When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, Trabants were used as escape vehicles for a population that had been locked behind the Soviet Iron Curtain for decades. Trabants were ridiculed – a symbol of a socialist planned economy gone wrong. It seemed like a piece of ancient history compared to cars from the West. Yet when the Trabant launched it used upcycled innovative new materials to bring freedom of movement to a country ravaged by war and lacking basic raw materials. It had a modern front wheel drive design with rack and pinion steering. What were the Trabant’s origins, what updates nearly came to market, and what happened after production ended?

Trabant Optional Extra video:    • Trabant - Optional Extra  

A special thanks to Tim Keil for helping me with information and photos for the video.

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