CatatonicChimp Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Currently sitting in a Shipping Container in Rotterdam, should be arriving in NZ some around the start of September Build Post: //oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?uid=15033&f=17&t=34902&start=0 Found her on mobile.de while in Germany, the owner spoke no English, so it was an interesting email conversation via google translator and then even more awkward conversation when I went to look at her. she has been in storage for the last 20 years, (since 1993) a few things need to be fixed before she can get back on the road, some light rust that will have to be dealt with before registration, the brakes are shot so will need to be redone, paint will probably need to be in order, as well as new seals, wheels etc, and I need to find some wing mirrors. Engine and interior are in excellent condition, although the engine needs to be flushed before i can confirm that, as its been stored with oil in the cylinders. considering I saw a few other rust bucket trabant engines start on first go, I am not concerned about this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durty Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 That is epic man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatatonicChimp Posted July 14, 2012 Author Share Posted July 14, 2012 I know there is at least two other Trabants in NZ, one somewhere in Auckland owned by Harold Decker, and one is in the Southward Car Museum which was donated by the German Ambassador In 2011. Not sure if there is any others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyteler Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 I think Phil/fuel saw one when he was visiting down these ways. Keeeeeeeeeeeeen on a Trabi. Well played, sir. I'm very much looking forward to seeing more of the vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidian Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 awesome project man, these things are so so cheap in europe, would love to get one in. Ive seen them in the Balkans for as low as 100 euro, also looking at a R100 piston going cond for 350 euro. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatatonicChimp Posted July 14, 2012 Author Share Posted July 14, 2012 There are cheap ones, yes, but they are getting more expensive as they are becoming collectors items, and it's getting harder to find ones without lots of work required. I looked at a few trabants before getting this one, one of the others I looked at was advertised for the same price and looked ok in the photos. But as I was proding the door sill for rust my finger just went straight through, and that was just the start of that cars problems. Another on eBay was in good condition, no rust and current Tüv (German Wof) ended up going for over 2000€ I'll post more photos next weekend when I am back in NZ, I have more on my hdd, but my iPad refuses to read them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhuman Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 This I like. Look forward to updates when it's in the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikuni Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 The Auckland Trabant was at galaxy of cars last year. It's in tidy condition and got a surprisingly high amount of interest, though most of it was with a bit of a smirk, as you might imagine. Looking forward to seeing some more pics of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borgweiser Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 So, so jealous, keen to come drool when it arrives.. Keep us updated, Hans Compter has a couple also including one of the real early ones in his collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 woman at work + her partner were in the Trabant club and had restored a few (Hungary i Believe) surely you would be poking your finger through the panels from new? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIRK Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 TBut as I was proding the door sill for rust my finger just went straight through, isn't the body made from papermache/soy beans or something? i could prob goodle this. i wana twostroke car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatatonicChimp Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 The majority of the body is made of Duroplastic but the chassis is made from steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage Grumble Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 This is quite neat. What form of engine do these run? Inline twin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatatonicChimp Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 Yeah 2 cylinder, 2stroke, a whole 600cc (26hp) Here is what they look like, the black dip stick is for measuring the fuel tank (above engine) as it has no fuel gauge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelies Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 super jealous, nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatatonicChimp Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 Arrived in Sydney from Frankfurt today, so I got access to my Laptop and time to dump all the photos online... Heading back to Wellington tomorrow. 65960kms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatatonicChimp Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Have a couple of questions... - Does anyone have experience shipping parts from europe, any recommendations? there is a set of new trabant rims on ebay that I would like to get, but I would need to organise my own shipping. - I have a list of entry certifiers, does anyone have any experience, good/bad reviews... or any others that are not on my list? Vehicle Safety Systems: 120 Hutt Park Road, Lower HuttVehicle Testing Station Ltd: 17-21 Rutherford Street, Lower HuttVINZ: 15-19 Parliament Street, Lower HuttVTNZ Lower Hutt: 25 Brunswick Street, Lower HuttWellington Vehicle Compliance Ltd: 17-21 Rutherford Street, Lower Hutt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borgweiser Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 WVC did the last one to come into Wellington so would at least have an idea what they were doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatatonicChimp Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Thanks Borgweiser, I'll give them a call this arvo. only 36days till it arrives.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatatonicChimp Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 Latest Update: The Car is currently somewhere in the Indian Ocean on the "MSC Veronique" between Mauritius and Sydney, expected arrival on the 31st of this month in Sydney, and then transfer to another boat arriving in Wellington on the 6th of September. I now have a garage to put it in when it arrives, but I am starting to look for bits and pieces I'll need to start restoring it. Most of the replacement parts I'll need have to come from Germany, and I'll have to wait till it arrives and finish the strip down before I do the actual order, as shipping costs are not very pretty. Before I start the strip down I want to at least try to get the engine running, and for that I need a few things. 6Volt Car Battery, does anyone know of a place in welly (pref in the city) that sells them, or a good place online to buy? I tried my local mechanic/auto electrician but they don't have any. Axel stands, any recommendations? or alternatives? The car only weights in a 780kgs so they don't have to be the heavy duty stands. Or should I just go to supercheap/repco? Apparently this is a difficult item to get hold of, transmission oil: HLP-68 / ISO-VG-68 Anyone know where to source it from, I only need a few litres of it.. Cheers Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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