The Wartburg was product of the Eisenacher Motorenwerke, one of the pre-war BMW factories, that found itself back in the DDR after 1949. Car production resumed with the construction of replica pre-war BMWs, sold as EMW, before switching to the IFAs that was scheduled to be the new 3 cylinder DKW. The Wartburg 311 appeared in 1956 and was fitted with a 900 cc 3-cylinder 2-stroke engine, which produced 37 bhp. The Wartburg was 4-door saloon, but could also be had a five door combi with rear side windows raking into the roof. All seats/benches could be folded to allow use as a full sized bed. This version was designed by the Karrosserie Werke Dresden, better known as Glaser, before the war.
In 1962 the 212 appeared, with a bit more chrome and a large 991 cc engine now producing 45 bhp, and 50 in a sportier version. Production lasted until 1966 when the boxy 353 version appeared. 292,723 of all models were produced. Shown is a 312 at the Concours d’Elegance at the Loo in 2004.
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