1940 Tatra T87 Aerodynamic Saloon

The Tatra factory in Koprivnice, Czechoslovakia, built some of the most technically sophisticated cars of their time designed by Austrian engineer Hans Ledwinka. Tatras featured many innovations such as horizontally-opposed, air-cooled engines mounted in the rear and fully independent suspension. In 1930, Tatra began work on a streamlined prototype, the Tatra T87. The aerodynamic body was created by the designer of the Graf Zeppelin, the aerodynamicist Paul Jaray. Its large rear fin gave the car amazing stability, and with a drag coefficient of 0.36, the car was also very fuel-efficient. Many elements of the Tatra T87 influenced other designers, including Ferdinand Porsche, who incorporated the engine layout in the Volkswagen Beetle.