Their name was revived in 1956 by VEB Automobilwerk Eisenach and given to an updated version of their IFA F9 car which had been in production since 1950. The new car had a more powerful version of the 3 cylinder 2-stroke engine driving the front wheels and a completely new body. Exports to West Germany started in 1958, and by the early 60s the car was exported to many countries in the world, including the US. The 311 model was manufactured in a number of variations, such as pick-up, station wagon, and a 2-seater roadster.
The engine was enlarged to 992 cc in 1962 and a completely new body was manufactured after 1966. Also in 1966 the gearbox gained synchromesh on all speeds. The new car, the 353 was based on a Polish-built Warszawa 210 and remained in production for decades with minor modifications. The two-stroke engine was replaced by a 1300 cc four stroke Volkswagen engine in 1988, but otherwise time and technology passed it by, and the car could not meet modern standards. The final nail in its coffin was the introduction of the Deutschmark (DM), as the cost of producing a car reached 20,000 DM. Production continued until 1991, when German reunification spelt its end. The factory was acquired by Opel in 1991.
There are still many cars in drivable condition and Wartburg owners’ clubs exist throughout Europe. Many Wartburgs are still used as rally racing cars. The sports car Melkus RS 1000 used a mid-mounted 3-cylinder 2-stroke engine from the Wartburg 353.
May 4th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
this is opel
January 1st, 2009 at 9:29 am
This is the Opel Insignia Concept!
February 19th, 2009 at 4:27 am
The Wartburg 353 had NOTHING to do the Polish Warszawa!
Tne Warszawa (made by factory FSO) was based on Russian Pebedea (later Volga/GAZ).
After Warszawa FSO built Italian Fiat 125 under licence – named Polski Fiat and Polonez based on Fiat. Later Daewoo took over FSO – today it is Chevrolet – owned by GM.
May 26th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
It has something to do withs Warszava 210, this car was a prototype and then aquired by germans http://m.blog.hu/au/autofilia/image/prokee/080427/Warszawa_210.jpg
June 4th, 2009 at 6:00 am
“Wartburg” now is Opel / Eisenach -Germany.
An Ex-GDR-Product.
http://www.abc.se/~m9805/eastcars/wartburg/wartburg2.jpg
and
http://www.maxon.net/pages/gallery/pix/wartburg.jpg
October 31st, 2009 at 10:55 pm
wow , I havent been in HUngary for over 15 years, I remember the old Warthburg Cars, if this is what it looks like now…. I want want one of these ..
December 15th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
@ Tiger: You are not completely right. The picture in your link is clearly a modified Wartburg 353.
But it was the other way round. It was a prototyp for FSO – a slightly modified DDR Wartburg.
Since WW 2 there have been no independent purely Polish designed car.
FSO never built this car – they chose the cooperation with Fiat and built their version of the Fiat 125. Sold also in Western Europe as a Polski Fiat or Polda. Later modified to the Polonez.
At the same time FSO built the Pobeda-based Warzawa, they also made the Syrena. A car with a polish designed body on mechanicals from the czech Jawa/Aero Minor II.
The polish even took over the toolings for the engine from Jawa/Aero.
I have owned a Wartburg and driven several FSO/Polski Fiat/Polonez. The quality of the Wartburg was resonable – compared to the price. But the FSO/Polonez was extremely poorly built. A kind of “build it yourself” car. You had to re-tighten almost all the nuts and bolts.
May 23rd, 2010 at 7:07 am
i have a 1991 wartburg,its only got 20.000 km and its like new.