Tatra 17

The Tatra 17 is an automobile produced by the Czech manufacturer Tatra between 1925 and 1929. It was the company's top-end model, and was sold alongside the Tatra 12 economy car and the Tatra 30 executive car.

Engine
Originally the car was fitted with a liquid-cooled 1930 cc six-cylinder OHC inline engine that produced 35 hp. The block was made from silumin and the cylinder heads were made from aluminium. It was the first Tatra with an ignition battery. The maximum attainable speed of the 1130 kg car was 100 km/h. 205 Tatra 17 cars with this engine were produced before 25 September 1926.

Some Tatra 17 cars were fitted with the engine designed for the more expensive Tatra 31. This engine was also a liquid-cooled six-cylinder OHC inline engine, but was a larger 2310 cc design that produced 39.4 hp. These Tatra 17/31 cars had an increased top speed of 110 km/h. 250 Tatra 17/31 cars were produced.

For a time, the Tatra 17/31 was manufactured alongside its successor, the Tatra 31, of which 300 vehicles were made.

Backbone tube
The Tatra 17 was the first luxury Tatra with a backbone tube, which had been successfully used in the low cost type Tatra 11. Unlike the Tatra 11, the Tatra 17 had independent suspension not only of the rear half axles, but also of the front axles.

The car's driveshaft is inside the tube and the gear box and engine are mounted in the front of the tube, while the differential is in the rear.

Configurations
The Tatra 17 was produced in several configurations, including a two-seat roadster, and a six-seat limousine.

A few Tatra 17 cars were built in a fire engine configuration. One remains in "service" as an honorary fire engine in the fire department of Svatý Jan nad Malší.