The Weirdly Awesome Tatra 613 Mi Long Electronic

17 Units of the Air-Cooled V8 Engine

I explore and drive Tatra 613, the bizarre car with an air-cooled V8 engine

A rich past can be traced back to the late 19th century for Tatra, a car producer formerly from Czech Republic. Popular for its unconventional and unique designs, Tatra developed a reputation for creating rugged, rear-mounted vehicles that were nothing like the traditional cars. As a manifestation of their engineering skill, the adaptation of the Tatra 613, titled ‘Tatra 613 Mi Long Electronic’, captivated the contemporary audience in the closing years of the twentieth century.

The unusual-looking saloon car was launched in 1975 as a high-end four-door with a sleek and aerodynamic build that distinguished it from its rivals. Although based on a design by Vignale in the mid-1970s, the Tatra 613 Mi Long Electronic featured in the video at the top of this page has been substantially revised over earlier versions in terms of its cabin’s provision. It was introduced to compete with the best German luxury sedans of the time and included – straight out of the factory – a vocal alert system, which notified drivers of any vehicle issues or other vital information.

An outstanding characteristic of the car was its rear-positioned fuel-injected air-cooled V8. This vehicle, built in 1993, was powered by a 3.5-liter V8 engine delivering roughly 200 horsepower. Bizarrely, it was advertised for sale with a price tag of $110,000 (2,500,000 Czech Koruna) earlier this year.

What is it like to pilot an automobile? From the video, you can observe that the transition is not precisely easygoing as the motorist endeavors to locate the ideal gear, particularly during the early stages when the engine and transmission are still cold. However, the sound of the V8 at the back is incomparable to anything else, giving a much extraordinary experience behind the wheel. Though the suspension cushion is soft, the auto does not fork out too much while taking corners.

Only seventeen specimens of this car model were ever created. It is likely so that just some have survived, and as alluded to by the columnist, this could be one of the last Tatra automobiles to be constructed. We are self-proclaimed loyal admirers of air-cooled V8s (jest intended).

Source: Timeless Driving on YouTube