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Old 06-02-2008, 08:20 AM   #6 (permalink)
whokilledthejams
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredonia, NY
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Boxy Brown - '04 Scion xB
90 day: 35.48 mpg (US)
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Tatra always made really gorgeous cars. Hans Ledwinka was one of the most serious advocates of aerodynamic design back then.

The thing about the 77, however, is that it had a rear-mounted V8, so it made for some terrifying handling (think of what happens to an old VW or 911 in the hands of someone who doesn't know what they're doing-- oversteer all over the place). I have heard that during WWII, Nazi officers were forbidden to drive Tatras, lest they manage to kill themselves through hoonage.

Of course, there were other vehicles far ahead of their time-- the Rumpler Tropfenwagen was built in 1921, and had a Cd of .28, as well as a transaxle, mid-mounted engine, and swingaxle independent suspension (all inventions of Edmund Rumpler).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumpler
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