A quick turn of the key and characteristically, the VW engine bursts into
life, just as one expects from a VW of course. First gear is selected
and, as the journey commences, it is apparent that plenty of power is
available from the 1043cc engine. The simple yet sufficient
instrumentation indicates that the engine is warming up nicely. If I
were to mention that the car was built in 1991 most of you would
probably come to the conclusion that it is a Mk2 VW Polo – but you
would be wrong. The vehicle is actually a – Trabant! Now I know what
you are thinking, that a Trabant is that East German papier mache
contraption with the following blue cloud courtesy of its 2 stroke
engine.
So
where did this little oddity come from? Was it converted after
production? Customised maybe? Well No. It is exactly as it left the
factory at Zwickau in 1991. For many years the state owned DDR motor
industry (known as IFA) were acutely aware that the technological
advancement - or rather the lack of them - in their engines was going to
be a problem. Indeed the 2 stroke Wartburg was banned from sale in
Britain in 1975. Such exports had brought in much needed foreign
currency, but progress was always rather slow in the old communist bloc,
so it was 1989 before the DDE had managed to negotiate with VW to supply
technology to update all their vehicles. Unfortunately, political
happenings now overtook events somewhat. The DDR came to an abrupt end
in November 1989 with the "fall of the wall". Everything that
had been previously state owned was quickly privatised, ownership of the
Zwickau factory passing from IFA to VW, but a long term
"Polo-Trabi" was not to be - production ceased in 1991. So the
"Polo-Trabi" as it is known in its homeland, is a rare beast,
especially on this island of ours. Indeed, it is believed that only
2,000 are currently registered in Germany, the majority being in the
southeast area close to Zwickau where they were built.
So,
what is the Polo - Trabi like to live with? Well in all honesty, it is
pretty impressive. The engine is smooth, responsive and reliable
(obviously) brakes inspire more confidence than those fitted to a Mk2
Polo it handles well, is rattle free and oh yes it is NOT papier mache.
It is actually constructed in steel with the outer wings, door panels,
roof and boot lid formed from Duroplast, which is resin reinforced with
cotton fibre - so a German Reliant Robin in aint! There we have it, a
rare, unusual VW powered car that in the owners opinion is well worth
owning! But why not judge for yourself? You can play "Spot the VW
symbol - there is one somewhere - if you look hard enough. It is like
trying to find the mouse in a Cuneo painting! I look forward to meeting
you this season.