It was launched in 1931, the same year as the Tatra 70, and the two models have the same backbone chassis and swing axle suspension.

The Type 70 was built with a 3,406 cc six-cylinder OHC engine,[3] but the Type 80 was given a 5,990 cc, 65-degree V-12 with horizontal valves operated directly by a top camshaft mounted at the level of the cylinder heads.

[4] The engine produces 120 hp (89 kW),[5] giving the car a top speed of 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph).

[7] In 1935 a unique Tatra 80 landaulet was built as the official state car of Czechoslovak President TG Masaryk.

[6] On 29 September 2005 the Czech Republic declared that a set of five historic cars, including the Presidential landaulet, to be a national cultural monument.