Marathon Monster - Tatra T603

Eastern Block countries, when it comes to cars, tend not to deliver as much as would be hoped for. Classic examples of this would be the good old Lada (amongst its generations) and toxic Trabant 601, which, whilst loved by some nowadays, were not ‘good’ cars by definition.

Marathon Monster - Tatra T603

Eastern Block countries, when it comes to cars, tend not to deliver as much as would be hoped for. Classic examples of this would be the good old Lada (amongst its generations) and toxic Trabant 601, which, whilst loved by some nowadays, were not ‘good’ cars by definition. One manufacturer that sticks out head and shoulders above the rest, however, is Tatra. Tatra was a Czech luxury car manufacturer founded in the 1840s, and which manufactured passenger cars up until 1999, and continue to this day to build trucks and lorries. What I’m telling you about now however, is the 603. It was a luxury executive saloon car which entered production in 1956, and stayed with us until 1975 when it was replaced by the much more sedate-seeming 613.

The long-running quirk in Tatra cars is the rear-engined, rear wheel drive layout and the 603 was no exception.

Marathon Monster - Tatra T603

The very original 1956 model was known as the 1-603, easily showing that it was the first generation. If the elegant, sweeping design didn’t already tell you, these cars were not on sale to the general public; these babies were reserved for very important Czecs. Easily distinguished by its odd three-headlight front fascia, the eldest of the 603s featured a 2.5-litre air cooled V8 engine, crammed into the space the boot would normally be and connected to a 4-speed synchromesh manual transmission. This, the ‘603F’ engine, made 99HP and 112 lb/ft of torque, astounding numbers from such a small engine all the way back then. Another interesting quirk of the car was the front bench seat, which could be folded backwards to make a gigantic double bed, to use for camping. The gen-1 model was replaced in 1962.

Marathon Monster - Tatra T603

The second generation 603 (2-603, could you have ever guessed?) brought with it a more conventional (if slightly clumsy-looking) front end with four headlights as opposed to three. The 603F engine was replaced by a reworked version, now known as the 603G. Horsepower was up to 104, and torque received a boost from 112 to 122 lbs/ft, helping move the 1400kg land ship down the road at a slightly brisker pace. Production of the 2- ended in 1968, after six years.

Marathon Monster - Tatra T603

This, the 2-603 II, was little more than a facelift of the previous model. The powertrain and all the important bits were identical to the 2-603, however the headlights were moved closer to the edges of the front of the car, vastly improving the look of the car and helping it age much better. Production of the 603 ended for good in 1975.

Marathon Monster - Tatra T603

In 1967, however, the 603 made a scene on the racetrack. Having proven its might as far back as 1959 as a competent racer, it took on the 1967 Marathon de la Route endurance race. Anybody familiar with this prestigious event will know that it was, in the past, a 3500km+ road rally through Europe, and then transformed into a Nurburgring car-slaughter. To truly test man and machine, it became an 84-hour race. 84 tear-inducing hours of non-stop action. Two cars were entered by Tatra themselves. These vehicles were fitted with racing spec versions of the road cars’ 2.5 litre hemi V8 engines, producing a potent 170HP out back, though modifications made in recent years (two rather sizeable exhaust tips, or ‘double diffuser ejectors’) upped power to just shy of 200. The cars proved their robustness, coming home after the 3 and a half day race both in the overall top 5.

Marathon Monster - Tatra T603

So, there we have it. A European luxury saloon car which is as happy as a flea on a mountain of dogs cruising through town as it is being ragged round a race track. All the way back in the ‘50s. It’s an RS6 before its time.

Remote video URL
Remote video URL

#blogpost

Sponsored Posts

Comments

itsbravo25

Another editor pick and another interesting car I wouldn’t have known anything about if it wasn’t for your obsession with wired and unusual cars. You seem to write some really good blog posts, better then anything I’d

04/29/2017 - 07:23 |
2 | 0

Create keep up the good work

04/29/2017 - 07:24 |
0 | 0
A.Jelinek

Nice article :) I will just add, that, thanks to great aerodynamics, these cars were able to hit about 160-170 kph, making it one of the fastest cars on road back then.

04/29/2017 - 07:46 |
2 | 0

Wow, thanks! Never knew that :D

04/29/2017 - 08:23 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

👌

04/29/2017 - 08:42 |
0 | 0
Austin Mini 1000

Amazing article!

04/29/2017 - 10:48 |
0 | 0

Why thank you :)

04/29/2017 - 12:55 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Good interesting article. Thanks

04/29/2017 - 18:55 |
0 | 0
P1eased0nteatme

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Thank you!

04/29/2017 - 18:56 |
0 | 0
thatcarboi

Tatra trucks are beast! #ets2ftw!

04/29/2017 - 18:55 |
0 | 0

Don’t know much about their trucks, but I’ll take your word for it xD

04/29/2017 - 18:57 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Forget fart cans, those are big exhausts that are actually cool.

04/29/2017 - 21:14 |
0 | 0
P1eased0nteatme

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

They’re goddamn cannons, and they work so well.

04/29/2017 - 21:16 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

The Porsche 911, Suzuki Whizzkid, Tatra 603. All great cars, all RWD, rear engined.

04/29/2017 - 21:16 |
0 | 0
P1eased0nteatme

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Seems to be a winning combo.

04/29/2017 - 21:17 |
2 | 0
mr.slowly

Rear engine, rear wheel drive? It’s either a 911, and smart, or this

04/30/2017 - 04:50 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Just look at the commercial of the thing. Remember that is `60s communist country and they are making fun of the police!

https://youtu.be/uR6-ReQR45E

04/30/2017 - 21:07 |
4 | 0
P1eased0nteatme

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

That’s a fantastic ad, so ‘60s! Would have been risky putting it out back then, but a wonderful piece of history to have.

04/30/2017 - 21:24 |
0 | 0