[DeTomaso] Trabant 601 Interceptor

[michael frazier]

I used to watch these things buzz and smoke down the patrol road on the border (East/West Germany...when there was a border.)
The military version had a crude cloth top, no doors and seemed to roll over in a strong wind.  I was in Regt. Border Ops, 11th Cav
and can remember all the spot reports about Trabants stuck, on fire or rolled over.  Almost made me feel sorry for the DDR troops
...almost but not quite.

Michael Frazier
Gruppo Rompiculi Corsa 

 

> Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:13:35 -0600
> From: kszwab at gmail.com
> To: cengles at cox.net
> CC: detomaso at realbig.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Trabant 601 Interceptor
> 
> Hehehe. I was born in Romania and those fine vehicles were part of daily
> traffic. I rode in one at about 60 MPH once and nothing ever came to the
> level of excitement of that day (including driving a Maserati Biturbo while
> on fire). I do not know what was trembling more, the unbalanced wheels of
> the Trabant or my knees when I got out.
> 
> Once I arrived in the US I used to have a great neighbor that every
> Saturday at 6 AM sharp used to run his edger against the curb with great
> skill. The sparks and bullet sounds would ensure I had a great start on
> Saturdays.
> 
> As a return favor in kind, I used every Sunday at 6 AM to back out of the
> garage the Pantera and my 3 cylinder 2 stroke boat and let them run for an
> hour or so. That activity ensured that we had a great relationship going
> for a number of years.
> 
> Listening to my boat sputtering and billowing the clouds of blue smoke, I
> had a vision that a Trabant would be an excellent addition to the show. The
> Trabant would behave the same way, PLUS it would be mobile so more than one
> neighbor could enjoy the operation of such a fine automobile.
> 
> Although I moved to a different location so I could park my 20 cars, my
> dream of owning another Trabant lives on.
> 
> On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 9:53 AM, <cengles at cox.net> wrote:
> 
> > Dear Konrad,
> >
> > As a recent convert, I am very impressed by your experience and
> > expertise with these annoying rare performance Q-ships of the automotive
> > world. I am distressed to learn that practical use of the flame thrower is
> > not advised. Darn. It had so much potential and bricks are so, well,
> > primitive.
> >
> > How did you come to appreciate such an under-the-radar performance
> > vehicle?
> >
> > Tongue firmly in cheek, Chuck Engles
> >
> >
> > ---- Konrad Szwab <kszwab at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > I tried to import a Trabant to Texas from Romania. It fell apart before
> > I could start the wonderful activity but I am always hoping that I will
> > have some money to waste at some point to get one from the US so I can
> > annoy my neighbors in style.
> >
> > The proud "Interceptor" badge would have been very popular with cops stuck
> > behind it at a stoplight in Houston.
> >
> > The flame thrower option would be ill advised given the Duraplast car
> > body, I believe throwing bricks out of the window would be a lot safer for
> > this class of vehicle.
> >
> > On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 9:10 AM, <cengles at cox.net<http://do/mail/message/mailto?to=cengles%40cox.net>
> > > wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> Dear Konrad,
> >>
> >> Clearly an inspired and unexpected choice. I didn't know that these came
> >> with *flame throwers* that are particularly stealthy in contrast to their
> >> very unassuming styling. See link below.
> >>
> >> Warmest regards, Chuck Engles
> >>
> >> http://email.usedcarsplus.com/classic-cars/05-use/170707206261.html
> >> ded
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