The DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, has added an exceptionally rare 1936 Tatra 75 Convertible to its collection, offering visitors a glimpse into the innovative engineering and craftsmanship of prewar European automobiles. Part of the renowned Ron Sturgeon Collection, this vehicle underscores Tatra's legacy as a forward-thinking manufacturer whose designs were decades ahead of their time.
The Tatra 75 Convertible is a rare sight worldwide, with only approximately 4,100 examples ever produced. Before joining the museum, it was housed at the Tampa Bay Automotive Museum, where its historical significance and originality were carefully preserved. The car features an advanced air-cooled 1.7-liter flat-four engine paired with a four-speed manual transmission, a testament to Tatra's embrace of cutting-edge engineering during the 1930s. Its innovative backbone chassis provided exceptional rigidity and a smooth, comfortable ride, setting the Type 75 apart among luxury touring automobiles of its era.
Inside, the vehicle boasts a right-hand-drive interior trimmed in rich red leather with a body-color dashboard that epitomizes European elegance. A classic VDO 120 km/h speedometer with an integrated clock anchors the instrument panel, while the odometer reads just 44,000 kilometers (approximately 27,000 miles), reflecting its limited use over nearly nine decades. Finished with a beige convertible top, this Tatra 75 is considered one of the finest surviving examples of the model. It also holds historical significance as the last front-engined passenger car introduced by Tatra before the company shifted to its famous rear-engined designs, which later influenced generations of automotive engineering.
Ron Sturgeon, founder of the museum, emphasized the importance of such vehicles: "The Tatra 75 represents a level of creativity and innovation that continues to impress nearly 90 years later. It's automobiles like this that allow visitors to appreciate how engineering vision and craftsmanship have shaped the cars we drive today." The museum, located at 2550 McMillan Parkway in Fort Worth, offers free admission and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Visitors can explore more than 200 iconic automobiles and 3,000 vintage toys spanning over a century of innovation, design, and culture. The facility also provides secure climate-controlled car storage and event spaces, making it a premier destination for car enthusiasts, families, and history buffs. For more information, visit the museum's website at dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.
