#trabant601 #oldtimer #zwickau Did a Trabant Universal rust faster? What were those noises and were there better Trabis for some employees of VEB Sachsenring Zwickau? In this article I would like to take you on an exciting journey into the past - more precisely, into the world of Trabant production. There are so many fascinating stories about this cult car that you don't even know where to start. But today we'll take a closer look at three special anecdotes that were told to me by Herbert Kawaschinski, a man who experienced this era first hand. The curse of rust Rust was one of the greatest enemies of Trabant production - and it often seemed insurmountable. The Trabant Universal was particularly affected. Why? The problem lay in the cavities of the body. Although the individual parts were pickled and given a phosphate layer before further processing, the design ensured that acid residues remained in the hollow profiles. These residues prevented proper sealing and caused the vehicles to start to rust in critical places - for example above the door arches. An experience in Marane illustrates the extent of the problem: after a long weekend, all the body parts on the assembly line were covered in rust. A makeshift solution with a pickling system solved the problem in the short term, but brought with it new difficulties. This shows that it was a daily struggle to keep the vehicles rust-free. Strange noises and hidden jokes Some Trabant owners reported mysterious rattling noises in their cars. After a long search, resourceful mechanics finally discovered the cause: small liquor bottles that workers had hidden in the cavities of the fenders as a joke during production. The bottles rattled while driving, but were practically inaudible when stationary. This humorous, if not entirely professional, tradition shows how creative and at the same time bizarre everyday work in Trabant production sometimes was. A custom-made Trabant: corruption on the assembly line One of the most exciting stories concerns the "barter trade" during final assembly. Factory employees who knew that "their" Trabant would soon be built took time off for this special day. Armed with a bundle of 20 East German Mark notes, they followed their car step by step through the assembly hall. By giving small gifts of money to the workers, they were able to ensure that their vehicle was equipped with special extras - be it a two-tone roof, additional welds in problematic areas or other individual adjustments. But not all colleagues were happy about such special treatment. It happened that these "custom-made" cars were deliberately manipulated or hidden so that the proud owner could no longer find them at the end of production. Trying to create something special was therefore quite risky. Become a channel member and receive exclusive benefits such as images and video material: / @retrokanal