Tatra 603

Tatra 603, Type 1

The Tatra 603 is a luxury car of the then Czechoslovak automobile manufacturer Tatra. It was produced from 1956 to 1975 in three series and continued the tradition streamlined shape in Tatra continued, which went back to Hans Ledwinka. Another special feature was the air-cooled V8 engine in the rear of the car. Thus, the Tatra 603 raised both technically and externally apart from other car models. As a representative vehicle of the upper class, he stood in the Eastern Bloc eminent persons and institutions of the society by allocating available. From 1956-1975 20,422 copies were made largely by hand. Successor to the T 603 was from 1974, the Type 613

History

Prehistory

After the car - building had been set at Tatra for state assembly in 1951 with the T 600 to switch the work on military truck production, advanced the communist governance Czechoslovakia of this project again, as in the land of a lack of representative vehicles occurred. Since the few imported large Soviet limousines, like the GAZ -12 ZIM were unpopular due to their tired performance and especially initially poor processing quality, was considered in Czechoslovakia the production of luxury cars as an urgent necessity. In addition, the government realized now that the construction of luxury cars certainly represented a national prestige issue and therefore granted Tatra in 1953 for permission to produce new luxury cars.

Development

Work on the new Tatra 603 commenced at the beginning of the 1950s in a secret form in a design office in Prague. During this time, beginning with the construction of the first prototype. The government wanted a car with six seats and a V8 rear engine with a displacement of 3.6 liters within half a year. In the years 1954 and 1955, a MPV based on the Tatra 603 was designed under the name " Tatra 707 ", but never realized even as a prototype. An entirely new large car was developed with aerodynamic body, an air-cooled V- eight-cylinder engine in the rear ( version 603F ) with a displacement of (initially) 2545 cc, OHV valve management for maximum output of 95 hp (73 kW). The model name Tatra 603 is derived from the motor type 603, which was different from the completely new designed body constructed in 1949 finished. This new engine was - albeit modified accordingly - 1950 GP car Tatra 607 Monoposto 1951 and reached 601 in Tatraplan Monte Carlo to missions in the motorsports and therefore was considered to be tested and proven. The T 603 had last Tatra a streamlined body. With its predecessor T 6000 he had only the basic principles in common ( air cooling, rear-engine, rear-wheel drive, swing axle rear), but has been completely redesigned. The on the image of the prototype from 1955 visible central fin at the rear of the vehicle, which the pre-war model T 77 and T 87 were distinguished, was not included in the series. A stylistic feature are required for the air cooling Lufteintrittshutzen that are integrated into the rear wheel arches. A special feature of the first series ( 1955-1963 ) were the three equal headlights behind one of the body shape corresponding curved glass cover, which was chosen in order to optimize the car's aerodynamics.

Tatra 603

The car was launched at the start of series production in 1956 at home and abroad to the public and received in the former West Germany because of its modern lines of a price. The initial 95 and later 105 hp engine accelerated the big car on up to 165 km / h ( first series 170 km / h ), which ultimately allowed the streamlined body. Since 1962 a new version of the engine was installed ( 603G ), which had a slightly ³ to 2474 cm reduced cubic capacity, but increased by 10 bhp.

Tatra Tatra 603-2 or 2-603

In 1963 the car was to type 2-603 (also type 603-2 ) modernized. The most noticeable change was to the front of the vehicle in which the three front headlights were replaced behind the glass cover by four smaller closely arranged headlamps without further cover. Thus, the T 603 had a somewhat jagged front, which was detrimental to the aerodynamics, the speed decreased, despite the slight power increase by 5 km / h Other minor visual touch-ups to the body followed. The mean headlights served until then as a cornering light, but prepared space problems in the trunk. This was in front, there was placed in the rear of the engine.

Tatra Tatra 603-3 or 2-603 Model 1969

Followed in 1968 by a further revision, with a new and more durable engine version ( 603h ) installed and the four headlamps were further displaced slightly outward. This version should be called Tatra 3-603. However, because of the high financial expenses for the homologation of it remained officially in the name Tatra 2-603 (type 603-2 ). To distinguish the car, however, was often referred to as Tatra 603-2 Model 1969. Again, minor changes were made to the body. Most striking were the front, the chrome strips on the side (now arranged continuously and set higher ) and the new, simplified, in the middle tapering instead of domed hubcaps. The production of the T 603 ended in 1975 after the more modern and more powerful successor was made 613 for one year.

From a total of 20,422 copies were Tatra 603 hand- made " in series" in twenty years; thus provides this type meets the most produced car type Tatra dar. The Tatra 603 was also the last produced in Kopřivnice passenger cars. The assembly hall on the sprawling grounds Tatra was demolished a few years later.

Dissemination

The Tatra 603 was exported from the beginning of the 1960s in many countries of the socialist economic region. Mostly, he was assigned to appropriate persons and bodies for official, representative purposes. In Czechoslovakia were the higher functionaries of the Communist Party, senior officials of the state apparatus as well as directors of the larger state-owned enterprises, and government agencies and Czechoslovak intelligence. The T 603 also was state coach of Czechoslovakia and was the government officials and diplomats are available. The president was not chauffeured with this vehicle, but was driven into stretched limousines Soviet GAZ. A few older specimens were used as umlackiertes emergency vehicle by fire chief. Discarded from the civil service copies were often in private hands. Low found in some cities of Czechoslovakia in private hands used as a taxi. In the course of their use, many vehicles were sent for overhaul in the work, where they received a new body part and older versions were often converted to the current status.

Exports to the GDR began in late 1959. The retail price in Germany amounted to DM 15,050, DM 16,000 later

Before the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, the T 603 were a rarity in the West. After 1990, many of these cars by enthusiasts from the GDR, Czechoslovakia and other countries were privately imported to the West, as well as to Germany and are now popular classic cars.

Driving impression

The driving behavior of the 603er is quiet despite a rear engine and swing axle rear with dryness; However, in the wet or snow they are very sensitive, especially during sudden braking maneuvers. The circuit is indeed fully synchronized, but works satisfactorily only when switching with intermediate gas and intermediate domes. The T 603 is easy to steer and convinced today with good ride comfort despite the lack of power steering. The performance figures were impressive and make the 603 still at a fast touring car.

Versions

In the years 1954/1955, a MPV based on the station was originally designed 603 under the name " Tatra 707 ", but never realized only as a prototype.

Series versions

Tatra 603
Tatra Tatra 2-603 or 603-2
Tatra Tatra 603-2 2-603 Model 69 or Model 1969

Racing versions

Tatra 603 Monte Carlo
Tatra 603 B5
Tatra 603 B6

Motorsport

Also in motorsport was the T 603 use. Factory teams published by the Monte Carlo Rally, the Marathon de la Route and other international racing events as well as national Czechoslovak championships. Once a production-, uprated to 190 hp 603 T of the first series of the Tatra team even managed the victory at Marathon de la Route. The last race versions were 1965 Tatra 603 B5 and 1968 Tatra 603 B6. In an Austrian Alpine Rally launched five vehicles and were the first one behind another.

Prototype based on the 603

In addition to manufactured from 1955 to 1975 model 603 series a few prototypes were built on the basis of the Tatra branch factory in Bratislava. The first was 1961, the minibus Tatra 603 MB with built between the front seats of the 603 V8 engine and front-wheel drive, which to date is unique for a Tatra. This model has not been approved for capacity reasons. Three years later, in 1964, the Tatra 603 A appeared in two body styles as four-door notchback sedan or as an ambulance. This model did not reach the series production. The final prototype was the Tatra 603x from 1966, originally designed and intended in the body style sedan, replace the well-known series model 603. But the 603 X was not the favor of the government and remained a prototype, although the Italian design studio styles Italia presented its own stylistically sophisticated design on behalf of Tatra. As a consequence, Tatra yet decided in 1966 to construct a successor type 603 from scratch and develop.

Tatra 603 MB ( minivan prototype 1961 - Tatra only with front-wheel drive )
Tatra 603 A ( limousine and ambulance prototype 1964)
Tatra 603 X ( prototype limo 1966)

Tatra 603 X - Prototype of Tatra Bratislava ( 1966)

Specifications

Year 1969-1972 model II, engine type 603h

Length: 4975 mm
Width: 1895 mm
Overall height: 1530 mm
Wheelbase: 2750 mm
Front track width: 1485 mm
Rear track: 1400 mm
Ground clearance: 200 mm
Engine: eight-cylinder four -stroke V - engine with OHV valve timing, air-cooled ( 2 axial cooling fan, oil cooler 2 )
Bore x Stroke: 85 × 77 mm
Displacement: 2472 cm ³
Power: 77 kW (105 hp) at 4800 min-1
Clutch: Single -plate dry clutch
Transmission: Four -speed manual transmission (4 -R) with column shift, fully synchronized
Drive: Rear Wheel Drive
Front: Independent suspension on suspension struts, coil springs, hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers
Rear: Swing axle, coil springs, hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers
Empty weight: 1470 kg
Maximum speed: 170 km / h ( factory specification )
Standard consumption: 10-15 l/100 km

Trivia

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has a white lacquered T603, which was well equipped as a single specimen from the factory with air conditioning.
In the film, Lemony Snicket - Mysterious events driving the asset manager Mr. Poe a Tatra 603
In the film Traces of Stones (1966 ) by director Frank Beyer a Tatra 603 will also be presented.

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