Hans Ledwinka's stay at Tatra was cut short after the war in 1945 when he was accused of collaboration with the Nazis and promptly imprisoned until 1951. After release he moved to Austria and then to Munich, Germany where he remained until his death in 1967.
In 1946 the new socialist government of Czechoslovakia nationalized the company and its name was reverted to Tatra (Tatra narodni podnik to be precise). Julius Mackerle was now the head engineer of the design team.
The first new post-war Tatra truck to appear was the T114, capable of carrying 3 tons and powered by a 4940cc air-cooled 4-cyl. engine. The year following brought the T115, which utilized the same engine, and the 6-cylinder 10.2-litre T116 of 6 tons load capacity followed the year after and stayed until 1952.
In the 1950s Tatra would begin placing more and more emphasis on truck production and less on passenger cars, due to a decree by the government to do so in the early part of that decade. But Tatra had already a good reputation as a truck maker and was experienced in that field and therefore this did not present much of a problem.
The second year of the 1950s saw the introduction of the 2-powered-axle cross-country T128, which was followed in 1952 by the 6x6 T130. Both employed an air-cooled diesel 9883cc V8 128bhp (@ 2000rpm) powerplant.
In 1956 came out the rounded and interesting looking 4x4 T805, available in truck or van form. In production until 1960, the relatively small T805 was powered by a 2.5-litre 8-cyl. motor and could cruise at 75 km/h. A modified caravan version of it was involved in yet more expeditions of exotic places by Tatra vehicles.
an example of a T805Nineteen-fifty-seven was the first year of the production of the T141. It was largely based on the famous T111, still being produced at that time, and shared its diesel V12 engine. Production of T141, with its 5.7 ton load capacity and three power axles, ceased in 1969.
The distinctive T138, with an impressive 12 ton carrying capacity, appeared for 1961. It introduced a new type of suspension, for commercial vehicles, utilizing sprung suspension rods and its powerplant was an 11.8-litre 8 producing 177.5bhp at 2000rpm. It was succeeded by the almost identical looking and successful T148, made from 1970 to 1982 in a quantity of 113647, which made do with a slight bigger 209bhp unit. Both of these 6x6 models took part in an extensive trek across Europe during the 1970s to promote them.
In 1965 the squarely styled and imposing T813, outfitted with a monstrous and torquey 17.6-litre 12-cylinder unit of 247bhp @ 2000rpm (very likely a highly reliable air-cooled diesel V12). It could haul up to 8.2 tons and was available in many forms, including the approprietly named 8x8 (4 axle) Kolos (collosal) towing truck. The T813 is probably the most widely known Tatra truck ever produced.
a T813
