Wartburg 353
Encyclopedia
The Wartburg 353, known in some export markets as the Wartburg Knight, is a medium-sized family car, produced by East German car manufacturer Wartburg. It was the successor of the Wartburg 311
, and was itself succeeded by the Wartburg 1.3.
The Wartburg 353 was produced from 1966 to 1988, becoming the Wartburg model with the longest-ever production run. During its lifetime it saw several changes and improvements, the most notable of these coming in 1985 with a slight front facelift and a new one-step carburetor.
The Wartburg 353 was the creation of the former German BMW
production facilities (called EMW under Soviet
occupation). It was based on a 1938 chassis and powertrain, and used a two-stroke engine with only seven major moving parts.
Domestically, it was used for government transportation, sometimes as a police car. Delivery of consumer builds often took ten to fifteen years.
As an export, it was popular in the UK
in the 1960s: like other Eastern Europe
an cars, it was known for its low price, comparatively well-equipped design, and mid-range size. Because of its forward center of gravity and front-wheel drive, the car had specific road handling, often displaying significant understeering, especially in wet conditions. Wartburgs were exported to the UK, Cyprus
, Malta
, and South Africa
(no doubt helped by the fact that right-hand drive models were already being produced for the UK.)
The Wartburg 353 had a very agile two-stroke engine. Most were equipped with a 993 cc displacement, 3-cylinder unit yielding about 50, 55, or 57 bhp, capable of decent acceleration, even by modern standards. The transmission was equipped with a freewheel
device, obviating the need to use the clutch between gears. Designed as a fuel efficiency measure and as a means of protecting the engine from oil starvation, the device disabled engine braking
; the car effectively coasted whenever the throttle was released. Drivers had the option of turning the freewheel off through a switch under the steering column to benefit from engine braking, which was useful when going down a long hill in hot weather for example, since the front brakes were prone to overheating and fading
. However, most drivers never disabled the freewheel, because it made shifting gears significantly easier and smoother, though not quicker.
It is notable that even today the 353 is capable of, and is driven at, speeds of well over 195 km/h (120 mph), whereas the original design called for a maximum speed of 150-155 km/h and 12 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h (62 mph), which it was capable of reaching in second gear due to the high-rev engine.
The 353 was an immediate success throughout the Eastern bloc, and with good reason; for approximately the same price, it significantly outperformed Soviet vehicles of its class in almost every aspect: safety, drag, acceleration, top speed, fuel efficiency, ergonomics, handling, ease of use, maintenance, trunk and inner space, reliability, off-road capability, and even dynamics, despite its less powerful engine. Evidence of the latter are the multiple rally wins it scored over the course of decades, whereas the more powerful Ladas and Moskviches usually failed to achieve success in that arena.
The Wartburg 353 was commonly nicknamed "Trustworthy Hans" or "Farty Hans" by owners due to its durability and copious exhaust emissions when cold and/or overoiled. Noteworthy characteristics of the model are: simple design, dependability, occasional and cheap maintenance, strong chassis-based car frame, front-wheel drive, rear ABS, a 525-litre trunk that was very large for its class, and, after 1983, innovative electronic gages.
Over a million Wartburg 353s were produced overall, many of them still roadworthy and functional today.
Wartburg 311
The Wartburg 311 was a car produced by East German car manufacturer VEB Automobilwerk Eisenach from 1956 to 1965. The 311 model was manufactured in a number of variations, including pickup, sedan, limousine, coupe, and as a two-seater roadster. The engine was enlarged to 992cc in 1962.The 311 model...
, and was itself succeeded by the Wartburg 1.3.
The Wartburg 353 was produced from 1966 to 1988, becoming the Wartburg model with the longest-ever production run. During its lifetime it saw several changes and improvements, the most notable of these coming in 1985 with a slight front facelift and a new one-step carburetor.
The Wartburg 353 was the creation of the former German BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
production facilities (called EMW under Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
occupation). It was based on a 1938 chassis and powertrain, and used a two-stroke engine with only seven major moving parts.
Domestically, it was used for government transportation, sometimes as a police car. Delivery of consumer builds often took ten to fifteen years.
As an export, it was popular in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the 1960s: like other Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
an cars, it was known for its low price, comparatively well-equipped design, and mid-range size. Because of its forward center of gravity and front-wheel drive, the car had specific road handling, often displaying significant understeering, especially in wet conditions. Wartburgs were exported to the UK, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(no doubt helped by the fact that right-hand drive models were already being produced for the UK.)
The Wartburg 353 had a very agile two-stroke engine. Most were equipped with a 993 cc displacement, 3-cylinder unit yielding about 50, 55, or 57 bhp, capable of decent acceleration, even by modern standards. The transmission was equipped with a freewheel
Freewheel
thumb|Freewheel mechanismIn mechanical or automotive engineering, a freewheel or overrunning clutch is a device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft...
device, obviating the need to use the clutch between gears. Designed as a fuel efficiency measure and as a means of protecting the engine from oil starvation, the device disabled engine braking
Engine braking
Engine braking is where the retarding forces within an engine are used to slow a vehicle down, as opposed to using an external braking mechanism, for example friction brakes or magnetic brakes....
; the car effectively coasted whenever the throttle was released. Drivers had the option of turning the freewheel off through a switch under the steering column to benefit from engine braking, which was useful when going down a long hill in hot weather for example, since the front brakes were prone to overheating and fading
Brake fade
Vehicle braking system fade, or brake fade, is the reduction in stopping power that can occur after repeated or sustained application of the brakes, especially in high load or high speed conditions...
. However, most drivers never disabled the freewheel, because it made shifting gears significantly easier and smoother, though not quicker.
It is notable that even today the 353 is capable of, and is driven at, speeds of well over 195 km/h (120 mph), whereas the original design called for a maximum speed of 150-155 km/h and 12 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h (62 mph), which it was capable of reaching in second gear due to the high-rev engine.
The 353 was an immediate success throughout the Eastern bloc, and with good reason; for approximately the same price, it significantly outperformed Soviet vehicles of its class in almost every aspect: safety, drag, acceleration, top speed, fuel efficiency, ergonomics, handling, ease of use, maintenance, trunk and inner space, reliability, off-road capability, and even dynamics, despite its less powerful engine. Evidence of the latter are the multiple rally wins it scored over the course of decades, whereas the more powerful Ladas and Moskviches usually failed to achieve success in that arena.
The Wartburg 353 was commonly nicknamed "Trustworthy Hans" or "Farty Hans" by owners due to its durability and copious exhaust emissions when cold and/or overoiled. Noteworthy characteristics of the model are: simple design, dependability, occasional and cheap maintenance, strong chassis-based car frame, front-wheel drive, rear ABS, a 525-litre trunk that was very large for its class, and, after 1983, innovative electronic gages.
Over a million Wartburg 353s were produced overall, many of them still roadworthy and functional today.