1966 Trabant 601

This very cute '66 Trabant was donated by Olga and Michael Block

The Trabant 601 (or Trabant P601 series) was a Trabant model produced by VEB Sachsenring in Zwickau, Saxony. It was the third generation of the model, built for the longest production time, from 1964 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 East Germany.

The Trabant 601 was a modern automobile when introduced in 1963, with 150 pre-production examples. The body was modified from the previous P50/P60 variants of the Trabant, with a heavy emphasis on the front and roof area. The back of the car was also modified with different taillights and a higher trunk loading height as compared to previous models. Overall, the design was praised, particularly on the then-modern double trapezoid design. Originally, production was only planned to run from 1967 to 1971, but instead continued until 1990. The original P 60 engine was only 23 PS (16.9 kW). In 1969 the new P62 version was offered with a 26 PS (19.1 kW) engine. In 1974, a needle roller bearing was added to the connecting rod, allowing for a 50/1 lubricant to be used. Through the addition of a two-stage carburetor in 1984, the fuel consumption was brought down by 1/100 L/km. With these additions, the top speed was measured to be 107 km/h.[3] Even with these improvements, the fuel consumption could still rise rapidly with extended acceleration or when towing a trailer. The P601 also had an overrunning clutch when running in fourth gear.

18-minute addition info on Trabant24-minute Video on the Trabant

Engine: 594 cc P60 – P66 Two Strike 12

Transmission: 4 Speed Manual

Production: 1964 – 1990

Produced: 2,818,547

After a few comments from our guests indicating that this Trabant was NOT a 1966. Many features on this sweet little green automobile tell a much different story. So, like we always do we reached out to as many experts as we could to dig into the truth. Now, as you might suspect when you are fact-check thing you find that there are many truths and many versions of what is and what should be. Our conclusion is at the bottom.

Our Trabant or "Trabi" as some owners call it according to ChatGPT!

The 1966 Trabant, specifically identified with the ID number E536114, is a vehicle from the Trabant 601 series, which was manufactured by VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau in East Germany.

Here is some general information about the 1966 Trabant 601:

Overview:

Model: Trabant 601

Manufacturer: VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau

Production Period: 1963–1990

Vehicle Type: Small family car

Technical Specifications:

Engine: Two-stroke, air-cooled, two-cylinder engine

Displacement: 594 cc

Power Output: Approximately 23 horsepower (17 kW)

Top Speed: About 100 km/h (62 mph)

Transmission: 4-speed manual

Drive Type: Front-wheel drive

Design and Features:

Body Style: Available as a sedan and a station wagon (Universal)

Material: Duroplast body panels (a type of plastic made from recycled materials)

Interior: Basic and utilitarian, reflecting its design for affordability and ease of production

Notable Features: Simple design, lightweight, and highly durable

Historical Context:

Role: The Trabant 601 was one of the most common cars in East Germany and the Eastern Bloc.

Popularity: Known for its durability and simplicity, which made it relatively easy to repair.

Cultural Impact: Despite its modest capabilities, it became an iconic symbol of East Germany.

Collectability:

Value: Today, Trabants are considered classic cars and are collected by enthusiasts around the world. Their value varies based on condition, originality, and historical significance.

Restoration: Due to their simple design, Trabants are relatively easy to restore and maintain.

Our Trabant or "Trabi" as some owners call it according to Friends at the North American Trabant Club (NATOC)

Rita:

next to the chassis nr on the left must be an identification plate and on that you can find the year when it was built but it is a little bit tricky, our Trabi is from 1971 but we are not sure!

Michael:

601 wasn’t manufactured in 1966. Your car is between 1985 and 1988, using my expert opinion. There should be date stamps on the road wheels that might give a hint.

Eric Allen

One of my Trabants is an E chassis number. I believe it is for Ersatz, substitute. Either factory restored or two damaged cars built to one and issued a new E number. If anyone knows otherwise, please share, I'd like to know also.

Bill:

Bumpers, turn signals, door handles, grill, wheels and headrests are all 1980s but could’ve been changed. But the B pillar also looks later that wouldn’t have gotten changed. My guess is post-1987 due to the headrests. Inside door latch can place it to post-1989 if it’s a lever. Pre-1989 if it’s a slider

Petr:

Not a 66. More like 86. E means that the body was manufactured after 1984. You can recognize also a B Pillar. E body has thicker B Pillar.

CONCLUSION:

So, our Trabant might be a 1966, 1985, 1983, 1963, or 19??... one thing for sure and we stick to our guns on this one it is a TRABANT!!! we think?