A Moldovan craftsman restores several classic Tatra 603 and 613 specimens in Italy | PiataAuto.md
April 3, 2022, 4:04 p.m.
PiataAuto.md editorial office
Tatras 603 and 613 are the ones that have a practical history model of the determined Tatra Czechoslovakia from the second half of the last century. They were large cars, over 5 meters long, and had a completely unique engineering in the world, being powered by huge V8 engines, air-cooled, and positioned in the back. I have all the history and engineering of the Tatra 603 in an article in January, and about the Tatra 613 in an article in February. After those articles I also received a message from a reader who happens to be a master of mechanics and the restoration is in the process of restoring two such cars in Italy – a Tatra 603 and a Tatra 613!
Valeriu tells him and, out of modesty, he insisted that we not put him in the foreground, but his work, if he is not interested. And how could we not be interested in a compatriot of ours, who came to work in Italy in the meticulous restoration of such special cars!
And to better understand why these cars are, we will say about the Tatra 603 that it was secretly developed and launched in 1956 in production, and in the decades that followed it was the ultimate car in the entire Eastern bloc. The car used a 2.5-liter V8 engine, which produced 95 hp at first and then 105 hp. It was produced for almost 20 years, until 1975, and was the favorite car of many ministers and heads of state in Eastern Europe, but also in Cuba, for example. And the spice and engineering innovations in this car were on a huge list, which I described in detail in that January article.
The Tatra 613 was the successor model after the 603 and, although it came with a more rectangular design, it took on the same concept of an air-cooled V8 engine, located in the rear. The Tatra 613 was introduced in 1973, so for almost two years it was produced in parallel with the 603. The car was also over 5 meters long, and was later available in the elongated wheelbase version, about 5.15 meters long. The model already had a multilink suspension in 1973, and the V8 engine was larger, with 3.5 liters and 168 hp at the beginning. Later, the engine was brought to 200 hp, and the model was produced until 1996, going through 4 iterations.
The two Tatra 603 and 613 specimens were entrusted to Valeriu in Italy by a collection, which he bought in order to restore them. Valeriu has been working for him for a long time and has worked on several classic models, once produced in Eastern Europe. And now the collector has caught the taste of the classic models from Czechoslovakia and bought some time in the following of these cars.
Valeriu says that he restores them according to the principle that one man works for everyone, with small exceptions. Our compatriot was the one who dismantled everything from the bodies initially, he was the one who worked on the bodies, welded where needed and prepared everything until painting. Then the painting was done in a workshop with a specialized painting room, after the care of the cars they returned to his workshop near Padua and Valeriu continued the work on them, from wiring and interior parts to suspension and engine components.
They are still at a stage when they are missing some parts, especially with the gas pumps, it is a big problem to find some that are functional or that could be restored to a good condition. So if anyone has any Tatra 603 and 613 parts, Valeriu and the Italian who owns these Tatras in the process of restoration could certainly buy them.
Tatra 603, which he restores, dates back to 1959, so from the first years of production. The other car, the Tatra 613, is from 1989, but Valeriu says that the condition of the car’s body from 1989 was much more affected by rust compared to that of 1959, and required much more work. But the work is progressing, with all the difficulties of finding parts. Step by step, the hands of the Moldavian work wonders by bringing these classic Italian Tatras closer to their desired state.
There is still work to be done on them until they are completed, but Valeriu promised us that when the cars are perfect, we will be able to do full reports with them, and possibly with their Italian owner, who is so trusted. in the Moldovan mechanic, entrusting him with such rare projects! And, of course, even if Valeriu is one of those people who doesn’t want to stand out very much, we would like to present in detail him, the man who works with such passion, in Italy, just like the classic Tatra .
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