Trabant P 601 1969–1990 car dimensions: 3510 mm long, 1510 mm wide and 1470 mm high. Unladen weight is 650 kg. Braked towing is 400 kg.
The cabin seats four with a basic dashboard, column-mounted gear lever and simple instruments. Fresh-air heating and ventilation is fitted as standard, with controls for distribution and temperature. output improved in later years via exhaust heat exchange but remains modest. Higher trims add a radio and better seat materials. No electronic driver aids are present.
The estate offers 450 litres with rear seats in place. Folding the bench forward expands the flat load floor to 1400 litres, aided by a high-opening tailgate on gas struts.
Payload is rated at 390 kg. Braked towing capacity is 400 kg and unbraked 300 kg. The estate body suits light work and camping loads within those limits.
The cabin is minimalist with basic vinyl or later cloth upholstery and simple hard seats that adjust manually fore and aft plus backrest angle on later cars. Large windows give good all-round visibility. Shoulder room is tight for four adults. Heating comes from engine fan air via the exhaust manifold and improves after mid-1970s updates but stays basic with no air conditioning. Noise from the two-stroke engine fills the space despite some sound mats added over the years. Later S de Luxe grades add carpets and better trim for a slightly cozier feel. The estate version adds luggage volume and large side glass.
Two-stroke petrol-oil mix fuel, ratio 1:50 from late 1960s onward
Fuel tank 24 litres early, 26 litres later
Consumption around 7-9 l/100 km depending on speed and load
All-drum brakes, duplex front from 1967, dual-circuit from 1980
Inertia seat belts and height-adjustable headrests added mid-production
Air-cooled engine needs regular running and is simple to service
The car runs on a petrol-oil mixture. Early cars use 1:33, later ones from around 1969-1974 switch to 1:50. Tank holds 24 litres at first then 26 litres with a small reserve. Factory figures put use near 7-9 litres per 100 km at mixed speeds. steady 60 km/h can drop lower while full throttle raises it.
Servicing stays straightforward thanks to the air-cooled two-stroke twin. No separate engine oil changes are needed. Gearbox oil level checks and changes, belt tension, spark plugs, air filter and brake adjustments form the main routine. The car likes frequent short runs. long lay-ups risk seized pistons. Spare parts remain easy to find and repairs are owner-friendly.
Safety kit is basic. All four wheels have drum brakes. Front duplex drums arrive in 1967 and a dual hydraulic circuit in 1980. Static belts come first, later inertia reels. Headrests appear in the mid-1980s on higher grades. The steel frame with Duroplast panels keeps the passenger cell intact in period crash comparisons similar to contemporary small cars, though the rigid steering column and front-mounted tank remain weak points.
Living with the estate means watching the steel underframe and floor pans for rust while the Duroplast outer panels stay free of corrosion. Keep the mixture correct, run the car often and protect the chassis cavities. The simple mechanicals make it cheap to keep on the road when parts and club knowledge are used.
Length 3510 mm, Width 1510 mm, Height 1470 mm, Wheelbase 2020 mm (P 601 1969–1990)
Sources: manufacturer data, VEB Sachsenring Betriebsanleitung Trabant 601/601S/601S de luxe , Technische Daten section.