Heroshot

1934 Tatra T77

$390,000
Sale Price
$500,000 - $700,000
Est. Range
Yes
Reserve
4 March 2023
Sold Date
149
Lot Number
#3+
Recent restoration
RM Sotheby's
Auction House
Chassis no. 23014. Blue over gray. Floor shift, hub caps, Firestone tires, fender skirts, dash clock, robe rail.

Evaluation: Very rare T77, the original streamlined Tatra. Restored painstakingly to all correct specs, reportedly at a cost of around $1M. That said, there are scratches and overbuffed spots in the paint, as well as a few chips on the rear. Scratches in the right rear window as well. Beautiful interior with excellent wood and leather as well as clear, bright, beautiful gauges. A fascinating automobile in any condition even though the restoration doesn’t appear as nice as the stack of receipts might suggest.

Bottom Line: The condition of this car was a little overhyped but it’s still a fascinating automobile, an Art Deco masterpiece that was years ahead of its time. Even RM’s presale estimate admits that the car’s restoration cost way more than the car’s actually worth, but the sale price even fell well short of that and shows that you do usually lose money restoring a car, and that it’s often best to let somebody else put money into shop rates and parts costs before buying the finished product yourself.

by Andrew Newton
7 April 2023

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