Trabant 601 / 1.1 year-by-year interior and exterior visual changes,
1963-1991 period

Two important notes:
- factory prospects contain a lot of mistakes. They used outdated photos frequently, many times without fauxtography even! You can see 1966 de Luxe sedan showed on evening scenery in 1975 prospect!
- Many cars have been rebuilt, with new complete body rechange.

Main sources:
www.trabant.cz
http://www.trabantserie.de
http://www.viertakttrabant.de/

1963
April - The Trabant 601 introduction. "Standard" and "Sonderwunsch" (with chrome bumpers) trim levels.
Pre-series Trabant 601 Sonderwunsch:

End of year - The pre-series assembling of sedan "Standard" and wagon started. 132 cars made between begining of 1963 and June 1964. Some of them with side slats, later available on few export markets only (e.g. Netherland).
(Slat on foto was made by fauxtography):

1966 car on NL street:


1964
July
- The begining "601 Limousine Standard" full-scale production 160 cars per day. "Sonderwunsch" will be available firstly on some export markets only.
- P60 Limousine Standard production ceased.
- P60 Universal wagons' production continued (42 cars per day).

September - Polistyrol wind deflectors on doors.

4th quarter of year - New wheels with 4 (short and large) air vents. (Some sources claims 4th quarter of 1966 even as its time of introduction. I think it's a typo because all 1965 press roads test show cars with new type of wheels just).

1965
February - The 601 Limousine Hycomat with automatic centrifugal clutch available on special order.
March - First 500 cars exported to Poland.
April - The standard points for seatbelts mounting.
May - Interior mirror with night positon.
June - Ignition lock turned out 180 deg. (to prevent leg injuries on accident).
July
- The front 3-point seat belts as standard equipment.
September
- "Universal Standard" wagons' production started and P60 wagon ceased. The tailgate with supporting bar (tucked in hole).
- Square speedometer for all cars (instead circular from P60).
- Rear mudflaps for all cars.

1966
The "Lieferwagen" van production started.
February - New single-piece bumpers (instead three-piece).
March - Front seats filed with poliuretan foam.
April:
- The 601 Kübellwagen intro. Production started in September. Only 165 cars made in 1966.
- The luxury "601 L (Luxus)" series production started. Only one year lasted.
- Beefer softer seats for Sonderwunsch.

1967
- The red sticker with white letters "Hycomat, Kupplungsautomat patentgeschützt" on rear window for cars with automatic clutch; also "H" letter added to tail "601" script.
January - One of three seatbelts' mounting points changed. Moved highier from B-pillar's bedrock.
April:
- New trim levels intro. Sedans and wagons were available in "Standard" (color-keyed grille), "Sonderwunsch" (aluminium crate grille, more comfortable seats) and "de Luxe" ("Sonderwunsch" equipment plus the engine bay light, chrome bumpers, two-tone painting & upholstery). The "Luxus" ceased. All versions available with automatic clutch Hycomat on demand. Two special versions of Kübelwagen - "A" (Armee) for army and "F" (Forst) for forestry and argiculture.
- Reclined front seats for "Sunderwunsch" and "de Luxe".
- The new hinges for bootlid for sedan (self-supporting lid when opened).
Old bootlid with supporting rod:
New bootlid, self-supporting:
- Two rotary ivory knobs for lights and wipers on-off, replacing five-bottom '"piano claviature".
September
- Black (instead ivory) dashboard for all cars.
- New wheelcovers, polished aluminium made and flat.
- Longer (270 mm) wipers.

1968
April
- The silencer batt on enginebay cover.
- New circular speedometer for all cars.
- New covering for radio socket.
Old shape:
New shape:
May - Mounting points for rear seatbelts.
December - The ignition switch on steering column in Standard cars.

1969
April - The black rim surrounding speedometer (instead chrome).
May
- The "S" (Sachsenring) aluminium logo have been installed on bonnet for Sonderwunsch and de Luxe, Standard soon later.
- The chrome (de Luxe) bumpers with split edges again.
July - Air vents on C-pillars for Universal wagons, aluminium for Standard, chromed for Sonderwunsch and De Luxe). Since September for sedans also.

August - New tail light for "De Luxe" sedan and wagon with amber (instead red) indicator lenses. Since January 1970 for all cars.
November - Interior handles have been changed. They released doors when 90 degree turn.

1970
January - The engine bay cover's supports reinforced.
October - The upholstery, back part of sunvisors and interior covers in black / grey.

1971
February - Plastic black (instead aluminium) window winders.
March - 21W (instead 15W) bulbs for indicators and STOP light.
April - New front reclined seat with backrest angle adjustment on all cars.
June - The passenger sunvisor with couresty mirror.

1972
The "Liefenwagen" van production ceased. (However some sources claims 1974).
March
- Square exterior mirror.
- Radial 145 SR 13 tyres with tubes available as option for all cars.
September: - Larger ignition coils (dia 60 mm).
Old coils:
New coils:
October: - New door side panels.

1973
April
- Redesigned heating & ventilation system. Easy visible changes were new air vents for windshield's defrosting and three knobs on dashobard.
- New plastic (instead painted steel) cover for steering wheel column.
- New gearchange handle.
- Larger 26-litre fuel tank with cap moved to left.
23-litre fuel tank:

26-litre fuel tank

July
- Black plastic (instead aluminium) front circular logo for all cars.
- 13x4J wheels for all cars, with smaller air vents. Radial 145 SR 13 tubeless tyres as option for all cars. Wheelcovers changed, two types available.
September
- Black plastic (instead silver aluminium) rear scripts for all cars.
- The new shape of tail wall for rear plate mounting (15 deg. slanting).

1974
April:
- The modern dashboard with poluretane cover and 'shrine' speedometer for "Sonderwunsch" and "de Luxe" only.
- Hazard warning lights for "Sonderwunsch" and "de Luxe".

June - The choke knob moved to the left side of steering column.
July - The latch screwed to door with three (instead four) bolts.

1975
April - Interior mirror enlarged
July - The locking points for seatbelts modified for easier use.
October - The silencer batts on the wall between passenger comparment and trunk.

1976
July - The brown carpets on trunk and on shelf behind rear seats.
October
- New interior light.
- Green (Karipol) brake fluid instead blue (Globo).

1977
January
- The self-supporting tailgate in Universal with one mechanical dumper (instead simply bar).
- Manual mean/dip switch on steering column instead footoperated switch on floor in Standard cars.
March
- Chrome bumpers with black rubber overriders for "De Luxe".
- The leatherette "Gambit" upholstery on seats for "Sunderwunsch" and "de Luxe".
April - Small black plastic caps on wheels instead chromed wheelcovers.
July - Interior door handles have been mounted lower on upholstery panel instead door frame.

1978
February
- "IFA Group" stickers on windows.
- 145 SR 13 SLP41 radial tubeless tyres for all cars.
March - Introduction of "S de Luxe" sedan with rubber overriders and two packages available on demand: "Finish" (bright brown fabric for seats and carpets, black door pockets) and "Electro" (12V radio Tesla powered thru 6-12V transistor inverter, rear fog light, two-tone horn, 84 Ah battery, eletrical windshield washer, speedometer with trip counter).
April - The left rear side panel without ashtray.
September
- Introduction of "Universal S de Luxe" wagon. In addition to sedan equipment there's folded blind over trunk.
- Larger window winders similar to Wartburg 353.

1979
February - Black (instead grey) seatbelts.
May
- Fog & reverse lights for "S de Luxe" cars.
- Sparewheel cover for "S de Luxe".
June - Black "Ekotal" side mirror, mounted simultaneously with older (03/1972) type.
July - Kübellwagen's A / F sparewheel without cover.

1980
"De Luxe" sedan and wagon ceased.
January - Whole black dashboard.
March - New "square" bumpers with black plastic edges. Color-keyed for "Standard" and "Sonderwursch" or chrome for "S de Luxe" cars.
April
- The mounting points for rear seatbelts.
- Neoprene windows' sealing.
July - The steel bonnet on sedan and wagon; on kübellwagen plastic still.

1981
January
- Black wipers.
- No more cars with oldfashioned (03/1972 type) mirrors.
- Optional rear wiper and washer for "Universal S de Luxe".
September
- Interia seatbelts for "Sonderwunsch" and "S de Luxe".
- Black exterior door handles.

1982
April - Restyled dashboard. Speedometer with larger anti-reflection visor.
Old & new form:
July - The Duroplast engine bay cover again.
May - The windshield and rear window sealing without silver decorative slats. Old & new form:

November - New steering wheel with poluretan foam ring for "S de Luxe", later also "Sonderwunsch".


1983
January
- The electric fuel level indicator for "S de Luxe".
- Hazard warning for Standard cars too.
April - The tailgate in Universal with two gas supporting dampers.
October
- New wheels 4Jx13H x J35 (with 8 air vents) for all cars.
- New 12V electrical instalation with 588W alternator instead 220W dynamo allowed optional heated rear window (in "S de Luxe").
- The front foam head restraints for "S de Luxe", optional in other cars.


1984
February - Wider B-pillars with shorter rear side windows in sedan only. Old & new form to compare:


April
- Headlights H4 55/60W with height adjustment, standard in all cars.

- Optional front H3 55W fog lights for "S de Luxe".
- Tilted (to 40 mm) rear side windows for "S de Luxe".
June - The economizer "KMVA" with LED lights in instrument panel for all cars. For "S de Luxe" economizer has fuel level indicator also.


1985
February - Safe ignition switch. Prevents turn-on key to START postion second time without turn-off to 0.
July - Factory sunroof available for "S de Luxe" sedan and wagon cars.

September - New tailgate in Universal.

1987
November - New rear suspension on coil springs instead transverse leaf spring.


1988
July - Wider aluminium slats.
November - Pre-series (Nullserie) assembly of new 1.1 started. 120 sedans and 30 wagons made with many featuring elements from P601 (bumpers, lights).

1989
January - Limited production (Vorserie) of 1.1 started. 673 sedans and 49 wagons made to May 1990. Some of them with featuring elements from P601 still.

February - Rear towning ear added.

4th quarter of year - Black (instead light grey) cushoning layers under headlights and tail lights. Part of cars rolled out with black plastic air vents on C-pillars.


1990
January - The black plastic (instead silver steel) push buttoms in exterior door handles. Bi-color cars (with different roof) were available in Standard form also. (All good visible in this document from spring 1990).
May - Mass production of 1.1 started. Optional colors at extra cost - Indianrot, Olympianblau, Chromegelb, Pink and Black.
June 27th - Last P601 sedan made.
July 25th - Last P601 Universal made.

1991
April 30th - Last standard Trabant 1.1 made (special "444" edition excluded).

Front badge:
1963-04/1969:

05/1969-08/1973:

since 09/1973:


Dashboards (P601 only):
1963-08/1965

09/1965-03/1967

04/1967-08/1967 Sonderwunsch and De Luxe

04/1967-08/1967 Standard

09/1967-03/1969

04/1969-03/1974 in Sonderwunsch and De Luxe, -02/1982 in Standard cars

04/1974-03/1982 in Sonderwunsch and De Luxe

04/1982-


Exterior door handles:
To 12/1980:
01/1981-12/1989:
Since 01/1990:

Fog and reverse lights:
1979-1982 sedan:
Since 1982 sedan:
1979-1982 wagon:
Since 1982 wagon:

Side mirrors:
to 02/1972: 03/1972-01/1981:
Since 06/1979:
Since 1989 in part of 601 and 1.1 cars:

Wheels:
1963-late 1964:
late 1964-08/1967:
09/1967-06/1973:
07/1973-03/1977 wheelcover type I:
07/1973-03/1977, wheelcover type II:
04/1977-09/1983:
10/1983-end:
part of 1.1:

Wipers:
To 08/1967:
09/1967-12/1980:
Since 01/1981 (arms' form changed in 1989):

Perfect color samples:

Marmorweiss (1964-12/1968)
Original:
Resprayed:

Pastelbraun (1964-12/1968) pastellbraun


Pastelgrün (1964-1976)


Silbergrau (1964-12/1968)



Pastelblau (1964-1977) pastellblau


Granadarot (rare, 1964-05/1969, export, later only for roof)


Alaskagrau (1969-1976)


Korallrot (1973) koralenrot, koralrot


Persischorange (1976-1977)


Neptunblau (1976-1977)



Delphingrau (1976-1981, 1986-1990)


Biberbraun (1978)


Clifgrün (1978-1979)



Kristalblau (1978-1981) kristallblau


Papyrusweiss (1979-1990), common


Atlasweiss (resprayed)


Baligelb (1980-1982)


Champagnerbeige (1980-1988) champagnebeige


Schilfgrün (1980-1981)


Aquarienblau (1982-1983) Aquamarinblau



Perlweiss (1982-)


Caprigrün (1983-1989)


Monsungelb (1983-)


Gletscherblau (1984-1990)


Panamagrün (1987-1990)


Ahorngelb (1990)


Indianrot (1990) indianenrot


Nilbraun (1990) nillbraun



Pink (1990)


Togaweiss (1990)

Trabant 601 zmiany konstrukcyjne, Trabant 601 technical changes, Trabant 601 history, trabant 601 timeline

Excellent research and account. Almost scary in the detail - I'll not interfere with Trabbis in case of burnt fingers - but it makes them nearly interesting.

Great work! Congratulations from a Trabant fan!

You also did a great job with the Skodopedia. My parents had a white 1978 Skoda 120L. I love classic Skodas!