Lot 0302: Trabant P 601; Kleinkübel (DDR)

Lot 0302: Trabant P 601; Kleinkübel (DDR)

Description

Iconic ‘Cold War’ Discovery; the "Stoffhund"

On the technical basis of its predecessor "P60", the new passenger car "Trabant P 601" from the "VEB Automobilwerk Zwickau" was presented to the public at the Leipzig Autumn Fair in 1963. Mass production started in July 1964. Next to the sedan and station wagon models, a "P 601A" ("Army") jeep was created especially for the border troops, with a partial sheet metal structure and door cutouts as well as the later tubular bumpers and the external spare wheel then attached to the rear. In addition to the "A" version, a model variant for forestry and agriculture followed shortly thereafter, and from 1978, a "Tramp" version for civilian purposes.

The "small Kübel" (Bucket) was only suitable for off-road use to a limited extent and did not have all-wheel drive. Nevertheless, the Trabant was assigned a wide range of tasks in the troop and completed it with good performance, economy, maneuverability, and reliability.

That is why the small tub with its all-weather hood and side canvas doors soon earned the affectionate nickname “Stoffhund”. After its successful introduction in the border troops, the P 601A was introduced in all branches of the NVA and in the "Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik" (organization for preparing young people for army service).

In May 1990, series production of the "Trabant 1.1" began - including again as a "Tramp" model - with a 4-stroke engine from the Alpha series (VW Polo) from the Volkswagen Group. The last Trabant left the assembly line in Zwickau on April 30, 1991 in reunified Germany with a total production number of approx. 3.9 million vehicles.

Immediately after the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, the first German auxiliary police forces were deployed by the four allies at the seams of the occupation zones in Germany to support surveillance at the respective borders.

With the establishment of the GRENZPOLIZEI (BORDER POLICE) in December 1946, a police command was created in the Soviet occupation zone to curb everyday problems in the diffuse post-war situation such as uncontrolled border crossing, emigration, and smuggling.

This new border police unit was later named "DEUTSCHE GRENZPOLIZEI"  (GERMAN BORDER POLIC, 1952–1961), then "GRENZTRUPPEN der NVA" (1961–1974) and from 1974 to 1990 "GRENZTRUPPEN der DDR". Under the name "GRENZSCHUTZ der GDR", this formation was dissolved.

Until the fall of the Berlin Wall, the border troops were embedded in a close-knit network of cooperation between state and armed organs in the GDR. They are therefore subject to permanent delegation, guidance and control by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the Ministry for National Defense, the Ministry for State Security, and the Soviet armed forces in Germany.

In the more than forty years of their existence, the members of the border police or border troops were balancing between two tasks:

the border police order and security function at the state borders of the GDR.

the military security of the western external border within the Warsaw Pact.

The Trabant 601 (Kleinkübel IFA P 601A) was in terms of small vehicles for passenger transport, by far the most used vehicle for border patrol. Therefore, it is the basis for any self-respecting collection dedicated to the cold war.

The Trabant market has been booming in recent years. The prices offered have risen steadily over the years. The Military version is a nice vehicle for collectors of the cold war period as well in Germany but also the other former Eastern Bloc countries.

Collectors often have driven them during their time in the service and they want to (re)live their old memories again. A nice-restored vehicle with registration documents papers recently was sold for €15.000 + in Germany.

However, this Trabant is in a running condition it definitely needs some work (TLC) and currently has no road registration. It has been in a museum for years in a collection of East German and Soviet vehicles. Finally, it ended up in a depot.

Recently, after some work, the Trabant was brought back to life in running, driving and braking condition, however it definitely needs some additional service.

SPECIFICATON
Model:                                 Kleinkübel IFA P 601A

Manufacturer:                    Sachsenring Automobilwerk Zwickau Germany

(former DDR)

Production figures:            Vehicle was produced between 1964 and 1991

Color:                                  Green

Net Weight:                        645 kg

Gross Weight:                     1.020 kg

Crew:                                  5

Engine:                                Air Cooled 2 Cylinder, 2-Takt Gasoline Engine

• Model P65/66/OM
• Displacement: 595 cc
• Power output: 26 HP (19KW) @ 4.000 rpm.

Transmission:                     4-speed

Speed:                               100 km/h

Winch:                                no

Dimensions:                       Length:       3.50 m

Width:         1.60 m

Height:        1.70 m (with top up)

Tire size:                             145SR13 (original tires)

Electrical installation:        12 Volt

Year of Production:            02-1988

Chassis / VIN Nr.:                2907440

Engine Nr.:                          581936670

Registration                       non

Others:                               With original ‘Standheizung‘

REMARKS

Location:                            Overloon, The Netherlands.

Condition:                          In running condition; No Dutch Road Registration: Only registration papers

Permits:                              Will be delivered with an invoice.

ESTIMATE VALUE

Between € 7.500 and € 10.000