EDITION No. 43 - RELEASED 2025
MASTERPIECE COLLECTION
LIMITED 333 PIECES
The Tatra 603 sedan was never intended
to win sporting laurels for the Czechoslovakian factory.
And yet, the luxury car, manufactured since 1956,
with its V8 rear engine achieved two remarkable placings that
are still a source of pride today.
As an outsider, the factory entered three vehicles in the long-distance race
known as the “Marathon de la Route” or the 84-hour race at
the Nürburgring. On August 16, 1966,
the three Tatra 603-2s lined up alongside 34 other competitors on the
German race track. In the Touring Cars/GT classification, after
84 hours and exactly 8,330 kilometers covered, the driver duo Alois
Mark/Bohuslav Stiborek with their start number 44 were ranked fourth in the
overall standings, surprising the entire scene.
This first-class placement was by no means seen as a stroke of luck,
as the two teammates finished immediately behind each other in fifth
and sixth place, making the factory entry extremely successful.
Remarkably, Tatra was able to finish fourth and fifth again at the same
Remarkably, Tatra was able to take fourth and fifth place again at the same
event the following year, attracting
attention and renewed discussion among experts. In the
sports version, the luxury car is said to have delivered up to 170 hp,
while the series had to make do with 105 hp.
