Prague to Pebble or Bust: Epic Tatra 603 road trip across Europe & U.S. 

My dad and his family fled Prague that same year. Months before the Prague Spring.

She looked great alongside that Trabant at the end! Adds a little perspective! 8-)

Czech people are indeed patient in traffic. Noticed it while there. Especially when you are on a bike. They treat you like the fragile traffic traffic user you are. When you as much as look at a pedestrian crossing, the cars stop. Great holiday country. Fantastic beer, warm people!

What an incredible story. It demonstrates that the love of cars, and the passion for preserving the history of their evolution know no bounds. I can only hope that the new owner includes the story of your journey, actually DRIVING this unique piece of machinery thousands of miles on two continents successfully. More important than this incredible feat is the light being shone on the fact that PEOPLE have more in common than they do differences. While governments seem to enjoy waging wars, the people share much the same talents, passions and aspirations. First among them is freedom. We all just want to be free to pursue our passions and dreams, regardless of whether governments are democratic, socialist or communist. Thanks again for reminding us that people, diverse as they may be, can and do come together through their passions, whether it's cars, music, art, or cuisine. We can all share this planet in harmony DESPITE what governments in an attempt to divide us.

It is one of the best video biographies I have seen on a car in a long time. There is so much history to the TATRA and its creator Hans Ludwinka such as he was Ferdinand Porshe's right-hand man and at least a 60% contributor to the VW Beetle and many amazing engine designs like the V8 Hemi. Unfortunately, he was accused of being a Nazi collaborator and jailed for 5 years in Czechoslovakia. After WWII TATRA sued VW and won because of Hans Ludwinkas's design of the Volkswagon type one and the company was awarded 1 million dollars. But Han's legacy of his marvelous engineering from way back in 1923 still lives on till this day in theV8 Hemi, tubular backbone chassis, air-cooled rear engine, and swing axles of yesterday today's automobiles. Long live the TATRA 11 and the many subsequent vehicles. Examples of cars using a backbone chassis are Simplicia (1910), De Tomaso Mangusta, DMC DeLorean, Lloyd 600, Lotus Elan, Lotus Esprit and Europa, Škoda Popular, Škoda Rapid, Škoda Superb, Tatra 77, Tatra 87, Tatra 97, etc. and TVR S1. Trucks with a backbone chassis include the Tatra 111, Tatra 148, and Tatra 815. Some cars also use a backbone as a part of the chassis to strengthen it. Examples include the Volkswagen Beetle, where the transmission tunnel forms a backbone.

Thank you for an awesome episode and for not making this a 12 part series!

He said "we went and did something special". Hell, yes. The word awesome should be reserved for things like this.

Nice to know more of your history Roman ,

Hi from czech republic and thank you for thi video. We love Tatra it si great car. thank you so much to show thi car to the world :)

I enjoyed this very much. Just got my tatra 603 this year, it lives in CT with air-cooled Porsche

Unlike "lesser" testers you remembered to SHOW us the inside of the TRUNK! Well done!

Love the Tatra!

Very good video. Greetings from Slovakia.

wonderful show, Tatra je nadherna klasika

Play by play... 100mph and the laugh. OMG, heaven.

A gem of a video, journey and car. Greetings from Poland! :)

Love it, they were beasts back in the day~

A real treat of a video to watch. Very well made and touching. Not just because I'm also from the Czech republic, but the narrative sucked me right into the middle of it all. I felt like I was a part of it too :) Hope you'll make more awesome stuff like that in the future.

What a super great video!!!! I'm 5th generation from Prague. Jn the late 1800s my great great grandmother fled to America from Prague. It was also great seeing you in Cedar Rapids Iowa too!!! That museum is in the other side of town from me. It looked like a great trip but only to send the old girl back to the east coast! I love seeing the buildings and roads on my ancestors hometown. Sad thing is it took me 6 years to find this video! Thank you TFL!!!

Coolest car from another country that I've seen. If i had the means and ways ---i would've bought it and the folks at TFL could borrow it whenever they like.

I love the older cars. They have so much beauty under the bonnet and outside as well. The only thing that always freaks me out is the old safety systems on the car. It is always nice to look at them. There is nothing like a classic car.

Why am I watching this 6 years later? Loving the video so far, I just saw a photo of a Tatra 87 and search for Tatra cars in RU-vid, but I’ve been a subscriber to your channel for a long while now and never thought you could have a video about a Tatra, also didn’t know you were born in Prague.

No matter who built it or for what it is a Cool car!

Respect for all this! I love Tatra!

Thank you for this video Roman. It is great. Greetings from the Czech Republic ;)

Never thought I would like a Soviet era car ! ..especially after hurting myself after trying to get into an east German TRABANT in Berlin.......great show,great car !

Great Guys ,Love it Wonderful piece!! TFLC really has soul!

WOW! A great adventure indeed and a great documentary as a result. I drive a Citroen XM which in character at least is similar (a real Grand Tourismo) and still is emminently affordable here in Europe. In my head there is a design for a modern crossbreed betwen the Citroen DS and the Tatra 77 but then with a typical up to date rounded wedge shape as on some of todays big Mercedes''. I even made some drawings and a model. Just a bit of creative fun but imagine such a car really being built today. The superrich would love it to bits.

Bless that wonderful lady in Prague who gave you the spare ticket!

Greetings from Czech republic. Yes, Tatra is cool :-)

👍🇺🇸👋TATRA 603 BELLO! 🇵🇷!!THANKS FOR SHOWING.

What an awesome adventure, and it is all memorialized on video.

I’ve loved Tatras for years. And I also really like your videos

Thank you for a feature length on such a unique car! Not many english channels covering Tatras.

The Best Episode

I just found this video in June 2017. Fascinating. I enjoy your later videos of Wranglers as well.

There was a Tatra in the Lemony Snickets movie A Series of Unfortunate Events.

What a tribute to Czech Made cars. The good old Tatra did what it was made for, drive and drive. And what a nice view of this road trip and the very positive attitude by the presenters. Having sold Skoda-cars during a lot of years, being a dealer in Amsterdam and even MT-member of the importer in Holland, I've seen a lot of Czech cars during my working years and ofcourse Tatra as well. Nowadays this company sells a lot of trucks for which they are very famous indeed. Thanks for this nice documentary...

I knew it! I've been watching you for a while now, saw all the hints around such as Tatra posters, sticker, czech license plate. But I never got the answer in comments. Now I know that you are really from Czechoslovakia. Funny fact, I am also Czech also living in the Rockies and I also love trucks! Zdar!

Fantastic! I'm glad TFL Car did this adventure!

Fantastic peace of automobile history. So nice that you pay tribute for your Czech country men. Skoda was first in innovation before VW. Always watch your channel with pleasure. Cheers.

Definitely not the ending we wanted but what a trip! and what a car! really well done by all of you. Keep diversifying your channel like this it is much appreciated.

Loved this episode of TFL Classic. Great job all you guys! Hope to see more rare classics on your channel in the future.

Wonderful job, Roman, both on the trip and the video. Just a few notes - the Velvet Revolution happened in '89 and only a little over a million people live in Prague. But, considering the effort and passion you put into this project, that's just inconsequential nitpicking. Greetings from Ostrava, CZ. Keep it up!

You really outdid yourselves TFL, nice

Wonderful road trip.

Amazing! I really enjoyed watching your movie about driving from Prague to the West Coast! Just met this Tatra today in Prague and it is one of the most beautiful cars ever built in Czech Republic (e.g. Czechoslovakia). It seems like it was an amazing trip and I´m happy for you that you enjoyed it!

Sir, you made my day! What a fab video! I'm gonna have to watch it again!

Nice journey! Congratulations for the effort!!...Tatra cars have style: elegant, aereodinamics, futuristic, innovators...Ferdinad Porshe knew it! Lucky guy!

Thank you for sharing this great adventure. I' m a huge fan of TFLcar and watch a lot of your tests! Greetings from Norway.

wow stress blood sweat and stress! just great work!!!!

One of my favorite car videos. Love it!

Very well done video, probably my favorite video done by you guys. Great presentation, great history, great car. Thank you guys.

Great adventure!!! That kind of trip is something we all dream about doing!

When I saw your name I knew you probably came from CZ ;) Good to know it's true :) Keep up the good work with TFL. Sincerely, one of your Czech subscribers ;)

Nice to see see Emme!

I made a similar trip - only in reverse ... from Bremerhaven to Prague back in 1991 (hauling an '84 Audi Avant and two Maserati Bi-Turbos - shipped from Denver).

This is a great video. This is why TFLCar is my favorite auto review channel! :)

Thank you for share this great experience..I always watch your videos...greetings from Hidalgo México

love the styling of these cars..it's to bad they were never sold in the US.

I'm putting together the Air Cooled Cup in California rally race... OMG, I want to see one of these on day.

What a wonderful and professional piece of videography. I enjoyed every minute of this presentation. I also loved the look and driving qualities of the TATRA...what a wonderful car. Here's another challenge for you... Why don't you try and buy an Aussie Muscle car from the 70s (either a Falcon GTHO, Holden Monaro 350 or Valiant Charger E92) , drive it across Australia and then ship it to the US for the next Concourse de Elegance?

Great video! Wish I would have known when you were at the Czech museum; I live not too far away and would have been honored to meet you and the Tatra!

I love it, I love it, I love it.

Awesome road trip, thanks for sharing it with us, it's a shame you had to let the old girl go but to see out her days as a museum piece isn't all that bad

Outstanding!

What a great car and trip awesome!!!!!

lol you guys past through my city on toll road, south bend indiana

Great car and superb history. gonna enjoy the vid now. thanks.

What a fantastic episode! Very cool. 🕶

A different side of TFL I've never seen before.....great video & journey!👍

Loved this one... please do more classic car purchases!

Great Video guys

Česko je super! :)

Cracking road trip guys; loved every minute! Can't wait for the next one! ;-) M

Loved it Well done !

No Panic, these oil-cooled Engines ar the best until today. You can drive with it many decades. :D

Very beautiful video Good job Tatra is amazing legendary car Greetings from Slovakia

nice bbc style / quality doc, loved it.

Love my two trips to Prague. John

Great video, thank you Roman. Didn't know you were also from Czech Republic. Hate you had to sell it.

Love that N-Cat on your shirt. Good video all around!

Very interesting video, never knew that Tatra made these type of cars :) Would be nice if TFL could do that sometimes again... Greetings from Germany!

I am really happy you arrived to my country ( Czech republic ), I am your big fan and this Tatra is one of the best car which was made in czech republic. You should tested new škoda superb, iťs really good. ;)

You are both crazy and amazing! Thanks a lot for this video. I know it's a very good car, my Dad had had one twenty years ago (and I still can't forget him that he sold it :( ). Pity you could not keep the car...

nice show

Tatras are really cool cars. To bad they didn't survive the transition to market economy.

Very good video Mrs Roman...I enjoy your videos for sometime(especially about jeeps)even though I’m a Toyota hard core fan....BUT I didn’t know u were born in Prague 👍I myself was born in Prague and moved to USA later...Still living in USA...Looking forward for more videos👋🏻😎

What a journey, shame you cant keep her since you are Czech...cheers from one Roman in Prague to another in the US!

Reminds me of a Citroen DS. Probably the long shape. When I see this around Boulder, I'll know it's you.

As a kid I seemed to have a fascination with "iron curtain " cars. Saw a ZIL once. Tatra was so innovative. Wish they still made cars. So what happened at Pebble Bch.?? Heading for the Concourse .ended up where?? Why?? Great video. Thanks for sharing it.

Šťastnou Cestu.

This is fantastic! Congratulations to Roman and crew. A well done, informative auto-documentary. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better one.

Yeah, it was cool. I used to think that Tatras were ugly, but they're growing on me. At least they are innovative, and have character.

Their names are written: Zigmund/Hanzelka.

how much did it go for?:) awesome journeys u guys had, one of my favorite tfl videos, 50 minutes flew by

very good

very prestigely car , thanks for your share , love it very much

Were you perhaps travelling in Bremerton, Washington about two weeks ago, heading to the ferry dock? I saw a 603 with California plates in Bremerton but could not give chase as I was in a company car. Best regards, Werner Kebsch

respect