What the car is and where it came from
A Czechoslovak-built, rear-engine, streamlined saloon produced from 1936 to 1950. Designed by Hans Ledwinka, Erich Ledwinka, and Erich Übelacker. Based on Paul Jaray’s aerodynamic proposals.
How it works, in terms someone would actually use
It places the driver ahead of a rear-mounted, air-cooled, 2.9-litre, 90° overhead cam V8. The layout isolates cabin heat but shifts weight rearward. The finned tail divides airflow across the body. It runs on petrol. Fuel consumption is 12.5 litres per 100 km.
What it gets right
Its shape delivers a drag coefficient of 0.36. Its rear fin manages lateral air pressure. Its V8 produces 85 horsepower and enables near-100 mph top speed. Its aerodynamic efficiency yields 12.5 L/100 km consumption.
What it does not
It does not offer front-wheel drive. It does not use water cooling. It does not have a front engine. It does not cite suspension type, wheelbase, or kerb weight. It does not establish driver feedback through the steering wheel.
What it changed
It proved streamlined form could deliver high speed and low fuel use in series production. Its drag coefficient — 0.36 full-scale — became a benchmark. Its rear-engine, air-cooled layout influenced later designs, including Volkswagen’s.
Who it is for, and who it is not
It is for engineers, historians, and designers focused on interwar automotive innovation. It is not for buyers seeking performance specs, ownership data, or subjective driving character.
Is it worth your time
Yes — if you care how aerodynamics shaped automotive engineering before WWII. No — if you need verifiable driving impressions, chassis details, or production context beyond what the sources confirm.
