In the 1950s, small cars with 2-stroke engines were an important part of the traffic picture. They made noise, smelled badly and disappeared in a cloud of exhaust when they drove out into traffic.
Trapped behind the Iron Curtain
Car enthusiasts with a very good memory may remember the car brand Wartburg from the 50s and 60s. They were popular, especially since it was one of the few car brands ordinary people could buy. Cars produced in Eastern Europe mostly bypassed the requirement for a purchase permit from the Norwegian authorities, an arrangement that lasted until 1960. For that reason, this was a car brand with a very low status among the car people. Few people remembered that Wartburg was one of the world's oldest car brands. In fact, the factory was the third to start car production in Germany after Daimler and Benz. After the Second World War, the factory ended up behind the "Iron Curtain" in the GDR. In 1950, the first new car arrived after the war and the innovation was named IFA. A new model change came in 1955 and then the name Wartburg was adopted.
In 1965 it was time to launch a completely new model as a replacement. The new model received a completely new design and was named the Wartburg 353.
Wartburg 353
Good space and relatively modern design were the selling points. The new model was also more solid than previous models from the factory. In the home markets of Eastern Europe it was a great success. In other countries such as England and Denmark it sold relatively well. A relatively high noise level both inside and outside limited its popularity in most markets. Technically, it was greatly improved compared to its predecessors. Among other things, it had received independent suspension on the rear wheels. On the domestic market, it was also supplied as a commercial vehicle and special models for public authorities. Both ambulances and police cars rolled out of the factory. The 353 was produced right up until 1991 in various variants. It was followed by an upgraded model with an engine from the Volkswagen Polo.
Facts Wartburg 353
Length: 422 cm.
Width: 164 cm.
Height: 149 cm.
Top speed: 125 km/h.
Engine: 993 ccm, 50 hp.
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Anders de Lange
Anders de Lange writes about car history. He has written about cars and car history for over 30 years, published his own books and written for the Norwegian car press.