The DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, has added a rare 1936 Tatra 75 Convertible to its collection, offering visitors a glimpse into prewar European automotive innovation. The vehicle, part of the Ron Sturgeon Collection, was previously housed at the Tampa Bay Automotive Museum and is one of only approximately 4,100 examples produced.
The Tatra 75 features an advanced air-cooled 1.7-liter flat-four engine paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Its backbone chassis, a design that provided exceptional rigidity and ride comfort, set Tatra apart from competitors during the 1930s. The car is finished with a beige convertible top and a right-hand-drive interior trimmed in red leather, with a body-color dashboard and a VDO 120 km/h speedometer. The odometer reads just 44,000 kilometers (about 27,000 miles), reflecting limited use over its lifetime.
Ron Sturgeon, founder of the museum, emphasized the significance of the Tatra 75 as a representation of prewar creativity and engineering. The model holds historical importance as the last front-engined passenger car from Tatra before the company transitioned to rear-engined designs that influenced later automotive engineering. The museum, located at 2550 McMillan Parkway, offers free admission and features over 200 automobiles and 3,000 vintage toys. More information is available at dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.
The addition of the Tatra 75 underscores the museum's role in preserving automotive history and providing educational opportunities for enthusiasts and families. The vehicle's rarity and engineering advancements continue to attract attention from collectors and historians alike.
