Does the attached picture look familiar:?: No, its not a Beetle prototype, and anyway none exist, apart from VWs recent recreation.
This is my 1938 Tatra T97. As an early VW enthusiast it was a must have for me for some time, and a dream I realised two years ago.
There are various sites and forums on the web with mention to this car being the Beetle's ancestor. Some even say that the Beetle is a copy-paste of this Tatra. Why, because Porsche was a friend of Ledwinka the creator of the streamlined air-cooled rear engine Tatra, whom he regularly visited while planning the VW in the 1930s. Ledwinka was then finalising the Tatra 97.
The Tatra 97 has a flat-four rear air-cooled engine and swing-axles just like the Beetle.:!: It also has many of the quirky features found in Beetle prototypes but gone in the production model. It however has large rear side air-scoops and an equally big dorsal fin running through the split-rear window, not a VW feature!
Briefly, it is said that Porsche was under a lot of pressure from Hitler to come up with the People's Car quickly. I guess that you would not want to disappoint Mr Hitler:!: Porsche admitted to "looking over his friend Ledwinka's shoulder" when creating the Volkswagen. It seems that many of Ledwinka's ideas may have found their way into the German People's car. :shock:
Is this true? Well, when Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939 he had production of the Tatra 97 stopped, (I wonder why?) Production of other Tatra models was allowed to continue though. Also, in the 1960s, after many years of dispute over copyright infringements, Volkswagen made a large payout to the Czech government.:!:
Very few Tatra 97s now exist, and for many years remained hidden away behind the Iron Curtain.
I am very pleased to own this Tatra, I think its as near as one can get to owning a VW prototype. It sounds exactly the same as a Beetle too, but with the plus of the most unusual rear-end styling. 🙂
1938 T97GreySml.jpg
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Edited by user
17 years ago
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Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378