Judged by any set of parameters—and viewed from any angle—the Tatra T77 is one of the most fascinating cars of the pre-war era.

Designed primarily by Austrian Hans Ledwinka and German Erich Übelacker, with input from Zeppelin designer and aerodynamicist Paul Jaray, the T77 was hand-built in limited numbers by Tatra of Czechoslovakia from 1934 through 1936.

The car’s futuristic, low-to-the-ground appearance was dictated by then-radical streamlining principles, with its designers seeking to maximize efficiency and high-speed performance by reducing drag.

Even the bold rear fin was more than decoration; it was intended to increase lateral stability under the high speeds at which the Tatra was capable of traveling.

The effort paid dividends: The T77 was capable of over 90 mph despite its relatively small V-8—itself an interesting rear-mounted, air-cooled overhead-valve powerplant displacing just under 3.0 liters.

In fact, a 1:5 scale model of the T77 was tested in a wind tunnel in per...