Lovingly restored semi-convertible!

Tatra presented the 57 as the successor to its compact car Type 12 in 1932. The various bodies sat on a chassis with central tube, a front axle featuring two transverse leaf springs and a full-floating axle at the back. The cars were driven by front-mounted, fan-cooled boxer engines with 1,155 cc of displacement and 18 horsepower, transmitted via a four-speed gearbox that brought top speeds of 80 km/h. Typical for Tatra, the entire front was folded up for maintenance purposes. Lots of sophisticated technology for a small car!

Unfortunately, nothing is known about the early history of this Tatra, but it was lovingly restored in the early 1990s and finally received individual approval 1996 in Tirol, where it has been registered to its only owner until this day. What makes this small pre-war car so exciting is that it is different to most of its kith and kin. From a technical perspective, it was clearly superior to Dixi & co. and the small Tatras were extremely popular, especially in Austria where they were viewed as formerly “local” vehicles.

VIN: 750748, mileage: 77,042 km (read), displacement: 1,155 cc/B4, power: 18 hp, colour: red/black (leather), gearbox: 3-speed, papers: Austrian individual approval