My first car that i bought on my own was tatra 613 back in 1999 as a 20 years old guy and i'm very proud of it. Got holes in exhaust and the sound was incredible. As the best amercan cars
In the 1990s I did some work for the Slovak Ministry of Justice, and was driven between Bratislava and Wien Airport in one of their official Tatra 613s - no idea which version. It was very comfortable, and I remember the power of the rear engine made the front lift up a little when it accelerated. Thanks for the memory!
An absolute gem of a car and the video is hugely underrated. You explained the history and how this car came to be in a brief and efficient way, and you took the time to get plenty of B role of this beauty.
It's a very elegant car. I remember it from a visit to Prag in the 80s and I were impressed. It was black and parked not long from the 'powder tower'. At that time I though from the shape that it had been inspired from the most luxurious Renault, apparently a big mistake. It was a revelation for a person from the West who only knew of the smaller Skoda, the Volga and the Trabant and Wartburg from the DDR. I had just passed trough Alexanderplatz, and the contrast was huge. After the fall of the iron curtain, I had expected it to be exported. I told everybody about it at home, but I never saw it again. Thank you for this presentation.
Not a single word that this engine is dohc engine? It is one of the most important features of Tatra 613 and quite rare and advanced feature in time when it was developed.
The Czech people are formidable. Not only as engineers, but as brewers. Despite Germany's reputation for brewing beer, the best beer I've ever had in my life was in Prague: Gambrinus! 🍺😋
Well if you look at Czech engineering history, if WW2 hadn't occurred and the iron curtain wasn't, it would have been one of the most advanced countries n the world, probably beating Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany on many quality levels. They worked on the SS Normandie where Skoda created the rudder frame and Alstom had some engineers working closely with Czech engineers to perfect the engine performances. The same goes for the movie industry, if WW2 wouldn't have been the European center of movies would be in Czechia. And in recent years I have greatly admired how Czech companies have been able to drag themselves out of the communist mindset very quickly and create some of the most high quality, functional and sometimes luxurious items and vehicles. I bought a Skoda Yeti Mark I because it was just in a league of it's own and I was shocked when VW group made it less unique in it's look due to the fact it was too good and too successful. On a less "normal" note and maybe controversial, still in the adult movie industry Czechia has also put his mark in making a specific look in the late 1990's which has now become the standard worldwide. It was high quality with great respect for the actors and was a first in the world of adult movies. (This is what I was told by two directors of Adult movies and not a personal point of view) I can't wait what the Czech engineers and artists will create, invent or perfect in the next few decades, new opportunities present themselves and it is one of the only countries in the EU that I see doing really good in the next two decades.
Must admit, that I'm very impressed! Interior is rather plush and beautiful. Pity about the difficult gearchange. The roads are BEAUTIFUL; so neat and in perfect condition. Would've loved the experience!
That is a timeless design both inside and out. Very elegant and stylish for its time. The cluster reminds me of the MB clusters of the late 80’s early 90’s.
I have ridden in a Tatra 613 in Prague where it was used as a taxi. Very comfortable and spacious car, bigger than many similar western cars. Had no cardan tunnel because the engine is in the back.
Tatra is one of the most fascinating car brands of all time. I remember catching a taxi in a small Moravian town back in 1988. The car was a ca 1980 Tatra, and the driver, who obviously owned the car, was very happy to tell us about his wheels. We both used our shaky German to communicate, so not a lot of room for finer details. But it was a very comfortable ride, even on those twisting, bumpy back roads. With a delightful sound from the rear. If VW had stuck to rear engine drive, this could have been what their prestige car would have looked like in the late seventies. Mayby with a flat six. I hope the Tatra brand will resurface one day, proudly displaying Czech innovation and quirkiness. In the spirit of Hans Ledwinka!
Having owned a small-displacement rear engine car myself and coming away with mixed experience of the handling, it's hard to even imagine what a rear mounted V-8 would be like (except powerful). And air cooled too! I have seen the name Tatra but had no idea it had so innovative an engineering staff. The fact it was a low volume builder means each car must have been practically hand built.
The Tatra V8 sat on top of the rear axle, unlike e.g. the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, which have the entire engine behind the rear axle. So the weight distribution of the Tatra was better, which improved the handling.
There's a wonderful collection of running Tatra cars at Lane's Motor Museum in Tennessee by the way, including the 1958 T-603 Geneva Motor Show car, and a 1996 T-700.
The injected 613 has a little trick up its sleeve. When the accelerator pedal is floored, a sort of 'kick-down' comes into effect - only in the Tatra, it doesn't change down a gear, it uncouples the cooling fan for a few moments to boost power by about 10%...
Perfect background music for the 613. Can only imagine the joy driving this beautiful beast for an hour and then popping some of that music into the cassette deck. Well I've got a good cassette recorder ... now all I need is the car. Very nice presentation.
The last Tatra Limousine was developed by two Englishmen- Tim Bishop for the electronic fuel injection, and Geoff Wardle for the styling under Mirek Staron. All subsequently worked for Reliant Cars in the UK. Tim Bishop went on to start Tatra Motive Power, importing them to the UK.
@@3wheeler1000 3-wheelers in the UK in the 50's thru 70's/80's, were mainly a trick to let bike riders stay (relatively) warm & dry without getting a car licence, plus most were cheap to buy and run. The Reliants were ugly, slow, unreliable, spartan, uncomfortable and unstable. Thus my reservations about the design team being suitable for Tatra, who wanted a luxury sedan/limo. Reliant was never a real car, not even in the horrific days of British Leyland.
Maybe they wil resurrect the T700 one day, just as they did with the T603 which also wouldn't have gone into production. It could even have an electric version, a true Tesla (since that brand name was used by the combined Czech electronics factories traditionally).
The tatra engineering from the early era is just simply phenomenal. What amazing lines and beautiful designs. Why don't they make cars like this today??!! They were simply so far ahead of their time. That Electronik Sounds like a large vacuum cleaner. These air cooled gasoline engines are such a curiosity to a Westerner like myself. I own an air cooled in line five cylinder Deutz diesel, love it too. At first you think that being air-cooled will be a disadvantage, but it turns out to be very reliable. I would imagine that the same principles would apply to a gasoline-powered v8 air cooled engine. High reliability, less mechanical complexity and unique! I'm very very curious about tatra trucks, their integrated drive system looks fantastically capable in off-road situations.
nice video and good information on the car. the 613 reminds me of my childhood, they were quite common in Czechoslovakia back then in the 80s. I mean common - normal people could not afford them, they were owned by government, state institutions, police, etc. in the mid 2000s a friend of mine owned one, which I drove once. it was stolen eventually. but I remember the engine sound was special, so was the ride.
Only 17 produced? Then I’m one of a privileged few who’ve seen one! I saw one in Weingarten in 1997. I’ll never forget how fascinated I was when I asked the owner to open the trunk and show me the engine! Amazing! Thanks for sharing 😊
70s man it looks 80s 100%. Tatra was ahead of time yet ppl think air cooled is "old" but its reliable and easy to fix. That thing has some deferred matinence for sure
I saw such cars in Leningrad in the mid-80s. And yes, it looks like, judging by the license plates, these cars were driven by KGB officers. But not the operational staff, these machines really stood out from the usual row, but the senior officers and superiors. All such cars were black. I have a question... I don’t quite understand how, with an air-cooled engine, the interior was heated? It may be warm in Czechoslovakia in winter, but in the USSR it is very cold in winter and it is impossible to drive without a heater. How to organize interior heating in a car with an air-cooled engine?
Part of the cooling air that circulates between the engine and the engine shroud is redirected through air ducts into the cabin. I had an air cooled Citroën Visa and the heating was great. Almost instantly after starting the engine
@@danielg4228 Nope. T613 used independent petrol heating. Most versions two smaller units. One underneath the cargo space between front wheels and the other under the middle part of the dashboard. Some newer cars used one larger unit (Eberspächer B5) underneath the cargo space. Not sure whether that was an extra option or whether it came standard for some models/years.
@@CaptHollister I suppose you can't do it with a Lexus, Merc or BMW. This was the communist era equivalent of this type of cars, we are not talking Bentley here
That is something Tatra used to do back in a day, as these cars worked for the government, let's say every ten years your car would get new engine or chassis based on what was needed, that is also why there is often discrepancy in engine vs. chassis serial numbers, Tatra rarely stayed for its whole life with same vital parts.
The French car make Avions-Voisin used to do the same in the 20's and 30's, customers would trade their cars back for a newer one, the factory would refurbish and update them (even change de serial number !) and sell them for a discount.
Just to clarify: the 17 pieces produced is probably referring to the "Electric" model. Otherwise, there were many more 613s produced. I remember the electric model from a Prague Auto show back in 93 and it was priced waaaay above the standard model, which was already pricey.
Fascinating! I remember reading about this car as a kid, but never thought I'd see a video about it! Is it just me, but the passenger compartment (especially the doors) looks a bit like an early VW Passat?
The drone footage is really nice, it dramatically improves the video production quality, with a very distinct third perspective, besides the typical inside view and walk around views... Nice work.
Thank you for an interesting video on this vehicle. Tatra was well ahead of it's time in engineering and execution. I'd love the chance to drive that vehicle!
It was well ahead of it's time in the 30s, but in the 90s, this was hopelesly outdated. That's what socialism does with industries. At the time this was made it was basically a facelifted 20 year old model (1974) and the underpinnings were based on a modified late 50s design (T603).This didn't have an automatic gearbox or an ABS or airbags and competition at the time included W140 and E32, which were also both cheaper.
I’ve ridden in one of these, very cool. The museum in Czech Republic is great. 20 years ago the last few dozen were sold to the government and they used to be lined up outside of the parliament here in Prague
So in 93 this particular Tatra 613 was more than an S-class Mercedes no wonder only 17 was sold. So much for the brilliant engineering it clearly has a gear box that needs double de-clutch that stopped with most if not all by the late 60s. Its a lovely Colour and for an eastern European car looks to have worn its 140,000 miles or so well or maybe its due to having been refurbished at sometime. I know Jay Leno has several Tatras not sure about 613s but definitely a 603, the 3 eyed thing sorry meant headlights.
Chances are, the gear linkage (which is relatively long) needs to be adjusted, and maybe the gear box needs an oil change. As you say, due to its mileage maybe it even needs to be refurbished.
cool history that I have only ever heard of in passing. Fun to see how technologies emerge and die in the greater landscape of world politics and advances in science. Thank you for the information and the good production value! new subscriber gained!
This car has the perfect high official look. It is hard to imagine it for private recreational use. When you drive in this car, it's like wearing a suit.
While it doesn't have the avant garde beauty of the earlier cars, or even the simpler, cleaner and (IMO) more handsome lines of the early 613, there is just something very cool about this!. Given the problems making a mechanical linkage that long, it is surprising that Tatra stuck with a manual gearbox. Surely an automatic gearbox would be a much better fit? My Dad used to drive a Magirus Deutz truck with an air cooled V8 (diesel), so I do have something of an affinity to Tatra cars!
One of the cars I always wanted to see in real life. and how I would love to see Tatra come back and produce a real luxury car that looks and feels different than what we know today. a true contender for worlds most luxurious car producer able to beat Bentley and Rolls Royce if they put their minds to it. The one thing that could have made the Tatra 613 exceptional would have been the hydraulic suspension from Citroën. Also that turning circle was pretty sharp, much smaller than what I was expecting. As for that engine sound, it doesn't sound like a truck, it sounds smooth and effortless, many V8 if not all of them today don't have such smoothness.
You have very good points here, which made me think deeper, indeed, a hydraulic suspension would have made it even more special, but still, it was one of the first in the world to use multilink. Turning circle was good indeed and the comment with the engine sound made me reconsider, it may be very well due to the good balance of the construction that it sounds deprived of the usual knocks from other V8s. Thanks for new perspectives of looking at it!
The best thing of this this car when it drives is performance of the drone following it. The most weird thing is that you have to daily look on gauges with Made in Hungary logo.
Just subscribed as you have different and interesting cars and an Eastern European perspective. Regardless of other comments, Tatra built great cars, no need for a front engine when the main customers were government officials and satisfied, besides which they probably didn't have the financial resources to create an entirely new design. Their decision to focus on their trucks was correct, as I believe that without having been taken over by a rich parent like Skoda was (VW), they may have gone bankrupt by the cost to modernize car design and production. I hope that the few Tatra vehicles remaining can be collected and appreciated as the unique and quirky automotive treasures they are. Eastern European cars are often derided for their poor quality, but I believe they need to be cherished before they're all gone.
TATRA is the most underrated auto manufacturer EVER. PERIOD! i'm mezmerized every time i discover something new about them, it's like a fairytale but it's all REAL. unbelievable.
Sei Italiano? Se si, fa piacere che ci sia qualcuno anche in Italia che apprezza così tanto un marchio incredibile come la TATRA! La TATRA dovrebbe stare al posto della Porsche e della Volkswagen, se il mondo fosse giusto…
Brilliant video and one of my favourite cars of all time. Sadly, over here in Great Britain, it's unlikely I would ever get a chance to own a 613, especially in the spec shown in the video. That example looks especially superb due to the colour choice and the period correct Borbet Design A alloys.....imho, the best style of alloy from the 1980s!
As an American it was amazing too see something like this. What a fascinating and unique car. I'd love to see one in person. The cinemaphotographery was beautiful too. BTW, too anyone in the southeast, Lane Car Museum has a great selection of European cars.
Vignale styled but no streamliner. I’ve been following the T613 and 700 for over 30 years, they had 5 slight model changes with the T613, the 700 was overhauled and reskinned version of the T613/5.
Yes, you are right, the Tatra 700, the last model produced, was another later facelift of the same 613, but it needed a new name to make it appear as a new generation.
Thank you for this documentary about the Tatra 613 and its history - Even i never had spottet one on the streets, I always found these exciting. Rear mounted, air cooled V8, a bit different than main stream. Interieur looks a bit similar to Volvo 7 - Series of that era. Well done
What a cool car. I really enjoy insights into these weird and quirky vehicles that most westerners never knew much about. What I’m dying to know though, is what is under that huge bonnet, if clearly not an engine 😂
It is just a frunk, with access to some of the car's systems and a spare wheel. Earlier models had the gas tank position there, but the 613 had it under the rear seat already.
Check out that shift pattern. 1 is up and to the left, 2 is center and down, 3 is center and up, etc. I've never seen any other car with a shift pattern like that. It's not a dogleg, it's a reverse dogleg.
Nice presentation of an interesting car. :) I've seen one or two of them in western Germany in the early 1990s. I doubt it could do 230km/h tho. A Mercedes 380SE (W126) with 204hp did 210km/h and had most likely a much better drag coefficient than the Tatra.
My first car that i bought on my own was tatra 613 back in 1999 as a 20 years old guy and i'm very proud of it. Got holes in exhaust and the sound was incredible. As the best amercan cars
In the 1990s I did some work for the Slovak Ministry of Justice, and was driven between Bratislava and Wien Airport in one of their official Tatra 613s - no idea which version. It was very comfortable, and I remember the power of the rear engine made the front lift up a little when it accelerated. Thanks for the memory!
😂 é verdade que na bratislawa vc é milionário com 10 dólares? Kkk
@@gadoxipadoidiota 😅
third world humor@@gadoxipado
@@gadoxipadoyes, but we pay with €
@@gadoxipado Favela of Rio speaks from her 🍑💩 Ask Bolsonaro, Lulu 🤡
An absolute gem of a car and the video is hugely underrated. You explained the history and how this car came to be in a brief and efficient way, and you took the time to get plenty of B role of this beauty.
Thank you for appreciation!
It's a very elegant car. I remember it from a visit to Prag in the 80s and I were impressed. It was black and parked not long from the 'powder tower'. At that time I though from the shape that it had been inspired from the most luxurious Renault, apparently a big mistake. It was a revelation for a person from the West who only knew of the smaller Skoda, the Volga and the Trabant and Wartburg from the DDR. I had just passed trough Alexanderplatz, and the contrast was huge. After the fall of the iron curtain, I had expected it to be exported. I told everybody about it at home, but I never saw it again. Thank you for this presentation.
I saw this car in Romania in that period.
It was I thought, beautiful in that time when I was child.
Beautiful restoration of the 613. Looks stunning even today and in a colour to match. Thanks for the video.
Im from Australia, & love everything Czech! Prague, best, BEST beer, attitude, country, & now the Tatra 613!
Sym
Not a single word that this engine is dohc engine? It is one of the most important features of Tatra 613 and quite rare and advanced feature in time when it was developed.
The Czech people are formidable. Not only as engineers, but as brewers. Despite Germany's reputation for brewing beer, the best beer I've ever had in my life was in Prague: Gambrinus! 🍺😋
I love Pilsner Urquell too
Well if you look at Czech engineering history, if WW2 hadn't occurred and the iron curtain wasn't, it would have been one of the most advanced countries n the world, probably beating Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany on many quality levels. They worked on the SS Normandie where Skoda created the rudder frame and Alstom had some engineers working closely with Czech engineers to perfect the engine performances. The same goes for the movie industry, if WW2 wouldn't have been the European center of movies would be in Czechia. And in recent years I have greatly admired how Czech companies have been able to drag themselves out of the communist mindset very quickly and create some of the most high quality, functional and sometimes luxurious items and vehicles. I bought a Skoda Yeti Mark I because it was just in a league of it's own and I was shocked when VW group made it less unique in it's look due to the fact it was too good and too successful. On a less "normal" note and maybe controversial, still in the adult movie industry Czechia has also put his mark in making a specific look in the late 1990's which has now become the standard worldwide. It was high quality with great respect for the actors and was a first in the world of adult movies. (This is what I was told by two directors of Adult movies and not a personal point of view)
I can't wait what the Czech engineers and artists will create, invent or perfect in the next few decades, new opportunities present themselves and it is one of the only countries in the EU that I see doing really good in the next two decades.
Biggest beer consumers per-capita globally last time I looked. They must be on to something! 👍🏻
Also Tatra was copied by Ferdinand Porsche to build WV beattle
If you really like beer then i recommend Belgian Beers, because you just had pilsner. Which make you piss a lot.
Must admit, that I'm very impressed!
Interior is rather plush and beautiful. Pity about the difficult gearchange.
The roads are BEAUTIFUL; so neat and in perfect condition.
Would've loved the experience!
That is a timeless design both inside and out. Very elegant and stylish for its time. The cluster reminds me of the MB clusters of the late 80’s early 90’s.
Absolutely cool car! It sounds like a vacuum cleaner, but this kind of concept with an aircooled V8 is unique!
I have ridden in a Tatra 613 in Prague where it was used as a taxi. Very comfortable and spacious car, bigger than many similar western cars. Had no cardan tunnel because the engine is in the back.
Tatra is one of the most fascinating car brands of all time. I remember catching a taxi in a small Moravian town back in 1988. The car was a ca 1980 Tatra, and the driver, who obviously owned the car, was very happy to tell us about his wheels. We both used our shaky German to communicate, so not a lot of room for finer details. But it was a very comfortable ride, even on those twisting, bumpy back roads. With a delightful sound from the rear. If VW had stuck to rear engine drive, this could have been what their prestige car would have looked like in the late seventies. Mayby with a flat six. I hope the Tatra brand will resurface one day, proudly displaying Czech innovation and quirkiness. In the spirit of Hans Ledwinka!
Having owned a small-displacement rear engine car myself and coming away with mixed experience of the handling, it's hard to even imagine what a rear mounted V-8 would be like (except powerful). And air cooled too! I have seen the name Tatra but had no idea it had so innovative an engineering staff. The fact it was a low volume builder means each car must have been practically hand built.
Yes, it was almost entirely hand built, with maximum 1,000 units per year on the peak, and later few hundreds only.
The Tatra V8 sat on top of the rear axle, unlike e.g. the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, which have the entire engine behind the rear axle. So the weight distribution of the Tatra was better, which improved the handling.
@@CawKeeThose mid-engined MGs were an absolute gem. Sadly from another manufacturer (Rover) that like Tatra no longer make cars:(
@@Hobbes746 before the 613 the tatra had the engine behind the rear axle like a vw or porsche.
There's a wonderful collection of running Tatra cars at Lane's Motor Museum in Tennessee by the way, including the 1958 T-603 Geneva Motor Show car, and a 1996 T-700.
The injected 613 has a little trick up its sleeve. When the accelerator pedal is floored, a sort of 'kick-down' comes into effect - only in the Tatra, it doesn't change down a gear, it uncouples the cooling fan for a few moments to boost power by about 10%...
Awesome. Although the electro clutch will add extra weight.
@@odl21I don't think weight is too much of a concern at that size of luxury car
@@caromac_ lol. It is on a rotating part of the engine :)
@@odl21it can be constructed in a way that the heaviest part of it is stationary.
Is that the tatra 700 4.4 v8? It should go up to 300kmh if i remember
Perfect background music for the 613. Can only imagine the joy driving this beautiful beast for an hour and then popping some of that music into the cassette deck. Well I've got a good cassette recorder ... now all I need is the car. Very nice presentation.
The last Tatra Limousine was developed by two Englishmen- Tim Bishop for the electronic fuel injection, and Geoff Wardle for the styling under Mirek Staron. All subsequently worked for Reliant Cars in the UK. Tim Bishop went on to start Tatra Motive Power, importing them to the UK.
So they are responsible for the failure of the T613-5 and T700 models? great! 😃
@@kamilhalapiHe definitely forgot to include that fact, while he penned his patriotically fuelled comment 😅
Being involved with engineering or design on Reliant Cars is possibly not the best reference on a CV ? 🙂 Not exactly Issigonis level.
@@terryross1754 Not everyone is Issigonis, but it doesn't mean that Reliant employed the dregs to do rubbish product either.
@@3wheeler1000 3-wheelers in the UK in the 50's thru 70's/80's, were mainly a trick to let bike riders stay (relatively) warm & dry without getting a car licence, plus most were cheap to buy and run. The Reliants were ugly, slow, unreliable, spartan, uncomfortable and unstable. Thus my reservations about the design team being suitable for Tatra, who wanted a luxury sedan/limo. Reliant was never a real car, not even in the horrific days of British Leyland.
As I got older (72), I finally fell in love with Tatra
It's so sad Tatra "disappeared" from the automotive market. Their V8 sounded so good.
Well, they've ended car production, but Tatra trucks still rocks
@@tomfu9909 Yes, their trucks are still some of the greatest in the world!
Maybe they wil resurrect the T700 one day, just as they did with the T603 which also wouldn't have gone into production. It could even have an electric version, a true Tesla (since that brand name was used by the combined Czech electronics factories traditionally).
The tatra engineering from the early era is just simply phenomenal. What amazing lines and beautiful designs. Why don't they make cars like this today??!! They were simply so far ahead of their time.
That Electronik Sounds like a large vacuum cleaner.
These air cooled gasoline engines are such a curiosity to a Westerner like myself. I own an air cooled in line five cylinder Deutz diesel, love it too. At first you think that being air-cooled will be a disadvantage, but it turns out to be very reliable. I would imagine that the same principles would apply to a gasoline-powered v8 air cooled engine. High reliability, less mechanical complexity and unique!
I'm very very curious about tatra trucks, their integrated drive system looks fantastically capable in off-road situations.
A Tatra 613 made in the former Czech Republic a country whose engineering skill are often underrated.
...former Czechoslovakia. It is Czech Republic now.
Thank you, very informative, beautiful images and clips, bravo
nice video and good information on the car. the 613 reminds me of my childhood, they were quite common in Czechoslovakia back then in the 80s. I mean common - normal people could not afford them, they were owned by government, state institutions, police, etc.
in the mid 2000s a friend of mine owned one, which I drove once. it was stolen eventually. but I remember the engine sound was special, so was the ride.
I remember an old Top Gear episode, Chris Goffey test drove a black one in England
1993 T613-5
th-cam.com/video/hfqZ2XBOVnk/w-d-xo.html
Beautiful innovative and stylish. Shame Tatra no longer makes cars.
It's beautiful, especially the front. Very high quality video, good production! Cheers
Only 17 produced? Then I’m one of a privileged few who’ve seen one! I saw one in Weingarten in 1997. I’ll never forget how fascinated I was when I asked the owner to open the trunk and show me the engine! Amazing! Thanks for sharing 😊
only 17 of the long wheelbase electronic versions
And that’s the one I saw 😊
I love the videography and editing skills. Superb!
I was in a taxi in one of those in Prague back in 1992. It was a very nice, comfortable car, and I still remember the sound of that motor behind me.
Wonderful and well produced video. Thanks for sharing this. Tatra vehicles are fascinating.
Great review. I hope you will review more Czech cars from the past, they are very interesting.
Will be looking for them for sure, many of them are on our wish list, they are indeed very interesting!
Im from Australia and this car is pretty impressive i was never a fan(no pun) of air cooled engines though.Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching from Australia, honored to see people from all around the world watching this video!
I'm an impressed South Australian too!
@@Ben72-u6p lol
Plenty of Skodas on the road in Australia. Even my neighbour has a Kodiaq.
70s man it looks 80s 100%. Tatra was ahead of time yet ppl think air cooled is "old" but its reliable and easy to fix. That thing has some deferred matinence for sure
Great video and what an awesome car! I loved my visit to Czech Republic.
It’s like a Mercedes and a Saab and a Volvo all put together. I love it and they put the engine in the back like a Porsche.
Coincidentally, Porsche and Tatra are 'brothers', with Porsche being some sort of bastard child.
Tatra is the 3rd oldest car manufacturer in the world. By the time they were making luxury cars there was no Volvo, SAAB nor Porsche ...
Hello from Canada! Always love learning about these cars and the stories with them as they are very fascinating.
I saw such cars in Leningrad in the mid-80s. And yes, it looks like, judging by the license plates, these cars were driven by KGB officers. But not the operational staff, these machines really stood out from the usual row, but the senior officers and superiors. All such cars were black. I have a question... I don’t quite understand how, with an air-cooled engine, the interior was heated? It may be warm in Czechoslovakia in winter, but in the USSR it is very cold in winter and it is impossible to drive without a heater. How to organize interior heating in a car with an air-cooled engine?
Naftové topení.
Part of the cooling air that circulates between the engine and the engine shroud is redirected through air ducts into the cabin. I had an air cooled Citroën Visa and the heating was great. Almost instantly after starting the engine
@@danielg4228 Nope. T613 used independent petrol heating. Most versions two smaller units. One underneath the cargo space between front wheels and the other under the middle part of the dashboard. Some newer cars used one larger unit (Eberspächer B5) underneath the cargo space. Not sure whether that was an extra option or whether it came standard for some models/years.
Damn , making people pick between a Tatra 613 and a W140 is insane to think about
Not everyday that you hear about a new model of car. Fun video. Thanks for sharing.
Honored to see that this video makes someone to hear about a new car model! Thank you!
Wow! I learned a lot of new things thanks for the story and review!
Prekrasna! Moj pokojni kum i ja smo uživali u običnoj Tatri 613 iz 1978( 121KW). koji je bio oker boje.
Mora da je ljepotica!
Love the channel! Fascinating car. Btw, great drone footage 😊
Thank you!
@@timelessdriving You’re welcome!
Bringing a car back to the factory to be updated and refurbished, what a fantastic concept!
You can do just that with a number of high-end cars.
@@CaptHollister I suppose you can't do it with a Lexus, Merc or BMW. This was the communist era equivalent of this type of cars, we are not talking Bentley here
That is something Tatra used to do back in a day, as these cars worked for the government, let's say every ten years your car would get new engine or chassis based on what was needed, that is also why there is often discrepancy in engine vs. chassis serial numbers, Tatra rarely stayed for its whole life with same vital parts.
The French car make Avions-Voisin used to do the same in the 20's and 30's, customers would trade their cars back for a newer one, the factory would refurbish and update them (even change de serial number !) and sell them for a discount.
Was extremely common with early lambos and Ferraris.
Good presentation! Thank you
Very informative, great info and fascinating. I have subscribed and look forward to seeing more videos.
Thank you! New interesting models are about to come next on the channel!
Good video and a fascinating car and company. Hats off to the engineers and designers.
Just to clarify: the 17 pieces produced is probably referring to the "Electric" model. Otherwise, there were many more 613s produced. I remember the electric model from a Prague Auto show back in 93 and it was priced waaaay above the standard model, which was already pricey.
What a fantastic car. I love Tatra's a lot. Also a gorgeous video!
Fascinating! I remember reading about this car as a kid, but never thought I'd see a video about it! Is it just me, but the passenger compartment (especially the doors) looks a bit like an early VW Passat?
Reminds me of an Audi 100 Avant C2
Great video, top notch production quality. Keep it up!
Approx 10 years ago somewhere between Brno and Prague I saw a red Tatra 613 with the Czech Firedepartment's nameplate.
The drone footage is really nice, it dramatically improves the video production quality, with a very distinct third perspective, besides the typical inside view and walk around views... Nice work.
Thank you for an interesting video on this vehicle. Tatra was well ahead of it's time in engineering and execution. I'd love the chance to drive that vehicle!
It was well ahead of it's time in the 30s, but in the 90s, this was hopelesly outdated. That's what socialism does with industries. At the time this was made it was basically a facelifted 20 year old model (1974) and the underpinnings were based on a modified late 50s design (T603).This didn't have an automatic gearbox or an ABS or airbags and competition at the time included W140 and E32, which were also both cheaper.
I’ve ridden in one of these, very cool. The museum in Czech Republic is great. 20 years ago the last few dozen were sold to the government and they used to be lined up outside of the parliament here in Prague
really intresting, Tatra in the 60's was way ahead of the competition. I'm sure if they had the money they would have made an amazing car
I’ve been in one like that, in 1992, in Praha. When the country was called Czechoslovakia. That car flies.
So in 93 this particular Tatra 613 was more than an S-class Mercedes no wonder only 17 was sold. So much for the brilliant engineering it clearly has a gear box that needs double de-clutch that stopped with most if not all by the late 60s. Its a lovely Colour and for an eastern European car looks to have worn its 140,000 miles or so well or maybe its due to having been refurbished at sometime. I know Jay Leno has several Tatras not sure about 613s but definitely a 603, the 3 eyed thing sorry meant headlights.
Tatra does not need a double clutch, it has a synchronized gearbox.
Chances are, the gear linkage (which is relatively long) needs to be adjusted, and maybe the gear box needs an oil change. As you say, due to its mileage maybe it even needs to be refurbished.
What a brilliant car and video!
Thank you, I just subscribed.
Greetings from the Netherlands
Thank you!
Very impressive story and production! Please create more videos about the Warsaw Pact-era automobiles!
Thank you, will try to cover more of those for sure, there are really many interesting models and stories among them!
Very nice presentation and review of this rare car.Thanks.
You have the perfect accent to review a Tatra.
Some cool stuff on this channel. Looking forwards to more. 😀
Thank you, those encouragements mean a lot!
cool history that I have only ever heard of in passing. Fun to see how technologies emerge and die in the greater landscape of world politics and advances in science. Thank you for the information and the good production value! new subscriber gained!
This car has the perfect high official look. It is hard to imagine it for private recreational use. When you drive in this car, it's like wearing a suit.
A very cool car indeed! I love all the quirky engineering and the style of the 603/613. An excellent video my friend!
Beautiful roads
What a nice review. Saw one once on a club meeting, you never forget the impressive engine sound.
I believe these were even offered for sale in the UK for a short while back in the 90s
I had to calculate the insurance on a (very) used one in 2015. It was still rather expensive!😅
What a fascinating story! Thanks for all the work on this, well done.
While it doesn't have the avant garde beauty of the earlier cars, or even the simpler, cleaner and (IMO) more handsome lines of the early 613, there is just something very cool about this!. Given the problems making a mechanical linkage that long, it is surprising that Tatra stuck with a manual gearbox. Surely an automatic gearbox would be a much better fit?
My Dad used to drive a Magirus Deutz truck with an air cooled V8 (diesel), so I do have something of an affinity to Tatra cars!
欲しい車、 V8 リアエンジン 空冷 サルーン 魅力的な要素が満載なモデル。
One of the cars I always wanted to see in real life. and how I would love to see Tatra come back and produce a real luxury car that looks and feels different than what we know today. a true contender for worlds most luxurious car producer able to beat Bentley and Rolls Royce if they put their minds to it. The one thing that could have made the Tatra 613 exceptional would have been the hydraulic suspension from Citroën. Also that turning circle was pretty sharp, much smaller than what I was expecting. As for that engine sound, it doesn't sound like a truck, it sounds smooth and effortless, many V8 if not all of them today don't have such smoothness.
You have very good points here, which made me think deeper, indeed, a hydraulic suspension would have made it even more special, but still, it was one of the first in the world to use multilink. Turning circle was good indeed and the comment with the engine sound made me reconsider, it may be very well due to the good balance of the construction that it sounds deprived of the usual knocks from other V8s. Thanks for new perspectives of looking at it!
Diciamo la verità, era uno strano accrocchio al limite del controsenso dagli anni 60 in poi, .. e aveva un fascino speciale proprio per quello
The best thing of this this car when it drives is performance of the drone following it. The most weird thing is that you have to daily look on gauges with Made in Hungary logo.
I would be lying if I said wouldn't own this i absolutely love it 👍👍 cheers Stephen 🤠✌️🍀 great video thank you
Thank you!
Tatra as a luxury sedan brand would deserve a restart. The Tatra trucks division has done so successfully.
All CZ trucks I've seen in UK are makes familiar to us such as Scania, DAF etc.
Air cooled V8. That's got to be an interesting drive!
Just subscribed as you have different and interesting cars and an Eastern European perspective. Regardless of other comments, Tatra built great cars, no need for a front engine when the main customers were government officials and satisfied, besides which they probably didn't have the financial resources to create an entirely new design.
Their decision to focus on their trucks was correct, as I believe that without having been taken over by a rich parent like Skoda was (VW), they may have gone bankrupt by the cost to modernize car design and production.
I hope that the few Tatra vehicles remaining can be collected and appreciated as the unique and quirky automotive treasures they are. Eastern European cars are often derided for their poor quality, but I believe they need to be cherished before they're all gone.
Good engineers, the Czechs.Also produced very good firearms.
Love my Brno Model 2!
I found out Skoda started out making arms, like Steyr Puch in Austria.
TATRA is the most underrated auto manufacturer EVER. PERIOD! i'm mezmerized every time i discover something new about them, it's like a fairytale but it's all REAL. unbelievable.
Sei Italiano? Se si, fa piacere che ci sia qualcuno anche in Italia che apprezza così tanto un marchio incredibile come la TATRA! La TATRA dovrebbe stare al posto della Porsche e della Volkswagen, se il mondo fosse giusto…
Tatra 77, the first Batmobile.
What an amazing car! I like it!
Brilliant and fascinating. I want one.
Thanks for the 'history' lesson on this intriguing motor vehicle.
Brilliant video and one of my favourite cars of all time. Sadly, over here in Great Britain, it's unlikely I would ever get a chance to own a 613, especially in the spec shown in the video. That example looks especially superb due to the colour choice and the period correct Borbet Design A alloys.....imho, the best style of alloy from the 1980s!
There is Tatra register UK and they have a few members with T613. There is even about five with RHD. Those are the rarest of the rare.
As an American it was amazing too see something like this. What a fascinating and unique car. I'd love to see one in person. The cinemaphotographery was beautiful too. BTW, too anyone in the southeast, Lane Car Museum has a great selection of European cars.
Vignale styled but no streamliner. I’ve been following the T613 and 700 for over 30 years, they had 5 slight model changes with the T613, the 700 was overhauled and reskinned version of the T613/5.
Yes, you are right, the Tatra 700, the last model produced, was another later facelift of the same 613, but it needed a new name to make it appear as a new generation.
Beautiful cars. Fascinating story. Great video 👍
Tatra needs a comeback, perhaps VAG could make it a premium brand.
As a child I visited then Czechoslovakia in the early 1970’s and people preserved and drove the various big black V8 Tatra. I loved the fin!
Thank you for this documentary about the Tatra 613 and its history - Even i never had spottet one on the streets, I always found these exciting. Rear mounted, air cooled V8, a bit different than main stream. Interieur looks a bit similar to Volvo 7 - Series of that era. Well done
What a cool car. I really enjoy insights into these weird and quirky vehicles that most westerners never knew much about. What I’m dying to know though, is what is under that huge bonnet, if clearly not an engine 😂
It is just a frunk, with access to some of the car's systems and a spare wheel. Earlier models had the gas tank position there, but the 613 had it under the rear seat already.
@@timelessdriving thanks for your reply! I can sleep easy now. Keep up the great work.
Great video! Might want to wash before filming 😉
It's not gonna overheat in Siberia 🤣
Fantastic. Thank you for the video!
The gearchange problem could be fixed replacing the linkage bushes like in the Alfa 75.
Congratulations..nice presentation, regards from Athens Greece..
great technicians the Czech…I remember Java and CZ, beautiful motorbikes especially the last one, with its 350 4 cylinders L air cooled!!
CZ 350 was a 2 cylinder.
nNo, it was Jawa 250 single cylinder and Jawa 350 two cylinder side by side. CZ did not have two cylinder road motorcycle.@@Tolmalion
@@jjrejchrt6204 look up CZ 250/471 😉
@@Tolmalion negative...60's they made a 4 cylinders 90 degrees 16 valves air cooled...you are talking about the 2 STROKES
Check out that shift pattern. 1 is up and to the left, 2 is center and down, 3 is center and up, etc. I've never seen any other car with a shift pattern like that. It's not a dogleg, it's a reverse dogleg.
Nice presentation of an interesting car. :) I've seen one or two of them in western Germany in the early 1990s.
I doubt it could do 230km/h tho. A Mercedes 380SE (W126) with 204hp did 210km/h and had most likely a much better drag coefficient than the Tatra.
Typ 613-4 Mi und 613-4 Mi lang Baujahr 1991-96
230km/h Werksangabe laut Wikipedia
sonst 190km/h
180km/h confirmed :) in the standard one