Tatra 87 Shines at Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance
- Candace Watkins
- Nov 5
- 3 min read
The Tampa Bay Automobile Museum’s 1942 Tatra 87 was recognized at the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance with multiple honors, including the Chairman’s Award. Surrounded by some of the most remarkable automobiles in the world, the Tatra drew steady attention for its unusual beauty, its engineering innovation, and its distinct presence on the show field.
For the museum, the recognition felt like a celebration of both art and science. The Tatra 87 is not just an elegant car. It represents one of the most daring chapters in automotive design.
A Vision of Aerodynamic Elegance
Designed by Hans Ledwinka and introduced in 1937, the Tatra 87 embodied the spirit of progress that defined prewar Czechoslovakia. Its smooth, teardrop silhouette was developed using wind-tunnel research pioneered by Paul Jaray, the former Zeppelin engineer whose studies in airflow helped reshape the future of transportation.
The car’s streamlined aluminum body, vertical rear fin, and low, rounded nose reduced drag and stabilized high-speed travel. Beneath its rear panel, an air-cooled 2.9-liter V-8 engine delivered 72 horsepower and top speeds over 100 miles per hour—numbers that seemed impossible at the time.
Ledwinka’s design eliminated unnecessary weight and drag, introducing features that were decades ahead of their time: independent suspension, hydraulic brakes, and a lightweight steel monocoque rather than a separate frame. Even the undercarriage was closed and smooth, allowing air to flow freely beneath the car.
A Story Woven Through History
use of wind tunnels in automotive body design.
During the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, the T87 became known as a favorite among officers who admired its speed and stability. Its balance of precision and power made it both admired and feared. Rumors spread of German officers losing control of the car on the Autobahn, and eventually an order forbade its use among the ranks and it was nicknamed, "The Nazi Killer"
Between 1936 and 1950, just over 3,000 examples were produced. Only about 250 survive today. Each one represents the height of Czechoslovakian engineering at a time when the country led Europe in modern design, architecture, and industry.
The Shape That Changed Everything
The Tatra 87 influenced countless later vehicles, including the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche’s early rear-engine concepts. Ledwinka’s approach to aerodynamics, refining form through scientific testing rather than ornament, set a new standard for what a car could be.
Its drag coefficient of 0.36 remains impressive even by modern standards, a figure verified decades later in Volkswagen’s wind tunnel. Few prewar automobiles could match it for both speed and sophistication.
Standing before the T87 today, its narrow fin rising behind the cabin, you can feel the optimism that built it. It was not a car made for luxury. It was a car made for discovery.
See It at the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum
The 1942 Tatra 87 is proudly displayed at the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum, where it continues to fascinate visitors for its beauty, engineering, and the history it carries. It sits among other vehicles that changed the direction of automotive design, each telling a story about innovation and imagination.
Come experience the Tatra 87 in person and see why it continues to capture the world’s attention nearly ninety years after its debut.
3301 Gateway Centre Blvd., Pinellas Park, FL