I explore and drive Tatra 613, the bizarre car with an air-cooled V8 engine
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- čas přidán 9. 12. 2023
- This is one of the weirdest, rarest, and yet one of the most fascinating cars ever produced - Tatra 613 Mi Long Electronic! It has a large V8 engine, which it is not placed under the bonnet, but on the rear axle! And moreover, it is air cooled! Yes, an air cooled V8 engine!
Today we are discovering the intriguing story and engineering of the Tatra 613-4 Mi Long Electronic, but also explore and drive one of only 17 cars ever produced, which I found in Prague, Czech Republic!
Special thanks to Classic Cars Bohemia for providing us the car! ► veteran-prodej.cz/en/contact/
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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!
If you don't like Tatra, you don't like cars.
Odd comment
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.
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.
Beautiful restoration of the 613. Looks stunning even today and in a colour to match. Thanks for the video.
Absolutely cool car! It sounds like a vacuum cleaner, but this kind of concept with an aircooled V8 is unique!
Im from Australia, & love everything Czech! Prague, best, BEST beer, attitude, country, & now the Tatra 613!
Sym
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.
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
It looks like every available option was used in this build. Hats off to the design and manufacturing team! 👍
He said it wasn't, it didn't have the TV and phone, or even the burned out turn indicator lightbulb indicator.
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).
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.
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!
Tatra is original Porsche or Volkswagen, Ferdinand Porsche copied Tatra 1:1 to build Vokswagen bettle back in 1938
Yes, Tatra V570 designed in 1933 was coppied in 1938 as a VW Beetle. Conception, design, air-cooled boxer engine,... everything.
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! 😃
@@kamilhalapi1835He 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.
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!
Beautiful innovative and stylish. Shame Tatra no longer makes cars.
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.
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!
As I got older (72), I finally fell in love with Tatra
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.
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
A Tatra 613 made in the former Czech Republic a country whose engineering skill are often underrated.
...former Czechoslovakia. It is Czech Republic now.
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.
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.
Great video! Might want to wash before filming 😉
Approx 10 years ago somewhere between Brno and Prague I saw a red Tatra 613 with the Czech Firedepartment's nameplate.
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
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!
@@user-xd8dk5se2u lol
Plenty of Skodas on the road in Australia. Even my neighbour has a Kodiaq.
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.
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.
I had a mid engined MGTF 135, fantastic handling considering the price
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.
@@user-or4hs7xq9uThose mid-engined MGs were an absolute gem. Sadly from another manufacturer (Rover) that like Tatra no longer make cars:(
@@SpitfireFortyFour I shared my MGTF 135 with my father, one day he arrived back at the house at high speed, jumped out and threw the keys to me as I was on the driveway at the time. He said '"They'll never believe an old man was driving" and legged it into the house. Immediately after my father was out of sight a (traffic) Police car screeched around the corner from the main road and flew past our driveway, lights and siren on. Where the car was parked there is a tall wall at the side, thankfully the Police didn't stop. What makes this funny was that we were wearing matching red fleece jumpers that day, I'd have been in bother as with the top down on the MG Police might have had good grounds to suspect I was the driver :-)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Prekrasna! Moj pokojni kum i ja smo uživali u običnoj Tatri 613 iz 1978( 121KW). koji je bio oker boje.
Mora da je ljepotica!
At first it seems odd to hear a 3.5L V8 described as a "large" engine, in Canada this would be considered quite a small V8. It's also quite odd to see a top-end luxury car equipped with a normal manual gearbox instead of an automatic. It's easy to speculate that if Czechoslovakia had not ended up on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain, Hans Ledwinka would be as well-known as Ferdinand Porsche and, in fact, it would be more widely accepted that Porsche blatantly copied the Tatraplan when he created the Kdf-Wagen/Volkswagen.
It wasn't a "large" engine by Soviet standards either, the Zils and Gaz's had 5L or even 7L blocks. But it was a large engine in Czechoslovakia. Skoda (the other Czechoslovak car maker, much more affordable) used 1.0-1.2L engines, the ubiquitous Lada was 1.2 to 1.6L.
It made 160-200 hp out of the 3.5 liters. Not 100-140 like US cars of that era with 5-7 liter engines ;-)
@@jacobzimmermann59 Ehmmm... Thing is that Gaz was not exactly a normal car. I doubt even relatively high rank engineers would get a permit to buy one. There were a few second-hand ones serving as taxis in Poland but the first mod done was to remove the engine and put about 2.5 liter diesel from Mercedes or Peugeot in it.
Well, it can be considered a big engine for European standards in any decade. The average engine capacity in Europe in 1990s was 1.8 and it now went to 1.4, but cars with 1 liter or even as little 600cc were always common.
It was even bigger for the East Block standards. When Polski Fiat 125p arrived in 1969, the basic 1.3 liter version was considered a very fast car, and the 1.5 liter was the fastest cars in the whole of East Block a 'normal' person could buy before Lada arrived. "Normal' in this case meant either mid-rank party member, engineer, a doctor or someone else from highly-qualified higher education workers with some years of good work record because to buy a new one you had to receive an official permission ticket an 'allotment', and allotments for new cars were basically work incentives.
@@piotrmalewski8178 as a Fiat 126 BIS owner I can agree 3.5 is large engine :)
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.
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 😊
Thank you. Typical problem of gear selection on R.W.D. vehicle. 👍🏻🏴
Man, i love Tatra 613-4 Mi Long, very unusual but yet looks solid and monumental
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.
Air cooled V8. That's got to be an interesting drive!
Wonderful and well produced video. Thanks for sharing this. Tatra vehicles are fascinating.
I remember an old Top Gear episode, Chris Goffey test drove a black one in England
1993 T613-5
Damn the Tatra 613 electronic, the ultimate tatra! Gotta love the borbet wheels from the factory! 🔥👌😎
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
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.
What a nice review. Saw one once on a club meeting, you never forget the impressive engine sound.
Thank you, very informative, beautiful images and clips, bravo
I love the videography and editing skills. Superb!
This was my parents' wedding limousine back in the early 80s :))
Beautiful cars. Fascinating story. Great video 👍
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.
I saw this car in Romania in that period.
It was I thought, beautiful in that time when I was child.
It's beautiful, especially the front. Very high quality video, good production! Cheers
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!
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!
Thanks for the 'history' lesson on this intriguing motor vehicle.
What a fantastic car. I love Tatra's a lot. Also a gorgeous video!
Great video and what an awesome car! I loved my visit to Czech Republic.
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.
Good video and a fascinating car and company. Hats off to the engineers and designers.
Some of those old Tatras are gorgeous 👌
This car has a huge Saab 9000 vibe. I love it.
What a strange yet wonderful car
A very cool car indeed! I love all the quirky engineering and the style of the 603/613. An excellent video my friend!
Very nice presentation and review of this rare car.Thanks.
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!
Great video, top notch production quality. Keep it up!
Tatra and Skoda first european cars.... this is very rare car..... Absolutely good! 👍
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
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!
The gearchange problem could be fixed replacing the linkage bushes like in the Alfa 75.
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.
Ah so glad this popped up. Been quite interested in this model, since there is more out there on the T77 etc. Thank you!
I would be lying if I said wouldn't own this i absolutely love it 👍👍 cheers Stephen 🤠✌️🍀 great video thank you
Thank you!
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.
Now that is a special car! great video.
Congratulations..nice presentation, regards from Athens Greece..
Great rare car & great video. Thanks 👍
I’ve been in one like that, in 1992, in Praha. When the country was called Czechoslovakia. That car flies.
Excellent documentary, I can see that the presenter is visibly proud of this national treasure 🙂
I was just visiting Prague and Czech Republic for this filming, but I must admit there are many years since I admire the history and engineering of Tatra models, so driving it and doing a dive in history was of immense satisfaction for me. Thanks for appreciation!
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.
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.
Καλό βίντεο, πολύ καλή η παρουσίαση αυτού του μοναδικού αυτοκινήτου. Συγχαρητήρια.
Love the channel! Fascinating car. Btw, great drone footage 😊
Thank you!
@@timelessdriving You’re welcome!
Tatra - killing Germans since the late 1930’s. This iteration is very stylish. It looks stunning in that restrained green - beautiful car! 👍🏻
Tatra - supporting German war effort by providing trucks and engines (Sd.Kfz. 234).
Yours is a sensationalist clickbait fabrication, mine is a historical fact.
Amazing car. Thx for showing
Česká Tatra
is still a
velmi dobře automobilka.
As a german i love the czechs
and their humour, cuisine, pivo
and arts (films and literature)
This vídeo is a cultural immersion. And the car is nothing less than superb. Thank you very much.
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!
A beautiful piece of engineering
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!
Very informative video on a rare and obscure make and car. I wish Tatra returned to giving the 613 an aerodynamic body.
A very educational video, thank you!