Tatra 805
Year of Manufacture: 1955
Power: 75 hp
Displacement:2,545 cm3
Number of cylinders/valves: 8/2
Weight: 4,450 kg
Condition: Operational
Catalog Number: 235
This light off-road truck, colloquially nicknamed “Duck,” “Squealer,” or “Whistler” due to the characteristic whining sound of the engine under load and during gear shifts, was manufactured by Tatra between 1952 and 1960.
The vehicle was developed specifically for military needs, requiring a vehicle capable of driving in difficult terrain with high towing power.
The chassis of the T 805 model was structurally based on the previous prototypes T 803 and T 804. The main innovation was the “trambus” cab, which required repositioning the driver’s seat.
Engine
The Tatra 805 was powered by an air-cooled, gasoline, V8 engine type T 603A with a displacement of 2,545 cm3. The engine differed from the passenger car versions by using a single carburetor, a lower compression ratio, forced cooling fans, and a “dry” crankcase with dual oil pumps.
Transmission
The four-speed transmission was supplemented by a two-speed auxiliary gearbox, allowing better adaptation to off-road conditions.
Chassis
The chassis was designed as a prime example of off-road construction. The torsion bar suspension on both axles ensured a comfortable ride even at higher speeds on paved roads. A weak point was the single-circuit hydraulic drum brakes without power assistance.
Usage
In the civilian sector, the Tatra 805 was used as delivery or street-sweeping vehicles, or with various special box body modifications such as a silver-painted van, known from Czechoslovak films.
The most famous application was the expedition vehicles used by travelers Zikmund and Hanzelka. These special vehicles featured a light-reflecting paint, thermal insulation, reinforced steering wheels, taller windshields, and trailer carts.
