Trabant had produced cars in Eastern Germany (DDR) since 1957. Communists wanted to make a sort of a people’s car with it – something similar to the Austin Mini, the Volkswagen Beetle or the Fiat 500. Despite 3 million produced units, the Trabant seems to lack the appeal and the iconic factor of the western mass produced cars who started the nation’s industry. However, many car enthusiasts are quite enchanted by it. So much so that some even import it to the US.
This is a man who imported the Trabant car from Hungary to the US and the first thing he thought of doing is putting it in a drag race – against the Mustang. Yes, it feels quite awkward and funny seeing a small Communist car next to the Mustang at the drag strip straight. It is wrong. So wrong it is right. When we first saw the picture, we thought that this Trabant is an ultimate sleeper. But, no. It is just a stock machine with original two stroke two cylinder petrol engine which smokes a lot.
A quarter of a mile time is almost irrelevant here. Trabant did it in about 30 seconds almost achieving the top speed of 55 mph. What is interesting is that some people have actually tried tuning it in some way or another. The most important change one can do is make a swap. Usually, it’s 0.5-liter engine is ditched in favor of a Volkswagen Polo one liter unit. Yes, the car becomes faster but far more important, it also becomes reliable.
Enjoy this awkward drag race and get to know a Communist block car like never before. It is cute in some sense. Also, in case you did not know, it is made of plastic.
