Streamlined Icon: The Tatra T87 by Schaltkulisse

Every now and then, a piece of automotive machinery hits the market that completely transcends the boundaries of standard car collecting. This is unequivocally one of those moments.

Currently sitting in the stables of the curation maestros at Schaltkulisse in Munich, Germany, is a machine that looks like it flew straight out of a retro-futuristic comic strip: a breathtaking 1950 Tatra T87.

Available at £POA, this isn’t merely a classic car—it is a rolling piece of industrial art and widely considered one of the most influential automotive designs of the 20th century.

A Cold War Escape Story

The history behind this particular example, chassis 79317, reads less like a standard vehicle logbook and more like a high-stakes espionage thriller.

In 1976, a passionate 24-year-old German enthusiast crossed the Iron Curtain into Czechoslovakia, determined to hunt down a legendary T87.

Thanks to tips from the official Tatra factory museum, he tracked down an owner who was still incredibly using this radical machine as a winter daily driver in the eastern town of Frýdek-Místek.

* Make & Model: Tatra T87
* Year of Manufacture: 1950
* Exterior Hue: Dark Green
* Interior Hide: Green Leather
* Availability: Schaltkulisse (Munich, Germany)

Dealing with Cold War bureaucracy, however, proved to be an entirely different beast.

It took a massive export tax equal to the actual value of the car, relentless negotiations, and a grueling two-year wait before an export permit was finally issued.

Even then, local officials attempted to block its departure at the border. It wasn’t until 1979 that the car finally broke through the Iron Curtain, conquering a triumphant 1,000 km journey back to Hannover entirely under its own steam.

World-Class ECORRA Craftsmanship

After decades of careful preservation, the original owner decided to give this historical icon the concours-level treatment it deserved.

In 2001, the car was sent back to its native Czech homeland to undergo a complete, ground-up restoration by ECORRA in Kopřivnice—rightly recognized as the absolute world-leading experts in rebuilding these complex machines.

“The level of craftsmanship executed on this project is nothing short of jaw-dropping. A lot of the premier German, Italian, and American workshops would be deeply envious of the laser-straight panel fitment on this car.”

The original owner meticulously researched factory-correct specifications with the Tatra museum to ensure absolute authenticity, confirming its rare, original color combination of green over green. ECORRA completely overhauled the body, mechanics, and paintwork.

Even now, some 23 years after the restoration was finalized, the car remains in immaculate, show-ready condition, displaying a deep, period-correct luster that beautifully highlights the car’s revolutionary teardrop aerodynamics and iconic rear dorsal fin.

The Ultimate Garage Centerpiece

Inside the cabin, the striking monochrome aesthetic continues. The interior features custom-made green leather supplied by the specialists at Aresma in Hamburg, perfectly complemented by period-correct headlining and carpets.

Since passing to its second German custodian in southern Bavaria back in 2016, the car has spent the last ten years being carefully maintained, exercised, and cherished as a true crown jewel.

Key Attributes	Details
Provenance	Just two long-term German owners since crossing the Iron Curtain
Restoration Quality	Completed by ECORRA; immaculate panel gaps and mechanical health
Design Importance	Pioneer of mid-century automotive aerodynamics and streamlining

If you are looking to inject an unmatched level of historical gravitas, storytelling power, and head-turning style into your garage rotation, this 1950 masterpiece is the ultimate play.

Head over to Schaltkulisse to inquire about the pricing on this magnificent £POA legend before it disappears into a private museum collection forever.

---