A 1947 Tatra T87, one of the most advanced and distinctive European cars of the mid-20th century, is set to headline Mecum’s Larry’s Legacy 2025 auction this September.
The late Larry Klairmont spent more than a decade collecting rare and coveted classic and collector cars, along with thousands of items of Road Art and memorabilia to complete the look and feel of his Chicago-based museum. A long-time dedicated customer of Mecum Auctions, Klairmont had full faith in the company’s proven ability to draw the best audiences in the world, which is why the museum has selected Mecum to handle the upcoming sale of his treasured collection. Mecum Auctions has spent more than 38 years building trust among the collector car community, offering more than 2,000 collections of varying types in that time. For the company’s lucky bidders, such collections often offer rare buying opportunities for vehicles that have long been tucked away or that have never changed hands at all, along with the peace of mind that the cars were held in the attentive care of a true-blue collector car enthusiast. Click here to register for the Larry’s Legacy auction, to be held on-site at the museum’s downtown Chicago location this Sept. 19-21.
Chassis No. 69324, equipped with a 2,970cc air-cooled magnesium-alloy V-8 and four-speed manual gearbox, underwent a comprehensive restoration at Burnham’s Garage in Delanson, New York. Finished in green with a matching leather interior, the car features the hallmarks of Tatra chief engineer Hans Ledwinka’s visionary design: aerodynamic bodywork with a rear stabilizer fin, unibody construction, and the marque’s signature Cyclops third headlamp.
Capable of seating six, the T87 was engineered for stability and long-distance cruising, with a top speed of 100 mph thanks to its streamlined body and light weight. The model’s engineering had a profound impact on global automotive design, with parallels visible in Ferdinand Porsche’s Volkswagen Beetle and Preston Tucker’s short-lived Tucker 48.
This example carries an equally memorable story. The late Larry Klairmont, inspired by Jay Leno’s praise for the T87, pursued one at Monterey auctions but was outbid twice in a single day. His partner, Joyce Oberlander, encountered the wife of a winning bidder who had acquired two Tatras, and through a chance conversation, secured one for Klairmont. That car is now the example slated for sale at Larry’s Legacy.
With fewer than a dozen T87s known in the United States at the time of Klairmont’s purchase, the car represents a rare opportunity for collectors. Admired at exhibitions from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum to U.S. art institutes, the T87 remains a symbol of aerodynamic innovation and automotive daring.
The car will cross the block on Sunday, September 21, continuing the legacy of both Ledwinka’s engineering genius and Klairmont’s determined pursuit. See it here.
