One Sweet – and Smoky - Plastic Ride

This little beauty is called a Trabant (meaning satellite) or “Trabi.” Starting in the late 50’s, more than 3 million were made and stood as a symbol of a Eastern European transportation.



With a 26 HP two-stroke engine and little else under the hood, it’s not the power but utilitarian simplicity.



Case in point: the entire body is made from Duroplast plastic – a plastic/cotton composite that reduced the need for steel resources but still compares well in modern crash tests.





Hats off to Gad for mastering the clunky beast.



We couldn’t help but take the sightseeing tour of Berlin in a caravan that readily drew stares.



Below is a short video to help put you in the pre-unification driver’s seat.
(It's 3Megs)

Trabi%20drive.wmv

Out.

G+I