Workshop Tales - The Two Sleeping Tatras

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At the start of the year a customer asked me to see if I could find him an example of the Tatra marque, having been led here by our recent foray into the post war Panhards. My search led me to a delightful sight, a pair of slumbering 603s, parked in a Camden underground garage since 1998. A deal was done on one, a black 603-3, the vendor deciding to keep the other and have me rebuild it. A transporter was called and by the end of March they were dropped off at my workshop.

Both were made to run quite easily, basic checks, clean fuel & fluids and a charged battery was all that was required for the air cooled V8s. Regarding the rest of what makes a car the black one is having the disc braking system and clutch hydraulics rebuilt, new rear wheel bearings & seals, new tyres and the wheels blasted and painted. The paint & chrome, on the whole, cleaned up really well so nothing to do here. A little welding around the front suspension and that should do it.  

As for the red one, whilst it has not had a lot of welding during it’s life it certainly needs it now. The shell has subsequently been completely stripped of all parts and is about to go to the bodyshop. From there to paint and then the refitting starts. There is a good supply of parts available from the Czech Republic & things like bearings and seals I’ve been able to get off the shelf in the UK. Here you can see a video of the engine firing for the first time. Will come back to you soon with a driving report as soon one the two cars is really-really ready for it.

(Text and pictures by Chris McPheat)

      

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