Tatra 813 - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

Superfuel · 03-26-2005, 15:04

Hello is there anyone here in the United States that owns a Tatra 813? I have one here in California and it would be nice to communicate with other owners to exchange info and maybe form a club.

Los Angeles, California

M1075 · 03-26-2005, 16:52

Tatras are sweet. I found this website http://l1-a.net/tatra/ Is this your truck? Maybe you can post some pics for us. Welcome to Steelsoldiers.

Superfuel · 03-26-2005, 19:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by M1075

Tatras are sweet. I found this website http://l1-a.net/tatra/ Is this your truck? Maybe you can post some pics for us. Welcome to Steelsoldiers.

Thank you. Yes I bought the truck from that guy up in San Jose. He drove it once after he got it and let it sit for about 4 years. I have been slowly fixing it up and now it is in great shape mechanically. Now for the cosmetics! I need to make smaller files from my pictures.

M1075 · 03-27-2005, 01:51

From the pics I saw, the cosmetics look excellent. You definitely have a stand out vehicle James.

BKubu · 04-08-2005, 11:28

James,
That is a sweet ride.

Good luck!

Dieselsmoke · 04-13-2005, 14:23

I saw that truck at the Big Bear event about four maybe five years ago. Awesome is putting it lightly, that thing was just friggin unreal. I see why the guy didn't drive it very much, when he almost backed over my tent I could tell he had no idea how to use the mirrors or no idea what a ground guide is. I think he was afraid of something that big too. Sure was an excellent looking rig then though.

Superfuel · 04-14-2005, 22:39

Yes that is the one. It sat outside during the time that it sat. I am currently doing an "in-frame" restoration on it. Starting with the mechanicals and finishing with the cosmetics. Replaced air lines, fuel injectors and injection pump, as well as upgradeing the fuel system, adding prefilters etc. It is interesting to hear from people who saw this in action before I aquired it. I drive it around the San Fernando Valley here in Los Angeles. I drove it to the Southern Cal MVCC meeting and joined up. Quite a spectacle as my girlfriend likes to say. It is an awesome looking and driving machine. I drive a semi-truck for a living, and to be quite honest with you this thing drives a lot easier than it looks, for those of us that know how to drive. I am sure if he ran over your tent he probably would not have known. How did you prevent the disaster?

Desert Rat · 04-25-2005, 08:12

James,
Just like we say here, take Greyhound and leave driving to professionals. A truck like that is a beautiful thing when in the correct hands. I'd love an opportunity behind the wheel sometime! I've got just over 1.5 million miles experience, 11 years of it in intermodal, to back me up (dang that was a good pun, third today!). I love having my class "A"!

vtunimog · 01-19-2007, 12:33

JAMES -

It's been a long time no hear. Hope all is well with the Kolos ! I sold an 813 to FL last spring. What a nightmare ! It came in in pieces and I had an ex. Czech machinist from Connecticut come up and help me put it together, well at least the electrical parts. I had it a week and only got to yard drive it. It was shipped off and the new owner is having it stripped and redone from the ground up. When compared to a MAN Kat 8x8 the Tatra handles and drives like a dream. The noise is defeaning though as you can attest too.

I have a new source for ex. Czech trucks and they seem to be fairly good mechanically, the bodies are always an issue with these things though. Considering the age of the these vehicles I am amazed at the technology and design. I always thought the Germans were the pinnacle of engineering, apparently the Czechs may have them beat.

The sad part is that an Indian firm just bought up a warehouse of T813 parts and will not be selling them outside India.

contact Chip Clarke at chrstnsails64@yahoo.com

He is about to get an 813 in May. He went over to the UK and drove one and instantly wanted it.

Cheers,

Chris M

WillWagner · 01-19-2007, 14:11

Superfuel, I was there last Sunday! That is a bitchen truck! I wanted to hunt you down to talk to you, but got too busy. To all, this truck is beautiful up close and it sounds impressive! What's it got for power? A V12?