performance. The prominent rear fins are designed to improve the vehicle's lateral stability, especially at high speeds.
Despite doubts about its performance, the avant-garde T77 easily reached 140 kilometers per hour during a demonstration run, despite its 3.0-liter V8 engine. This confirmed the value of aerodynamic design in cars, and many other manufacturers followed suit.
One T77 also took part in the 1000 Czechoslovak Mile race for production-based touring cars, finishing fourth in the tough public road event. Photos of the beautiful 1934 Tatra T77 are below.