Melkus RS1000 Standard
The Melkus RS1000 holds a unique place in automotive history as the only true sports car produced in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Created by Heinz Melkus, a Dresden-based racing driver and engineer, the RS1000 was an extraordinary achievement given the severe restrictions of operating behind the Iron Curtain. Melkus had to work within the constraints of available Eastern Bloc components, basing the car on the Wartburg 353's three-cylinder two-stroke engine, which he tuned to produce 70 horsepower using triple carburetors and modified porting. The fiberglass body, designed with input from aerodynamicists at the Dresden Technical University, featured dramatic gullwing doors that earned the car the nickname 'the East German Mercedes 300SL.' The tubular steel chassis was entirely custom-designed, while the front-wheel-drive layout came from the Wartburg donor. With a curb weight of just 680 kg, the RS1000 was genuinely quick, capable of 170 km/h — making it one of the fastest cars in the Eastern Bloc. Only 101 examples were hand-built over a decade of production, each one a testament to the human spirit's ability to create beauty and excitement even within the most restrictive circumstances.
Extremely rare with only 101 built. Most survivors remain in Germany. Wartburg three-cylinder engine parts are available through Eastern European networks. Fiberglass body panels are unique to each car. Gullwing door mechanisms require specialist attention. Full provenance documentation is essential for authentication.
Only 101 examples were hand-built at Melkus's workshop in Dresden between 1969 and 1979. Each car took weeks to build by hand. The GDR authorities tolerated the project because it showcased East German technical capability.