Bonhams’ annual ‘Preserving the Automobile’ auction always features a number of museum-worthy oddities, and this year’s sale includes a fine example of one of history’s most unconventional production cars.
At the time of its launch, the Tatra T87 was unlike anything else, real or imagined, and even today its unique mechanicals and shape inspire ‘oooh!’s and ‘huh?’s in about equal numbers. The streamlined body with shark fin spine might look like something from one of those hilariously inaccurate 1950s illustrations of The Future, but the T87 dates back to 1936, though you’d never know it to drive it; technically as well as aesthetically, it was ahead of its time.
With its proprietary four-speed transmission and air-cooled V8, the T87 will do 100mph on the motorway and 20 miles to the gallon at 60mph. The steering is light, the cabin comfortable and the ride good. No wonder German military officers were so fond of it. For the sake of balance, however, (no pun intended) we should point out that the T87 is a touch tail-heavy… Writer Gordon Wilkins noted that ‘it produces in the driver the uneasy exhilaration which may be got from shampooing a lion’. Just something to bear in mind before you drop $ 90,000-110,000 on this lovely, sympathetically refurbished 1948 car.
For more information on the sale (6 October) and a full list of consignments, click here.
http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/news/marketnews/293317/preview_bonhams_in_philadelphia.html
These guys are trying it for a 2nd time after their first attempt to raise $ 50.000,– failed. Now they are hoping for $ 5000,–
http://fundanything.com/en/campaigns/the-untold-story-of-tatra-prague-to-pebble-or-bust
Driving a Tatra 603 from Prague to 2014 Pebble Beach Concours’ Funding has been unsuccessful. 
This project’s goal was not reached, just $ 5684 was raised, while the organizers hoped to get $ 50.000. The people who initiated the project will not get any as the did not reachthe goal. The people who pledged therefore will not be charged anything
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1462432953/the-untold-story-of-tatra-prague-to-pebble-or-bust
This 1928 Tatra 12 is said to be one of only one in the US. Engineered by the criminally underrated Hans Ledwinka, these cars featured the same novel tube backbone chassis with swing axles and integral engine mounting as pioneered by the earlier 11—a design carried over to later streamliner V8 cars and still in use today on the company’s fantastic line of heavy duty trucks. Find this one here on eBay in Paupack, Pennsylvania with no reserve and a $35k starting bid. Special thanks to reader Robert B. for the submission!
http://bringatrailer.com/2014/02/06/only-one-in-the-usa-1928-tatra-12-project/
One of the few Tatras known to reside in Australia, this T600 Tatraplan is understood to have been the Melbourne Motor Show car and previously belonged to a devotee of the Czech marque, a Mr Gerge Stehleg from Brighton, Victoria. Mr Stehleg also owned a 1963 T603 and restored this 1952 model (one of only 1,864 made) in approximately 1982. The car was sold to the current owner in June 1987 and spent many years on display in the famous York Motor Museum in West Australia. Although an older restoration, the Tatra has developed a lovely patina over the ensuing years
http://www.shannons.com.au/auctions/view/JM7AYD49YD9XDY65/4/
The vehicle was auctioned before, but apparently did not sell:
http://theodoreweb.hosting.esc.net.au/lot_details.php?lot=166449&auction=649
