Busch 53103 H0 Car Trabant P601 Limousine, blue

Another meaning of the name Trabant is also companions or companions. Therefore, a more appropriate name for the "Trabi" cannot be given when one considers how long a vehicle had to hold in the GDR. Built from 1964 to 1990 at the Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau, P601was the third and most-built model of the Trabant series, whose two-stroke engine was produced at the Barkas plant – by 1990 more than 2.5 million Trabis left the Zwickau plant. However, the history of the model began in 1958 with the series production of the Trabant P 50 (P = Plaste / 50 = 500 cm3 of the 17-hp engine), followed by the P50/1 Combi, the P 60/2 with four-speed transmission and finally the P 60 with 595 cm3 and 23 hp. In 1964, the Trabant 601 model appeared with a new body modified in the then modern trapezoidal style, but technically still related to the P 60. During the 26 years of production, however, there were various changes, such as an improved braking system, an automatic clutch (Hycomat) as well as numerous detail improvements and equipment variants.

Even though its appearance had not changed, its popularity did not hurt it, it was a reliable and indestructible vehicle, which only made holidays in the eastern block possible and thus generated a bit of freedom. A good year later, in summer 1965 the Universal Estate car appeared. Even though, as with the sedan, the outer shape of the type P 60 had completely changed, inside it remained identical. New to the previous standard versions of the saloon and combi-car 601 were the 601 S models (special request) and the 601 de luxe models (later 601 s de luxe) in full. This difference could be easily seen, because the 601 de luxe was visually apparent due to its generally different colored roof as well as the glossy chrome bumper immediately in the eye. Later, further details such as shock horns, reversing and fog lights and rear fog lights followed. But the 601 S was also often supplied with a different-colored roof, but for it the different configurations of the equipment variants varied. The 601 standard version was mainly available in the combined version, as they were used in trade, industry and industry. Depending on the application and the respective user, the single-colored model also received classic chrome plating of the lamp rings, wheel caps, wheel covers or wheel nut covers as well as various characters.

Since most of the changes on the Trabant only took place "under the hood" – with the exception of a few improvements to the grill, wheels and paint, the rear lights bumpers, which were carried out simultaneously on the sedan and station wagon – the outer shape was completely unaffected. This led to the fact that the export took place only in the first ten years with 20,000 vehicles heading west, especially in the Netherlands and Finland. After that these deliveries broke out and the Trabant remained in the east and was delivered mainly to Hungary and Czechoslovakia in addition to the usual GDR deliveries. The 1 model of the small Trabant initially corresponds to the first construction years, which were delivered till the 70's. In addition to the standard version, the saloon and combination models with a colored roof and the "de luxe" equipment are also on the start. The corresponding details of the above mentioned distinguishing points are of course a matter of course.

This text is machine translated.