Trabi/IFA Chat Forum

Just the usual... an upside-down White House, some Pyramids, a Coliseum kind of of thing....
As this was a help-my-friends-who-live-there visit and it was cold and rainy, Comrade Trabi stayed at home.... this time.

Here is a Trabant I have just bought today its a 1.1 Kombi. I need to get it registered and MOT'd in the UK.

Pics of some of the trabants at the IFA day that was held last Sunday

Those are some great pictures [USER=877]Cold-War-Charlie[/USER], thanks for sharing!

Glad you like it.
I do encourage photo ops with period clothing. I've cruised around in my Trabi wearing the uniform of the Grenztruppen once.

Wouldn't "period clothing" for a Trabant occupant be "normal" clothes from the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s or early '90s?
On good! I wear clothes appropriate for that era all the time!
<----- authentic late 20th century proletariat clothing.....

While I'm too young to have any firsthand memories of it, I'm given to understand that the fashion varied slightly in the west and east? So, normal clothes for the DDR, then, would be period clothes indeed.

I'm old enough... but wasn't exposed to the east at the time.
I suspect that plain clothing was popular in a socialist country.

I always wear plain clothing! people have said that i might have a liking for red.....

While I suspect plain clothes were more common, there were ofcourse exceptions...
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3117/2895908446_5bfe83a41d.jpg
DDR mens' fashion from the 70ies.

Well, mostly I wear Red when driving around in Comrade Trabi
But sometimes, like on May Day or after a victory of some sort, Comrade Trabi wears a Red Flag!
Right on the antenna too.

Here's Comrade Trabi wearing Red at Haymarket, on May Day!

Lovely picture!
It would be super-neat if one could somehow attach flags right behind the front lights, like on state official cars.

It's really easy to make an authentic flag mount. Or for that matter, an authentic flag.

For the mount, any sturdy piece of wood or metal will serve as a mast. Attach to the vehicle in any way you see fit.
Ready-made plastic flag staffs for cars are also available.
The front or rear of a Trabi is simplicity itself. Just attach your staff to the metal channel that secures the top of the fender.
The top of the staff should be blunt or capped to avoid injury.
Make sure that it's prominent and the flag cannot fall off or touch the ground.
For the flag, any rectangular piece of red fabric will do unless you want a specific flag, like that of the DDR.
Or, you can paint the flag on the car itself.

The problem is not mounting a flag.

The problems are:
1- Don't restrict the view of the driver
2- Hostile Reaction to Foreign Flags. In the case of Red Flags, this includes dealing with White Army attacks!.

The flag on Comrade Trabi is on a radio antenna, which is sturdy enough for speeds of 50km/h.
But, the view to the right is somewhat restricted.
Usually, the flag is only on display when parked at car shows or while participating in parades and May Day events at low speed so this isn't a problem.

As Chicago is part of the USA which is highly indoctrinated against Red flags, "White Army" attacks are a concern.
To see this effect dramatized on film, watch the last 16 minutes of the movie "Reds" before you decide to fly any "foreign" flags on your car.
(there is a train with many properly-displayed Red flags being ambushed by a White Army contingent)

Most importantly:
If you fly any flag on your car, make sure that you know the significance of that flag very well. Be prepared to explain yourself!
If a Red Flag, be prepared to be treated as a communist!* Have answers.
If an unusual flag, like that of the DDR, be prepared to explain some history....

When you fly a flag other than that of the country you are in, you can expect controversy, curiosity and occasional hostility**.


Good flag etiquette involves flying the flag of the country you are in above any other flags. This is the best way to avoid "White Army*** Attacks"...

[media=youtube]X5MtATxkyHM[/media]



*especially and particularly if you're wearing red clothing as well....
**Not everyone is hostile. Many are merely curious and some are In Solidarity..
*** The "White Army" stood for bourgeoisie private property, capitalism and the exploitation of the masses, the foul pigs! So do many other people nowadays. They're often not afraid of attacking bearers of Red Flags.

On 6th June I celebrated a national holiday (sort of like our 'fourth of July') with a pair of friends by cruising around town in my Trabi. The weather was excellent, and as usual she got alot of attention wherever she went. For the occassion she was decorated with Swedish flags, which I think made her extra pretty.


Stopping by outside one of my work places (The Army Museum) to compare the Trabi against an SKP armoured car.


In front of the Army Museum.


Stopping by outside the Maritime Museum, we found this cute little companion; a 1930ies Morris. It was made of Wood (!) and had one horsepower less than the Trabi.


And a nice scenic picture.

Have a nice summer everyone!

Love the pics. Sweden looks like quite the pretty country. I will have to add it to the list of places to visit

Thank you!
If you do come here one day, I'd be happy to give you a Trabi-Tour.