Heartland

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6384585.stm

50 years old
HBD Trabi

Ever been suck behind one of these on a cold morning?

Never been stuck behind one - luckily probably The latest - VW Polo engined ones were apparently dangerously fast though

Also, funnily, they were mostly built by Vietnamese guest workers. That's interesting in a Socialist state, isn't it?

They blast out clouds of blue smoke when they are cold & they are made of some sort of wood pulp.
But they are one of the most reliable cars around in the winter.
Always start (might need a thump), but they do start.
Remember that crazy frog nightmare?
That's what they sound like!!

Duroplast is what they're made of, they're apparently using that in *spit* BMW X3s *spit* nowadays and it's seven times as strong as steel They seem to have made prototypes for new models in the seventies and eighties...

Communist cars have always intrigued me, I have to admit

..and their suspension was something like a measuring fro the descent of real existing socialism. the worse things got, the more potholes were in the streets.
That´s instant back injuries without accidents. A friend of mine owned one and said it was driving in binary style, only 1 or 0: pedal down or idle.
After the reunion i´ve seen some where I live that could easily be spoted by a weather observing satelite due to the exhaust gases.
They may have some sympathic traits, but I doubt you´ll find this much sh*t with wheels on again.
Rest in pieces, Trabbi.

A car test of the new Deluxe Trabant. Mind you, the satire isnt starting before 0:44 .

Actually, speaking of communist cars, my favourite one must be this:

Pista wrote:They blast out clouds of blue smoke when they are cold & they are made of some sort of wood pulp.
But they are one of the most reliable cars around in the winter.
Always start (might need a thump), but they do start.
Remember that crazy frog nightmare?
That's what they sound like!!

(anorak spot) they smoke so much as i believe they have a two stroke motor, like a chainsaw as opposed to a more usual four stroke motor found in almost every other car
the two main differences between 2 and 4 strokes are that 2 strokes generally develop/access their power almost twice as fast a a 4 stroke
(but you have no engine compression therefore you cannot use the engine as a brake) and also, you have to actually ADD oil into the petrol whereas 4 strokes you'd prefer to keep the black stuff out of the gasoline!!
ill get my anorak....with the pens.............and the ringpad!