I bought a "Commie-Car"

[Lotsokids]

I did it. Snow is coming and there will be days I just can't take the bike to work, so last night I broke down and paid about $300 for this beauty. It's a 1986 (I know, hard to believe). I bought it from the original owner. 20 years ago he removed the 2-stroke 600cc engine, and installed a larger Fiat 1,000cc 4-stroke engine. You would NOT believe the hassle it takes to do this. He gave me a log book that he needed to submit to update the car's registration. It has about 10 pages of technical drawings, showing to scale the bolt locations, sizes, everything. Also documents were needed to show the engine's original owner, what car it came out of, etc... I've done at least 10 engine swaps in cars/trucks back in the U.S., so it was a shock for me to see what was required here in Hungary!

It will NOT go over 60 MPH. This seems exacly what I need.

I took these pictures this morning:

[FJTillDeath]

ONE owner?? You are very lucky. I am sure its in great condition. The older cars always seem to last longer than the new ones. Great ride

Kookaloo under 60...

[Steve_in_Florida]

Go, Trabi, Go!

Weren't Trabants a mandatory purchase for citizens (inmates) of eastern bloc countries?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant

Ooooohhhh... I just got a ***REALLY GOOD*** idea for irishluck's FJ engine. Buy it from him, fix the cams and drop it in your Trabi. Keep the current engine in place for inspections, then kick in the awesome FJ power when you're late for work!

Would it then be a "TraGend"? If you then wrecked it, it would be a "TraGendy"!

[Lotsokids]

Weren't Trabants a mandatory purchase for citizens (inmates) of eastern bloc countries?

Yes. You would need to buy one or a member of your family would be shot.

Seriously, my landlord's brother told me that the Communist Party would bribe people to become members of the Party. Sometimes they would offer you a nice week off at a paid resort at Lake Balaton or a Trabant for half price or something like that.

[racerman_27410]

well at least you can drive it..... much better than owning a bicycle there!   


KOokaloo! ( i guess you can at 60mph.... depends on how well the suspension is setup  )

[Lotsokids]

KOokaloo! ( i guess you can at 60mph.... depends on how well the suspension is setup  )

Absolutely NOT. Not even close. My 50cc scooter is actually faster than the top speed of this car. I'm not kidding! It just keeps me out of the weather.

[Mike 86 in San Dimas]

Will you be taking it the Drags?

[Lotsokids]

Will you be taking it the Drags?

I don't have that much time...

[Lotsokids]

Last week I got this thing registered. I bought the car for about $320. The registration, document inspection (checking history and all numbers on the car, engine, frame, etc.), and insurance cost me $295.

At the insurance and registration offices I got the same response:

"Trabant?" as they slowly look up at me like I'm stupid.
"Igen!" (Yes!) I reply in Hungarian.
Then I say "nagyon szép" which means very beautiful.
They reply... NO.

Funny thing is that this year the car turned into a classic, which means I can bring it back to the U.S. with no problems (if I choose to).

[waricle]

Plastic Fantastic!!!!

[Flying Scotsman]

Your not actualy going to drive it are you lol.Its as ugly as sin and slower than shit.I wouldnt drive it if you payed me lol.

[Lotsokids]

My wife told me today that the Hungarians might think we are poor. But I told her they might actually think we're rich, since we buy cars as a joke! This is more than a lot of Hungarians can afford.
I had to pick up my son today - you guessed it. I chose to drive the Trabant. When we got home he said, "Dad, do you have about a gallon of hand sanitizer?"

[Lotsokids]

Today I temporarily fixed my heat/defrost fan problem. The car originally was a 6 volt system. Since the previous owner's engine swap, everything has been converted to 12 volts, except this fan. I pulled the heater core out at the firewall - a simple task involving 4 quick-release steel tabs and about 1 minute - literally. Behind the heater core was the 6 volt fan. Because of my remote location, I could not find a 12 volt fan. I checked with the local electrical store, and the only thing he had was a couple computer fans for about $5 each. I wired them together and to a switch on the dash. It works! Very weak, but it's better than nothing. I was actually laughing at the situation so much today, I decided to share it here.

The fans:



The heater core installed in front of the fans (there is a plastic housing that covers this and top part is blocked off):





P.S. - I was playing with my PhotoShop a little and came up with this... a "57 Chevy" clone!



It's funny how a car built under Communism in 1986 can resemble a car made in America in 1957.

[bugboy]

You'll be beating the Hungarian babes off with a stick!

[fj11.5]

now that has potential, small block chev, or as said fj engine,  large wheels with low pro tyres, black with ghost flames, and somebody with too much  bloody money to do it