From Jalopnik · Charles Krome · · 50s
Trabant Gets 4-Cylinder Engine as East Germans Could Buy Western Cars
East Germans finally got a Trabant with a 4-cylinder engine just as Western cars became accessible.
In brief
East Germans finally got a Trabant with a 4-cylinder engine just as Western cars became accessible. East Germans received Trabants with Western engines after the Berlin Wall fell, but production stopped quickly due to Western competition. Originally reported by Jalopnik.
East Germany's Trabant History
East Germany produced over 3 million Trabants from 1957 to 1991.
Trabant Engine Evolution
Trabants initially used two-cylinder two-stroke engines until 1990.
Why Trabant Delayed Engine Upgrade
Soviet Politbüro approved Trabant engine changes but delayed due to popular models.
Trabant's 4-Cylinder Engine
Trabant got a licensed 1.1-liter four-stroke engine from Volkswagen in 1990.
Trabant Production Decline
Less than 40,000 Trabant 1.1 models were made before production ended.
What matters most
East Germans received Trabants with Western engines after the Berlin Wall fell, but production stopped quickly due to Western competition.
