On my last visit to Potsdam I came across a very special little car parked in the town center: the Trabant P50 (a.k.a. Trabant 500), the granddaddy of the famous Trabant 601, which would become the iconic symbol of the German Democratic Republic.
What Made the Trabant So Famous
These days it is not very common to still see a Trabi on the streets. Most of them belong to collectors and enthusiasts for old cars, and / or East German memorabilia, and are therefor maintained in pristine condition. Before it became a coveted collector's item, it used to be the butt of numerous jokes, poking fun of the failed socialist system, and generally being considered the worst car in the world.
But was that true? Sure, its two-stroke engine was more reminiscent of a lawnmower, and its body made of Duroplast (a composite thermosetting resin plastic) gave it the image of a "cardboard car". However, the people's car from the GDR had some undeniable features going for it. Burning a gasoline-oil mix also meant that you could start the engine right away, even in the coldest winter, and if you happened to drive it into a ditch, all you needed were three friends to pick it up by hand and place it back on the road.
From 1964 until 1990 close to three million Trabants were made, making it the most common car in East Germany. Getting one, however, was not easy, and it was not uncommon for people to place their newborn child on the waiting list, so that they might be allowed to buy a new one by the time they were 18. With so many interesting stories around it, it's not surprising that it reached such an iconic image. But wait... this post was not even supposed to be about the famous Trabant 601!
Back to its Predecessor
Back in 1954 the East German leadership decided to produce a small, cheap, but reliable car for the common people. The result was this first version of the Trabant, of which 130,000 were made between 1957 and 1962. It was followed by the intermediate model of the Trabant 600, which looks almost identical to this one. One distinguishing feature is the body shape, omitting the swooping air-stream lines on the side that subtly suggest tail-fins, so characteristic of the 1950s, even in the socialist East.
With its two-stroke engine and duroplast body, this early Trabi already has the key features of the famous 601. The only thing it lacks is all the iconic imagery spun around it. However, the rarity of this model puts its value among collectors way into the stratosphere. For me, I was quite psyched to see this old exceptional old-timer parked on the streets, and happy to share it with you all.
What I personally love about this individual car, is that it has been kept in its original state. Though it looks obviously well taken care of, everything in it seems to be like it has always been. Just look at the seats and the dashboard! The only decorating features are a pennant of the football club BSG Motor Babelsberg, as well as a metal sign reminding smokers to ask everyone present for permission before lighting up (clearly not intended for the car originally).
