 |
The 603 was one of a long line of cutting-edge cars from this Czech factory, which made its real money building trucks. Launched in 1955, its slippery, futuristic looks hid equally intriguing mechanicals. Power came from a rear-mounted, air-cooled V8 - a tradition at Tatra since the mould-breaking T77 of 1934 - which could whisk this sinister-looking vehicle up to 100 mph, despite a capacity of just 2.5 litres and 100 bhp. The 603 was a roomy, almost limousine-sized vehicle built exclusively for officials, and is still synonymous in the Czech Republic with the secret police and less savoury elements of the old communist regime.
Handmade in small numbers, it was gradually honed until, by the end of the '60s, it had gained more power, disc brakes and a less brutal front-end style. Although skill was required to drive it fast, the 603 wasn't the handful its rear-engined layout suggested, and it proved itself in several long-distance races and rallies. The only really dangerous thing about the car was the leaky petrol-fired heater mounted under the front seat. Production finished in 1975 when the Vignale-styled, four-cam V8-powered 613 took over.
No 603s were sold new in the UK - the only place you'd have seen them was at the Czech embassy in Kensington - but as many as 50 are now resident here with enthusiasts who love the looks and engineering integrity of what is easily the best Eastern-bloc car of the lot.
|
