Tatra 603 1968–1975 car dimensions: 5065 mm long, 1910 mm wide and 1530 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,510 kg. Boot space with the seats up is 490 litres.
The cabin seats five with a split front bench that reclines and a rear bench with centre armrest. An independent petrol heater sits under the front seat for cabin warmth. Column-mounted gearshift frees space. Radio comes as standard. Large glass areas and thin pillars give good outward vision. Front seats fold flat to form a bed. Headroom suits tall passengers.
Main luggage space sits under the front bonnet at 370 litres with spare wheel in a separate drop-down bin accessible without unloading. A further 120 litres of shallow storage sits behind the rear seats.
Curb weight sits near 1510 kg with gross vehicle weight 1960 kg for a payload of about 450 kg. The car served official duties with room for passengers and light loads in the dual luggage areas. No towing figures appear in published specs.
The cabin seats five on soft split-reclining front seats and a rear bench with centre armrest. Space is generous with high headroom for rear passengers. An independent petrol heater sits under the front seat and feeds warm air. Quarterlights and side vents handle fresh air flow. Ride feels soft thanks to full independent suspension and coil springs. Column shift leaves the floor clear.
Petrol V8, stated consumption 12.5 l/100 km, tank 60 l.
Disc brakes all round with vacuum servo from 1968-70 models.
Front seat belts standard from 1968, car rated five seats.
Factory refurbishment common around every seven years.
Air-cooled engine needs regular oil and cooling-system checks.
The air-cooled 2.5-litre V8 runs on petrol and returns a stated 12.5 litres per 100 km. Tank capacity is 60 litres on the late cars. Twin carburettors and electronic ignition from 1973 keep it simple to maintain when parts are available.
Servicing centres on the lubrication chart and air-cooling fans. Owners took cars back to the factory for major refreshes roughly every seven years. A full workshop manual covers brakes, suspension, heater and electrics.
Safety kit is basic but updated for the period. All-wheel disc brakes with servo arrived with the 1968 facelift. Front belts became standard the same year, cutting official capacity to five. Independent suspension all round and a monocoque body form the main structure. No crash-test ratings appear in period material.
Living with the car means watching the petrol heater for reliability and keeping the air-cooling paths clear. Parts support exists through specialist clubs. The ride stays comfortable on long trips when the suspension is fresh.
Length 5065 mm, Width 1910 mm, Height 1530 mm, Wheelbase 2750 mm (603 1968–1975)
Sources: manufacturer data, auto.pravda.sk Tatra 603–2 model 1968 specs, hemmings.com 1975 T603 and tatra.demon.nl archive.