Trabi/IFA Chat Forum

The one at Hemmings in IL is still for sale.

The one in Hemmings doesn't have a title I imagine that is why it is still for sale.

Getting it titled in PA is a paperwork exercise which usually requires a court order from your county Court of Common Pleas. I am a PA attorney who has done it for a number of cars (I also own a Trabant). What county are you in?

I haven’t imported a Trabant but I did import a container of motorcycles. It was a colossal pain and it is probably not something I would do again. Most if the problems were with the shipper, but I still suffered for it.
That being said…
I did find a really cool county clerk that gave me good advice. I told her I was importing antique motorcycle. She stopped me right there and said: I heard you had antique motorcycles” I said “yeah I am importi”. She cut me off and said “you just have an antique motorcycle with no title- way easier to deal with”. I am forever indebted to her for that advice!

Have you found a Trabi yet?

What trabant are you looking for? Limo, kombi, any specific year? Price range? Condition?

I would take either a kombi or limo. I originally was looking for a 1974 and older but was told by Martin Heinz in Germany that I would be better off with a later year.

I agree, The newer the better. Don't trust what the title states, though. Many newer ones had older titles due to the shenanigans involved with abandoned vehicles when the wall fell. My 88 was title as a 66, as an example.

I titled my '88 as a '66 in order to get it into the US.

Then legally it's always a '66. Any further buyers have to keep up the charade as well, lest legal complications occur. Of course, call an attorney. He or she might be able to help, but it will take time and money.

I imported my Trabi in 1990 so I had to title it as a '66 in order to import it legally. In 1990 Trabants were sold for next-to-nothing or even given away. I heard one story where a man traded his 601 for a pair of Levis. I purchased numbers and a title from a wrecking yard in Zwickau for 5 Marks.
Importation of a vehicle into the States is not a problem as long as it's over 25 years old. So, unless a guy is trying to sell a car which was imported on/before 2016, there would be no reason for the year of the vehicle not to match the title - unless something else is going on. There could be an issue licensing the car in Commiefornia or some other Marxist wannabe State but getting the car into the into the US is easy.
My recommendation is to purchase a car in Germany and import it. I have done this 6 times (two times with Trabis) with the same Agency in Bremerhaven and have never had a problem. I have seen a few Trabants in the States and all are cars I would not want to own - rust, bad electrics, etc. In Germany, if the car is licensed for the road it must be TÜVed so one can be assured it is safe and solid.