Tatra T87
A finned shape, an air-cooled V8 at the back and careful airflow made this saloon look like the future.
1937 Tatra 87 · Oliver Kurmis · CC BY-SA 2.0 DE
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Tatra built the first two T87 prototypes for testing in 1936. Another five cars followed in 1937, when the model was officially launched; mass production began in 1938. That chronology matters, so this is a 1937 launch-series profile, not a claim that ordinary production saloons were already on sale in 1936.
Look a little closer.
The tall fin was not an engine cover decoration alone: it also became the T87's most recognisable silhouette.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Three different dates tell three different truths
The two 1936 cars were prototypes, the five 1937 cars formed a further test and launch series, and 1938 marked mass production. Museum pages sometimes shorten the whole history to 'production from 1936,' but the Czech Post chronology separates those stages.
Source: Czech Post · Historical vehicles: Tatra 87 ↗Airflow shaped more than the outside
Tatra had licensed ideas from aerodynamicist Paul Jaray. Chief engineer Hans Ledwinka supported the rear-engine, streamlined arrangement, while body designer Erich Übelacker used large rear scoops to feed cooling air and a dorsal fin to organise the tail shape.
Source: Studebaker National Museum · 1948 Tatra T87 exhibit ↗Where these facts come from
- Czech Post · Historical vehicles: Tatra 87
- Lane Motor Museum · 1947 Tatra T87 Saloon
- Studebaker National Museum · 1948 Tatra T87 exhibit
- Tatra Passenger Car Museum · aerodynamic saloon collection
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.