V8 - Czech V8 Engines

Czech V8 Engines

Tatra used their air-cooled V8 engines from 1934, when introduced Tatra 77 (first serial-produced aerodynamically designed car). These culminated in the 2.5 L unit used in the Tatra T603 range of cars. The most powerful of these was fitted to the racing variant — known as the B-5. This was a higher compression version of the standard engine which replaced a standard single 2BBL carburettor with two 4BBL downdraft units on a new induction manifold. Tatra later produced another air-cooled engine, used in Tatra 613 and later, in Tatra 700. These engines were well known for their reliability, good fuel consumption, and specific sound.

In the Tatra 603, two engine driven fans help pull cooling air into the engine bay — when the vehicle is in motion the air enters through intakes in the rear wing panels and is exhausted through cut-outs below the bumper and alongside the engine itself. In the Tatra 613, one large ventilator pushes fresh cold air into the engine bay.

Tatra has used V8 air-cooled engines in their heavy duty trucks until the present day in their Tatra 815 and other models.

Gasoline units

• T77 1934–1938 - 3.0-litre air-cooled V8
• T87 1936–1950 - 3.0-litre air-cooled V8
• T607 Monopost - 2.35-litre V8
• T805 1955-1959 - 2.5-litre air-cooled V8
• T603 1956–1975 - 2.5-litre air-cooled V8
• T613 1974–1996 - 3.5-litre, 123.5 kW air-cooled V8
• T700 1996–1999 - 3.5-litre, 148 kW or 4.4-litre, 172 kW air-cooled V8
• MTX Tatra V8 - 1991 - 3.9-litre, 225 kW V8
• T805 1955-1959 - 2.5-litre air-cooled V8

Diesel units

• T128 1951-1952 - 9.9-litre air-cooled V8
• T138 1956-1971 - 11.8-litre air-cooled V8
• T148 1969-1982 - 12.7-litre air-cooled V8
• T815 1983-now - 12.7-litre air-cooled V8