The Czech Connection is a graphic design tribute to the Czechoslovakian Tatra cars of the 1930s and ‘40s. In the early 1930s, Austrian engineer Hans Ledwinka designed a small-car prototype for Tatra called the V570. The V570 never made it to production, but it’s revolutionary design influenced the Tatra t77, the VW Beetle, and the Porsche sports-car.
Launched in 1936, the t87 was an improved version of the t77. The t87 went on to become the most famous Tatra of the 30s and gained popularity even among Nazi officials in German occupied Czechoslovakia, who thought the Tatra was the perfect car for the German autobahns.
The Tatra T77 and T87 famously had a tendency to oversteer and loose control on hard cornering by inexperienced drivers, as a result of their heavy rear-mounted engines and swing-axle suspension. High-ranking Nazi officials in occupied Czechoslovakia learnt about this the hard way, which led to the Tatra being known as the ‘Czech Secret Weapon’ and eventually, orders were issued forbidding German officers from driving Tatras.
Limited exports of the Tatras on account of Czechoslovakia falling in the communist eastern bloc meant that the cars remained relatively obscure outside of their home country. However; the two cars that it inspired, the Beetle and the Porsche went on the be among the most well known cars, each with a large enthusiast following around the world.
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The Czech Connection can found on Facebook at: facebook.com/czechconnection
and on Instagram: @theczechconnection
and on Instagram: @theczechconnection
