Wartburg with green moss

[aron_budapest]

I got this 1977 Wartburg 353 from a garden which looks like a forest.Owners died years ago.Even a tree grown between the bumper and the fibre glass rear door.

[Dave Wells]

I never heard of a Wartburg and had to do some research. May not have been officially imported to the US. It seems to have a 2-stroke engine (per the specs below). Looks like an interesting project. Keep us posted.

 

Here's more Information:

  

  

1977 Wartburg 353 W (man. 4) version for Europe specs

Wartburg 353 W (man. 4) , manufactured or sold in 1977, version for Europe :

• manufactured by Wartburg in German Democratic Republic (former)
• 4-door sedan body type
• FWD (front-wheel drive), manual 4-speed gearbox
• mixture gasoline (petrol) with oil engine with displacement: 992 cm3 / 60.4 cui, advertised power: 36.8 kW / 49 hp / 50 PS ( DIN ), torque: 98 Nm / 72 lb-ft, more data: 1977 Wartburg 353 W (man. 4) Horsepower/Torque Curve
• characteristic dimensions: outside length: 4220 mm / 166.1 in, width: 1640 mm / 64.6 in, wheelbase: 2450 mm / 96.5 in
• reference weights: base curb weight: 920 kg / 2028 lbs, gross weight GVWR: 1320 kg / 2910 lbs, more data: 1977 Wartburg 353 W (man. 4) Specifications Review
• how fast is this car ? top speed: 130 km/h (81 mph) (declared by factory);
• accelerations: 0- 60 mph 13.2© s, 0- 100 km/h 14 s (declared by factory), 1/4 mile drag time (402 m) © s (simulation ©automobile-catalog.com), more data: 1977 Wartburg 353 W (man. 4) Performance Review
• fuel consumption and mileage: 10.8 l/100km / 26.1 mpg (imp.) / 21.8 mpg (U.S.) / 9.2 km/l ECE-cycle; , more data: 1977 Wartburg 353 W (man. 4) Specifications Review

 

 

[Bloo]

I doubt the 353 was ever imported to the US. Maybe Canada? I'm pretty sure some older Wartburgs were, maybe the 311. Wartburgs were never common in the US even when still available. The 353 is a 3 cylinder 2 stroke.

[Walt G]

Perfect for display at a fancy elite concours ( Patina Beach???) in the unrestored class.  Hey the car has "PATINA" , although never in a barn could be a barn find in many peoples minds who are story fabricators  for the his-tree and provenance of vehicles . 

[aron_budapest]

I have a couple of them, and Barkas as well. Yes to to US only the 311 was exported.When the berlin wall built, the business went wrong and stopped.Interesting fact that the same designer drawned the 311 and the 353 also.His name was Hans Fleischer ang got design merit award for both cars.The 311 compared with a 353 is a hand built very complicated and needs a lot of man hour to build, it has beautiful shapes and details, wood armrest, beautiful instruments and so on.The 353 is simple as a brick, easy to manufacture, easy to put it together and easy to operate.No fancy details, just a good workhorse like a Model T at its age.Lots of people hate 2stroke because of the smell and the blue smoke, but if the exhaust system is clear, and good 2T oil is used its not so bad.I use mine more than 15years. Its a 1975 Tourist, which mean estate in Us.