Imported 1963 Trabant 601 Universal (East German Economy Car)

A yellow 1963 Trabant 601 Universal leaving Carcadia. Built by East German manufacturer VEB Sachsenring in Zwickau, Saxony, the 601 was introduced in 1963 and produced until 1990. Often referred to as “Trabi”, it is powered by a two-stroke I2 engine mated to a 4-speed manual transmission and was the most common car in East Germany with 2,818,547 units built, becoming an iconic symbol of the socialist country. Buyers were placed on a waiting list, usually for over ten years. This imported example has belonged to same owner since new and is one of around 200 to 250 Trabants currently in the United States.

Some cars - even cars that were never meant to be particularly cool or special - have become icons that are inseparable from specific cultures or time periods. And for some enthusiasts, that alone is enough to justify shipping one halfway across the planet to add to the garage. Many people may see this Trabant pass by and dismiss it as just another cheap old little car. But those who recognize it are sure to notice it, wonder what it's doing in America, and question who's crazy enough to be driving it. The owner of this one brings it out regularly to the monthly Carcadia meet. It's cheap, it's slow, it lacks even amenities that some would consider primitive, and it emits enough pollution to make any V12 supercar seem as clean as an EV. But for those who are fans of European history and those who have, for better or worse, spent time in East Germany, it can certainly lead to hours of interesting conversations. Who says you need a fancy sports car to turn heads at a car meet?

Would you add a Trabant 601 to your garage? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!