The last new Tatra truck model to clear the gates at Koprivnice (trucks are as always made in the Koprivnice factory, while automobiles are built in near-by Pribor since the 1950s) was the T815 which went on sale in 1982 and is still produced with minor improvements to this day in a multitude of different versions. The rather conventional looking T815, available in 2, 3, or 4 axle format, was initially equipped with a 10-cylinder (an air cooled diesel, naturally) engine of 15.8-litres and with a torque of 1010Nm (@ 1400rpm) on tap. Later on 19-litre 470bhp 12-cyl. (with torque of either 1130Nm or 1295Nm @ 1400rpm) and 12.7-litre 8-cyl. (with 840Nm @ 1400rpm) units became available. Carrying capaciy of a typical T815 is about 14 or 15 tons and maximum speed is around 90 km/h.
Observe the flexible rear suspension of this T815
Special versions, in 4x4 and 6x6 form, of the T815 have had phenomenal success in the well-known rallies with Dakar as the destination, for instance the Paris (thru Algiers) to Dakar and more recently Grenada to Dakar rallies. At the 1987 Paris-Algiers-Dakar rally Tatra T815VD 4x4s (equipped with the mentioned 8-cyl. engine and capable of 150 km/h) placed in 2nd, 15th, 16th, and 18th in the truck category against tough competition (such as the Russian Kamaz trucks).
1995 winning teamComplete results for the '96 Granada-Dakar event are as follows: 2nd (by the Loprais/Tomecek/Stachura team), 3rd, 4th, and 15th.
It is important to note that Tatra trucks commend such respect that the Dakar rally organizers have often used special 8x8 Tatra trucks to carry fuel and help out stranded entrants along the way. Such a job certainly requires a very capable and reliable vehicle.
In addition to taking part in rallies, the T815 continued the Tatra tradition of travelling across the continents. On tour this time: the world, by the very special and gigantic multi-level GTC.
In 1992 Tatra became a company of the Czech Republic due to the split up of Czechoslovakia. It is not apparent, however, when the company was privatized but this may have happend around that time.
Tatra a.s. has been having some difficulty in adjusting to the rather sudden change to free-market economy and the (temporary) loss of markets after the collapse of the U.S.S.R., but it appears that the situation is improving, the case in point being an $180 million order by the United Arab Emirates Army for 1100 T815 8x8 trucks (albeit powered by Deutz water-cooled engines). Other news is that Skoda Plzen (unrelated to the auto-maker Skoda) has purchased 43.5% of Tatra. It also unfortunate to note that Tatra trucks seemed to have been absent from the most recent Dakar rally.
