History
Trabant P50
Launched in 1957, the Trabant P50 introduced revolutionary Duroplast construction - a plastic made from recycled cotton waste and resin - addressing East Germany's steel shortage. The car featured a 499cc two-stroke twin-cylinder engine producing 18 hp, driving the front wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. Despite basic specification, it offered four-seat accommodation and reasonable fuel economy. The P50 established the Trabant's basic design that would continue with minimal changes for over 30 years. Approximately 131,000 P50s were produced before the updated P60 model was introduced, beginning the Trabant's 34-year production run.