Description
Welcome to the sale of my 1985 East German Trabant 601s in the somewhat rare colour of Capri Green.
I first purchased the car in 2012 shortly after it had been imported and registered in the UK by a friend of mine. The odometer reading at that time was around 32, 000km which whilst not guaranteed was believed to be genuine due to the car's overall excellent condition. Due to a change in circumstances I reluctantly sold the car in 2014 from when it remained in the same ownership until September 2021 when I was offered the opportunity to buy it back, something I had wanted to do for several years.
Unfortunately, I have a worsening joint condition which means driving a car with manual transmission is becoming more uncomfortable than I would like, especially one with the offset driving position of a Trabant. I collected the car from the seller's Northampton address last September, drove it to my home in Staffordshire and other than take it to a local rust proofer I haven't driven it since. I therefore see little prospect of me using the car as much as I intended so I have once again made the reluctant decision to sell it, together with a large quantity of spare parts including a new exhaust system, steering rack, spare engine in unknown condition, a new front panel in original packaging plus other items too numerous to list.
The gent I sold the car to in 2014 was a restorer of vintage scooters with a keen eye for detail who during his seven years of ownership covered less than 2500km whilst maintaining the car to a high standard and keeping it in secure, dry storage. In my few months of ownership I have fitted new seat covers and rear shelf cover which were obtained from Germany at a cost of around £300. The car has also been professionally rust proofed using the Carrolan Hot Fog Wax treatment at a further cost of £300.
As you'll see from my photographs, the car is in excellent cosmetic condition both inside and out and also has a nicely detailed engine compartment which was undertaken by me in 2013 and has survived surprisingly well. The car starts readily from both warm or cold and immediately settles to a smooth (by two stroke standards) tick-over with a minimum of choke. It drives as a Trabant should and once fully warm emits a surprisingly small amount of smoke from the exhaust system. The gears all select smoothly, the brakes operate correctly, the electrics all work (including the multiple speed/ delay screen wipers and 'Christmas tree' econometer) and the 595cc engine buzzes along happily on a 40:1 fuel mix.
The German style number plates fitted to the car are actually show plates using the UK registration number although a pair of street legal plates are included in the sale and will be fitted to the car prior to handover. The sale also includes a fire extinguisher (thankfully untested), warning triangle, an East German first aid kit (dated 1979) and a USB lead which plugs into the original 12 volt socket beneath the dashboard.
Although the car would have originally been fitted with a conventional points and condenser ignition system I understand the previous owner upgraded to an electronic system which makes for easier maintenance and more reliable operation. Nonetheless, the standard ignition system has been retained should a new owner decide for any reason to revert the car to standard.
The Trabant has a V5C in my name, import documentation to confirm correct UK registration, handbooks and two sets of keys. The jack, tools and spare wheel are present as is the leather strap which secures the spare wheel in the upright position. The car has been correctly fitted with a fog light to the rear offside together with a dash mounted warning light. Although not required by law, the car has also been fitted with a pair of static rear seat belts which make for safer touring with children. UK specification head light units have been fitted which correctly dip to the left and provide the required beam pattern without the need for tape or deflectors.
At the last MOT test in August 2021 the car was issued with an advisory note on reduced rear brake efficiency - I understand the previous owner subsequently addressed this by replacement of the rear brake cylinders. The car therefore has a MOT certificate which is valid until August 17th 2022. The present odometer reading is around 37, 900km, a figure which whilst not guaranteed is believed to be genuine based on the overall condition of the car.
So there it is, a Trabant which I believe to be one of the best examples currently available in the UK and in a great colour too. The car is sold with no known mechanical or structural defects and whilst not quite cosmetically perfect is I believe as good as you're likely to find in an unrestored example. The car is believed to have absolutely no corrosion so given the recent rust proofing work is unlikely to ever need welded repairs if the underbody treatment is correctly maintained. In summary, it isn't the cheapest Trabant you're likely to find but if you can find a better example you should probably buy it.
Viewing by appointment is available in the Staffordshire area whilst professional inspection is both welcomed and encouraged. Requests to drive the car must be supported by fully comprehensive insurance for any vehicle (with no exceptions) and payment is by bank transfer only. The car will only be released on confirmation of cleared funds.
Thanks for looking. Any questions, please ask.
