Tatra 87. Photo: Wikimedia
There are some curious cases of German brands that copied ideas from Central European car companies.
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Perhaps the most significant case is that of the Tatra T-87, a Czech model designed in 1936 by Hans Ledwinka and Erich Übelacker that followed the aerodynamic guidelines of Paul Jaray, one of the creators of the German Graf Zeppelin.
Unlike the Beetle, which was designed to be a popular car, the Tatra was powered by a rear-mounted, air-cooled V8 engine with a 2.9-liter, 90° angle, producing 85 horsepower and typically reaching speeds of 160 km/h. It was one of the fastest cars of its time.
Tatra 87
The futuristic aspect of the Tatra impressed Hitler, who reportedly pointed to the T-87 as “the kind of vehicle I want to see on my roads” when he commissioned Ferdinand Porsche to create the first Volkswagen.
Naturally, Porsche took note of the Nazi leader’s preferences and later admitted to having “glanced at Ledwinka’s factory models for inspiration.” In reality, it was much more than mere inspiration: the front part of the Beetle was identical to that found in the T-87, and as such, Tatra immediately accused the German brand of plagiarism.
Tatra 87
Hitler himself personally intervened to suppress the demand, which would be drastically resolved when the German Army, the Wehrmacht, invaded the country in 1938.
However, after the war, Tatra reopened the case against Volkswagen and, in 1961, they received compensation of three million marks.
1938 Beetle Prototype
Prototype presented by Porsche
Photos: Wikimedia
