Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

Melkus RS 1000 - racing sports car from the GDR

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on January 1, 1986

Text:

Volker Christian Manz

Photos:

Archiv

6

Archiv

6

Melkus RS 1000 (1973) - Melkus RS 1000, built in 1973, with Klaus Günther in the car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Melkus 1000 RS (1969) - gullwing sports car equipped with a Wartburg engine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Melkus RS 1000 (1972) - at the 1972 Brussels Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Melkus RS 1000 (1970) - The three-cylinder two-stroke engine from Wartburg

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Melkus RS 1000 (1973) - Melkus racing sports car at a race in 1973

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Melkus RS 1000 (1954) - Heinz Melkus with his F-Junior car at the first start in West Germany

You have only

1 out of 6

images seen in high resolution

Summary

Unbelievable, but true: in the GDR, there was a private individual who built what is probably the only exciting sports car in East Germany to this day. Gullwing doors, an engine located in front of the rear axle and headlights covered by a plastic hood like those of Lola and Ferrari caused quite a stir. The East was too proud to stop the independent work of Heinz Melkus. The man was also a national figurehead. Awarded the title "Master of Sport", he was regarded as one of the best racing drivers and constructors in the eastern world. Nevertheless, around one hundred of these sports cars were built, and many have survived. This report looks back at the history and is illustrated with some pictures from that time.

This article contains the following chapters

First racing cars as early as 1951
The RS 1000 is created
Flat coupé body
With luggage compartment...
Further information

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Unbelievable, but true: in the GDR, there was a private individual who built what is still the last exciting sports car in East Germany. Gullwing doors, an engine located in front of the rear axle and headlights covered by a plastic hood like those of Lola and Ferrari caused quite a stir. The East was too proud to stop the independent work of Heinz Melkus. The man was also a national figurehead. Awarded the title "Master of Sport", he was regarded as one of the best racing drivers and designers in the eastern world. As early as 1951, Melkus built his first racing sports car from an old VW Kübelwagen and presented it at the Sachsenring in the same year. A year later, he bought a Veritas with an Alfa Romeo engine, the only model he did not build himself. A few breakdowns at important races set him back a long way, so he decided to install a two-cylinder aircraft engine in the Veritas. A short time later, he switched to Formula 3 and started with a JAP motorcycle engine

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Source: