Trabant 600

Sachsenring
Trabant 600 Camping, original condition
Trabant 600
Production period:	1962-1965
Class :	Small car
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon , panel van
Engines:	Otto engine : 0.6 liters (17 kW)
Length:	3360 mm
Width:	1493 mm
Height:	1460 mm
Wheelbase :	2020 mm
Empty weight :	620-660 kg
Previous model	Trabant P 50
successor	Trabant 601

Trabant 600 was the sales name for the second version of the Trabant . The car with the internal type designation P 60 was built as a sedan from 1962 to 1964 in the VEB Sachsenring automobile factory in Zwickau . The two-cylinder 2-stroke engine was produced in the Barkas factory . The bodies of the station wagon, camping and delivery van designs came from VEB Karosseriewerke Meerane , series production of these models continued until 1965. A total of 106,628 Trabant 600s were built.

properties

The P 60 represented a further development of the Trabant P 50 , which essentially had the engine enlarged to 595 cm³ and an increase in output to 23 HP (17 kW) as its subject. The connecting rod was converted to needle bearing on the crankshaft side , which was based on intensive development work at MZ . The gear ratio was retained, so that the increase in power mainly benefited the acceleration. From 0 to 80 km / h only 24 s were needed instead of the previous 30.1 s. The Trabant P 60 was just as powerfully motorized as comparable vehicle types at the time such as Fiat 600 , NSU Prinz , DAF 600 or Renault 4 . Its torque of 51 Nm was even on the level of the BMW 700 and was related to the rotary valve control . The engine's weaknesses, such as the enormous, high-frequency noise level at high speeds, and the inherent disadvantages of the two-stroke engine , remained unchanged. The crankshaft has been a problem child since the beginning and was revised again with the introduction of the P 60 in order to ensure satisfactory stability with the increased engine power. When series production of the P-60 engine started, it became clear that the difficulties of Alfer composite casting had still not been overcome - at the beginning the reject rate for this work step was more than 60%. Such deficiencies in engine construction were one of the reasons why the Trabant did not achieve the Q quality mark .

The thermoset body on steel skeleton has not changed in comparison to the P 50, so the Trabant 600 can only be distinguished from its predecessor by the 600 at the rear and a changed combination of colors and trim.

Executions

In addition to the standard sedan, which was painted in one color, there was a "special request" trim strip with a colored trim strip, a sun visor that was placed on the outside of the windshield, and chrome parts on the bumpers. The new price increased by 200 DM with the introduction of the 600 cm ³ engine. The standard version now cost 7850 DM and the special version 8840 DM.As with the previous model, a combination version with a tailgate opening to the side (hinged to the right) and a So-called combi camping with reclining seats and folding roof . The number of units of these versions has increased significantly compared to the previous model, a total of 36,729 station wagons, campers and delivery vans were produced. The delivery van took a negligibly small proportion of only 85 pieces. A towing device for towing loads of up to 200 kg was optionally available. As with the station wagon, a roof rack (50 kg roof load) was optionally available. In popular parlance, the Trabant 600 was nicknamed "Kugelporsche" because of its round design. An important export buyer was Hungary , in 1962 alone 3500 P 50 and P 60 were sold there. The Trabant 600 also met with great interest in the Netherlands , as it turned out to be a successful alternative to the DAF 750 .

In 1964, the successor to the P 60, the Trabant 601 , went into series production. Initially, however, this only affected the sedan. The Trabant 600 Kombi and Camping were given some detail improvements in 1964 (including an enlarged loading area through modified rear seats) and, like the delivery van, continued to be built until 1965.

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  Side view sedan

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  Rear view of sedan

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  Rear view station wagon

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  inside view

Test reports

In the test report of the KFT over 5000 km at the time, the very direct steering and the good road holding are praised, but it is also pointed out that this was bought with uncomfortable suspension properties. Thanks to greater power reserves, especially in the lower speed range, upshifts can be made earlier, and the noise pollution is therefore less severe. Due to the increased heating of the larger engine, the heating performance has improved somewhat and the engine is still fully gas-proof. While the distance consumption in 4th gear was lower than with the P 50, an average consumption of 8.1 l / 100 km was determined. The reason for the difference was the fuel-saving partial load range of the new engine, which was only rarely used in test operation. The average top speed was 103 km / h.

literature

• * The new Trabant engine P60. In: Motor vehicle technology 10/1962, pp. 406-411.

Web links

Commons : Trabant 600  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Detailed information on series production
• www.p50.de Website of the Trabant P50 / P60 e. V.
• Website about Trabant 500/600

Individual evidence

1. ^ Peter Kirchberg: Plastics, sheet metal and planned economy . Nicolai-Verlag, Berlin 2000, ISBN 3-87584-027-5 .
2. ↑ Connecting rod needle roller bearings. In: Motor vehicle technology 1/1964, pp. 9-10.
3. ↑ The highest level of technology requires perfect casting quality . In: Motor Vehicle Technology 2/1963, pp. 42–44.
4. ↑ 600 cm ³ engine for Trabant. In: Motor vehicle technology 4/1962, p. 171.
5. ^ Peter Kirchberg: Plastics, sheet metal and planned economy . Nicolai-Verlag, Berlin 2000, ISBN 3-87584-027-5 .
6. ^ Cars from the GDR. In: Motor vehicle technology 6/1963, p. 234.
7. ↑ Improvements to the Trabant 600 station wagon and camping. In: Motor vehicle technology 4/1964, p. 150.
8. ↑ Motor vehicle technology tested Trabant with a 600 cm³ engine. In: Motor Vehicle Technology 12/1962, pp. 506–509