OT sons new toy OT

[Niel Hoback]

This is what my son bought himself for fun. Guess what it is. No fair Robin, you probably have seen these before.

[wldavis3]

Niel,

Since you "leaked" for Robin to not guess, I will guess

something British, like Vauxhall, but I started to guess

something Japanese.

[Niel Hoback]

Neither British nor Japanese.

[aero3113]

Is it an opel kadett ?

[Niel Hoback]

Nein.

[longtops]

Is it a ford cortina

[Niel Hoback]

Its a 1976 Wartburg 353W. Note that from the tiime he brought it home he has changed the registration to diplomatic plates.

Also, the front of the car is to the LEFT in engine picture. It is a 3 cylinder, 2 cycle motor with some really clever engineering.

It was made in the DDR.

Dual brake system is accomplished by having two separate wheel cylinders at each wheel plumbed to a dual master cylinder making two complete, but equal systems.

[John Mulders]

Knew I have seen it but could not come up with the name.

These east European cars were not common in western Europe though.

John

[Frank Elder]

That radiator looks a little out of place Mein Herr!

[greg g]

Looks like some reverse engineering from SAAB and or DKW. Lots of those little three bangers running around Europe. Rear rediator pacement was pretty standard. they runn cleaer when the run warm. 1.5 liter 3 = 2 liter 6 due to the 2 stroke design. Is it new enough to have oil injection or does it require oil mixed with the fuel?? what is it a 70 or so??

here is a good info site

http://digilander.libero.it/cuoccimix/ENGLISH-automotorusse9-L(Wartburg).htm

[Niel Hoback]

The radiator is on the wrong end because this engine designwas originally for a DKW that had a very aerodynamic sloped nose. This 1976 model is odd in that it has a chrome plated grille where most have a painted panel. Its from the same people that made Trabants.

Fuel mixture is 50:1 and a few gas stations still have a pump with pre-mixed fuel.

In Budapest, where the car lives, there are many Wartburgs and

Trabants still running around. They are cheap transportation and parts are still available.

This particular car was owned by an elderly couple who, of course, bought it new and used it sparingly. It shows only 30k kilometers and is museum quality.

The owner, like some of us, considered it his "baby", and maintained it just for something to do. Every part he ever replaced was put in the new parts box and kept in the trunk.

I understand that my son is planning on bringing it back to Virginia when they leave Hungary in a few years.

[Normspeed]

What a nice little car.