Tatra - The Legacy of Hans Ledwinka. Only 1500 copies of this limited edition have been released. The authors place Ledwinka and Tatra in line with designers like Benz, Daimler and Porsche.
Tatra is not a car make that comes to mind when you think about innovation and car design but authors Ivan Magrolius and John G. Henry fill a gap in car history with this book.
Tatra – The Legacy of Hans Ledwinka
Tatra has been active under that name as a car and truck company since 1919 but started their activities way back in 1897. At first with carriage like cars but with Austrian designer Hans Ledwinka on board, the company entered into an era with many technical improvements. Designs and techniques were often way ahead of the competition. The authors place Ledwinka and Tatra in line with designers like Benz, Daimler and Porsche.
Tatra – The Legacy of Hans Ledwinka
This book follows the history of Tatra focused on the work of Ledwinka. The many technical drawings, photos and brochures wonderfully illustrate the many stories. One of my favourite photos is that of the “Titanic”. A special 18-seat open car made for factory staff outings. The photo shows Ledwinka himself at the wheel. Can you imagine a company building a special convertible bus for team building in 1912?
Tatra – The Legacy of Hans Ledwinka
Tatra – The Legacy of Hans Ledwinka
Tatra – The Legacy of Hans Ledwinka
While the majority of the book is about cars with specific attention to the famous T87 model and its' aircooled engine in the back, it also shows aeroplanes and trucks. The trucks became successful in the Paris Dakar rallies.
Published originally in 1990, this limited version is fully revised and updated. With only 1500 copies released, this book is a 'must have' for those interested in the history of car design.
This book is published by Veloce Publishing and available here.
- ISBN: 978-1-845847-99-9
