Trabant 601

Trabant 601

Trabant 601 in 1963
Overview
Manufacturer VEB Sachsenring
Also called Trabbi
Production 1963–1990
Model years 1964–1990
Assembly Zwickau, Germany
Body and chassis
Class C-segment
Body style 2-door saloon (Limousine)
2-door estate (Universal)
Doorless ATV (Tramp)
Layout FF
Platform Trabant P601
Related Wartburg 353
Powertrain
Engine P 6x (Otto, 594,5 cm3, 19,1 kW)
Transmission 4-speed manual
Propulsion Tyres
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2020 mm
Length 3555 mm
Width 1505 mm
Height 1440 mm
Kerb weight 615 kg
Chronology
Predecessor Trabant P60
Successor Trabant 1.1

The Trabant 601 (or Trabant P601 series) was a Trabant model produced by VEB Sachsenring in Zwickau, Sachsen. It was the third generation of the model, built for the longest production time, from 1963 to 1990. As a result, it is the best-known Trabant model and often referred to simply as "the Trabant" or "the Trabi". During this long production run, 2,818,547 Trabant 601s were produced overall and it was the most common vehicle in former East Germany.

Overview

A 1988 Trabant 601 S DeLuxe.

With hindsight it can be considered East Germany's response to West Germany's 'Peoples Car', the VW Beetle.[1][2] Its purpose was to provide a cheap but still reliable car that was very affordable and also easy to repair and maintain. Still, it was at the time of its release rather modern in many ways, with front wheel drive, a low maintenance engine, unitary construction, composite bodywork and independent suspension all around. The main letdown was the pre-war DKW based engine that was competitive when launched, but from the late 1950s into the 1960s, small economy cars in western countries that used two-stroke engines, were replaced with cleaner and more efficient four-stroke engines, as employed from the start in the Volkswagen Beetle. Two-stroke engines of this sort, with crankcase scavenging and lubricating oil provided during fuel intake, burn their lubricating oil by design and produce smoky tailpipe emissions. However, two-stroke engines were also to be found in cars like the Western German Auto Union 1000 that ended production in 1963, and the Swedish Saab 96 that changed to four-stroke in 1967. The lack of development funds in East Germany forced the continued use of a two-stroke engine in the Trabant, thus causing this vehicle to become obsolescent in the 1960s and extremely obsolete by the 1980s.

Variants

A P 601 A Kübel of the LSK on display at the Luftwaffenmuseum Berlin-Gatow.
A 1970 Trabant 601 DeLuxe Universal.

Technical data

Trabant 601 saloon Trabant 601 Universal
Engine: Two cylinder two stroke otto engine type P65/66
Displacement: 594,5 cm3
Bore × Stroke: 72 mm × 73 mm
Rated power: : 19,1 kW at 4200 min−1
Torque: 54 N·m at 3000 min−1
Compression ratio: 7,8 ± 2 : 1
Cooling system: Air-cooled
Clutch: Single disk dry clutch
Gearbox: Four-speed gearbox
1st gear: 4,08
2nd gear: 2,32
3rd gear: 1,52
4th gear: 1,103
R-gear: 3,83
Fuel type: Carburettor fuel ″regular″ 88 RON
Oil type: Two stroke engine oil MZ-22
Fuel-oil-ratio: 1 : 50
Weight: 615 kg 650 kg
Dimensions L × W × H: 3555 mm × 1505 mm × 1440 mm 3560 mm × 1510 mm × 1440 mm
Vmax: 108 km/h
Source: [3]

The 601 today

A green Trabant 601 S with a sunroof.
A Trabant 601 modified into a stretch limousine.

Many former DDR citizens have mixed emotions in regards to their "Trabi", which still is a symbol for the demised DDR,[4] since it was a part of the system.[5] In recent years, these distinctive cars have become collectors' items, with growing popularity. Green Trabants are especially popular, as they are said to bring good luck. Many Trabant owners' clubs exist throughout Europe and 601s have their fans all over the world.[6] Also, many Trabant 601s are still used as rally racing cars.

As a symbol for a forgone era, it has inspired movies such as Go Trabi Go that presented the Trabi as a kind of East German character and could make former DDR citizens laugh "not precisely at themselves, but at the absurdities of the system under which they lived until last year."[7] It has also seduced people like the American actor David Hasselhoff to drive a "Trabi", although he had trouble to getting into it.[8] Stephen Kinzer of The New York Times likens the Trabi as a symbol for the people who built it, who “survive[d] through difficult times and ultimately triumph[ed]”.[7] The car was also featured in the American film Everything Is Illuminated.[9]

The Trabant 601 plays a central role in the 2016 video game Jalopy. In the game, however, the car model is named Laika 601 instead. [10]

References

External links

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