1969 Wartburg 312

[cawimmer430]

Saw this car dumped on the side of the road in December of 2016. 1969 Wartburg 312 with only 45,500 km. If you wanna drive a Communist East German two-stroke blue smoke belching car, go for it! 

[giant_mtb]

So weird to think they used to put 2smokes in cars.

[MX793]

There's somebody around here who has a couple of old (like 1950s or 60s vintage) Saabs that they daily drive year-round.  A couple of them are 2-strokes.

[MX793]

There's a guy who occasionally shows up at the local auto-X events who used to race rally cars for the Wartburg factory team back in the day.

[cawimmer430]

So weird to think they used to put 2smokes in cars.

East Germany was basically the only communist country to make use of two-stroke engines (the reasons are still unknown). Virtually all Russian, Czech and Polish cars used four-stroke engines.

[cawimmer430]

There's somebody around here who has a couple of old (like 1950s or 60s vintage) Saabs that they daily drive year-round.  A couple of them are 2-strokes.

Yep, a lot (or all) of early Saabs were two-stroke. I believe the Saab Sonnet sports cars were only ever offered with two-stroke engines.

There's a guy who occasionally shows up at the local auto-X events who used to race rally cars for the Wartburg factory team back in the day.

Pretty cool. When I photographed the Melkus RS1000 the owner's father was involved in the design and construction of the car. He even raced them for East Germany. He told some pretty cool stories of how they managed to persuade the authorities to allow them to race or obtain parts which were in short supply in a planned economy nation.

[MX793]

Yep, a lot (or all) of early Saabs were two-stroke. I believe the Saab Sonnet sports cars were only ever offered with two-stroke engines.

The 1960s Sonetts were also offered with a Ford V4 4-stroke.  Starting in 1970 (3rd generation), through the end of production, that was the only engine available.

[cawimmer430]

The 1960s Sonetts were also offered with a Ford V4 4-stroke.  Starting in 1970 (3rd generation), through the end of production, that was the only engine available.

Ah yes, the infamous V4 Ford. To my knowledge Ford and LancIa were the only two major car makers who ever built V4 engines.

[shp4man]

Wonder what the Wartburg sold for?

[Galaxy]

Ah yes, the infamous V4 Ford. To my knowledge Ford and LancIa were the only two major car makers who ever built V4 engines.

Porsche uses a V4 in their current LeMans car. Outside of cars. V4s are quite popular with motorcycles, and boat engines.

[cawimmer430]

Wonder what the Wartburg sold for?

Probably for something very cheap. I wonder if there's even an engine underneath the bonnet.

This one on eBay is selling for 19.000 €.

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/wartburg-312-luxus-limousine-ifa-ddr-awe/632652045-216-3719