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The racing cardboard (alias Trabant P601)

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Created on January 4, 2021

Reading time 6min

Written by:

Daniel Reinhard

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

ddr-formel1.de

Daniel Reinhard

ddr-formel1.de

Trabant P601 (1984) - was guckt denn da?

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Trabant P601 (1984) - bereit für den Renneinsatz

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Trabant P601 (1984) - kamen typischerweise aus der Hinterhofwerkstatt

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Trabant P601 (1984) - mit der berühmten Startnummer 17

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Rennpappe in Farbe

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Renntourenwagen nach Gruppe A

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Trabant P601 (1984) - wirklich kaum zu bremsen

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Trabant P601 (1984) - kein unnötiger Luxus

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Arbeitsplatz mit abgegriffenem Lederlenkrad

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Drehzahlmesser mit Markierungen

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Der kleine Hebel dient zum Anfetten des 2-Takt Gemischs, bei langen Geraden oder Bergabpassagen ging so noch etwas mehr

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Metallleitungen zur Verteilung des Löschschaums

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Verlegung der Feuerlöschanlage

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Trabant P601 (1984) - mit montiertem Kühlergrill

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Trabant P601 (1984) - alles demontiertbar für perfekten Zugang zur Mechanik

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Zweitakt-Zweizylinder mit angeflanschtem Getriebe

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Blick in den Motorraum

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Schaltgestängeführung

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Ikov-Vergaser im direkten Luftstrom

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Trabant P601 (1984) - die Kerzen müssten gleich für mehrere Einsätze reichen

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Getriebe neben dem Motor

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Schnellverschlüsse

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Benzintank im Heck

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Trabant P601 (1984) - mit auffälliger Beklebung

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Trabant P601 (1984) - Übersetzungskalklulation für den Sachsenring im Jahr 1989

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Trabant P601 (1984) - KFZ-Sportzulassung zu Gruppe A

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So wurde die Duroplast-Karosserie hergestellt

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Der Vorgänger Trabant P60 im Horch-Museum Zwickau

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Blick unter die Haut des Vorgängers Trabant P60 im Horch-Museum Zwickau

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Im Jahr 1973 konnten 1'000'000 Trabant gefeiert werden - Horch-Museum Zwickau

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1991 war Schluss, einer der letzten Trabis im Horch-Museum Zwickau

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Das ehemalige Trabant-Betriebsgelände in Zwickau

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Trabant P601 (1984) - nur knapp über 600 kg schwer

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Trabant P601 (1984) - für Rennzwecke angepasst

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Summary

Although the GDR car Trabant was not developed for racing, it also developed undreamt-of talents on the race tracks and rally tracks, not least thanks to substantial weight reductions and additional horsepower from the two-stroke engine. This vehicle report tells the story of the Trabant and its racing successes, illustrated with pictures of a historic racing car.

This article contains the following chapters

Presented at the party congress
How did the "cardboard" come about?
Racing in the East
Grandma as savior
In international rally sport at the factory
Black and yet colorful
Technical data P601

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

While the roads of the West were being driven by the Goggomobil, BMW Isetta and Zündapp Janus small cars, the East developed the Trabant. "The name Trabant should be a symbol of a reliable companion for its users," said the management of the state-owned company in Zwickau. The special design of the self-supporting body with metal frame and plastic paneling was later adopted and modified by Renault for the Espace and Smart. Initially, there were hardly any waiting times, but during Honecker's reign in 1971, economic policy changed and the further development of cars practically came to a standstill. Production figures remained stable, demand increased and so did waiting times. This standstill in all sectors ultimately led to the downfall of the state.

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