That safety belt looks super effective

German worker manages to start a Trabant straight off the production line, a surprise to everyone. 1959 (Colorized)

I never get tired of seeing engine rebuilders giggle with excitement like young Frankenstein as their dark creations burble to life. Congratulations to you and your weirdly unique commie-car.

A Trabant at Walmart. The quintessential Commie car meets an icon of capitalism...

At around 3:00 your shifter linkage is staining what looks like the speedometer cable, the old linkage was on the other side of the cable. That may be part of your issue with the stiff shifter and it popping out of reverse. Good to see the Trabant back on the road!

Love how the Battery says "extreme Energy" in all Caps. On a 6 volt system...

Excellent! The 'walking stick' bit was brilliant.

9:43 The face everyone makes when your rebuilt engine starts

You know that feeling of empathy...when you are happy and smile because someone is happy and smiles? I had that feeling throughout this video. Congratulations! Thanks so much for sharing this whole adventure. I can't wait for what will come next.

One of the few cars where you can go top speed on a public street and not get a speeding ticket.

I had the smell of our Trabant from my childhood in my nose when he started up the engine. I think my father had to wait for it to arrive for either 3 or 5 years. Still remember the licence plate number, ZK 93-28

Did anyone notice the gas can said “commie gas” on it

Rob, this is one heck of an amazing video! Your face of pure joy when that engine came to life was so beautiful to watch! Congrats on this amazing project! :)

"like putting trash into a dumpster" c'mon, I mean thats hilarious, but c'mon 😅

Your pronunciation of "Kontaktloser Zünder für Trabant" had me dying when I realised it was an attempt at German and not some Eastern European language lmao

There are motoring journalists far less enthusiastic about driving a Ferrari than you are about driving your Trabi. This video is awesome, made me so happy to watch you succeed.

Loved this project!! Great to see the Trabant up and running again. Also, thank you for not doing montages with sped up video and loud music while working on things. The carefully cut clips with original audio are much more pleasant to listen to and watch.

Watched all 4 episodes back to back with a big grin on my face. Really like your attitude, style, humour and the production quality of your videos. Keep em coming!

I love how this guy has a Hungarian number plate this was once my dream car thank you for rebuilding this car Greeting from Hungary

Getting original Trabant parts from Hungary - Epic. Having them personally "smuggled" into the US - Legend!

Runs like a squirrel, with two hearts, who snorted caffeine shots dipped his tail in gas and lit it!

Ah, there is that "Reng-Teng-Teng" again! Good Work, Robert!

Ed is a true hero. "Here, I'll just smuggle a Trabant crankcase and crank assembly in my luggage on holiday, and carry the shift lever as a cane." Brilliant!

Edd is a real hero to this series. Amazing how much better it sounds and runs. I remember you said something at the start of the series that didn't make it sound too hopeful.

Your new shift lever went on the wrong side of a cable..

Congrats. Your enthusiasm was infectious. You had me smiling through the whole video.

To see somebody get so excited about a beige Trabant truly warms the cockles of the heart.

That smile is priceless. Basic historic cars have often a pure driving experience. No luxury no modern driving aids, just operating a car that gives you a big smile!

Man, this brings back childhood memories!! My parents had an aquamarine colored, rebuilt from parts, 601 "deluxe" :-) I also enjoy learning about the Trabant engine after all these years.

Seeing this Trabant drive again makes me super excited and happy, your Trabant was the spark in my urge to buy a Trabant. Seeing the original one drive makes me so happy, I can't even describe it.

What i like about your channel is you represent the normal guy who tinkers with his favorite vehicle for a hobby and all the trial and error that comes with the job is what makes it fun

Your glee has nourished my soul

Amazing to see a Hungarian Trabant in the States. I used to watch Trabant videos, but strange to see US built houses in the background. :D At some locations you could easily pretend to be eastern European hard working comrade. Bring the basic tools always with yourself in the trunk. If you need some business done in Hungary, you just won a friend. I think you should take seriously the worn in period described in the Trabant's user manual. I say from experience, not so good (for the East German two stroke) piston rings if you test the top speed right after assembly. You can always convert the car to 12V and install the factory electrical ignition instead witch has retarding as far as i know.

Nice to see you so happy Robert.

The heartwarming story of a man and his Trabant...

Your enthusiasm is always great to see, but the pure joy in this video took it above and beyond! Great stuff!

You know rob, we’ll be fine with more mid rolls ads, i will watch all of them. This is my only help I could provide since i dont have that much money to be in Patreon.

The excitement is contagious... I approve... 👍

*I HAVE NEVER BEEN* as happy for a guy on KZfaq as I was for you when that started up...

Oh man! I watched the videos and I remember when I was young. I had a Trabant for my first car. Today it's all legend. And like every legend, it is an expensive car, not only in Hungary, but also in Germany. Good to see the car and the Hungarian license plate. Thanks for. A legend born again, and so are you.

I think you have a happy Trabant. All these cars live for is to be useful daily transportation :)

Hey Rob, great to see your Trabi up and running again. Hearing that engine brings back sweet-sweet memories from my childhood :) (Fun fact: my grandpa still driving his 1985 2-stroke Wartburg 353 [the one with the newer, painted front] and it has only ~50.000km in its odometer. Looks like a brand new car. You should check one if there are any in the U.S, it's definitely worth a try! ) Cheers from Hungary! :)

You are a fekkin' genius, I think all of us were just as thrilled as you were, congratulations for 3 years ago. Thank you and cheers.

In the early 90's, I did a motorcycle tour of Germany with my good Mate Clyde, Berlin was a main destination and with "The Wall" recently coming down. One thing that stood out was the sound of an approaching Trabant and the smoke haze as it went by. Go forward in time 20 years and I am back in Berlin and this time you can even do a tour of Berlin in a Trabant. This a great series, incredibly watchable!!

I like seeing a good man having fun hahahaha

Me personally I would have painted the parts communism red instead of black, but that also wouldn’t look right with the exterior paint so, I would have only painted a few parts Still love this channel and I can’t wait to see more of the bus!

best car mechanic videos ever, you were like a kid in a candy shop when the engine started.

Great job! Congrats!!

It is so much fun seeing your excitement when it started. I was smiling almost as much as you while watching :-D

A Trabant shift linkage/walking stick, who knew

I was having a bad day before I watched a bunch of your trabant videos. Thanks Robert

I remember the first car engine I rebuilt, a Buick 231 V6, and I felt the same excitement when it started almost immediately. It was AWESOME!

The label on the gas can at 6:47 killed me! This series was so much fun to watch! It reminded me of when my friend and I rebuilt the engine of his 1978 Alpha Romeo Spider Veloce in out apartment living room floor. Good times!

So excited to see the conclusion! Loved your face when it started to spark and run. Keep up the great work!

Congrats!!

Congrats!!!! Sounds great!!!

Way to go my friend! I just loved the happiness on your face when you took her out for that drive after all your work! Good job and super happy for you man!

sounds like two chainsaw engines... oh wait, it basicly is two chainsaw engines put into one XD

brilliant series, well done!

Awesome Job - great fun!

So glad to see the Trabant up and running again. I wish I could drive one, they look and sound like so much fun!

Good Robert! Always like to watch your video's. Also the best editor on all the car channels.

Great video series, thanks for sharing!

Outstanding job.

Congratulations! It has been a pleasure to watch you on your journey throughout the series! Watching your face light up with happiness when it started for the first time was a great moment. Can't wait to see what's coming up!

Well done. Your performances are deserving if a much higher subscription rate. Keep at it your doing great content.

I haven't had the pleasure of hearing that wonderful Trabant engine sound in decades. Thanks for bringing back some childhood memories.

Congratulations! Amazing work.

First 8 seconds of the video and it sounds so much healthier! Keep up the good work Robert!

good job. Haven't looked at the shifting mechanism for a while, but there must be something wrong with yours. the lever has to be horizontally when you are in first and third gear. Maybe it's just the bushings with yours? Also when you are cold starting it, always give it full choke. Yes, even if it's warm outside. The carb is tuned for cold starting with full choke. When it's warm outside you can fully push it back in right after starting. The vibration on brakes does not have to be the drums. Had the same issue before, the pads were acting weird because they were soaked with fluid before i guess. Replacing the pads fixed it. You can get your drums checked on a lathe to make sure.

Happy to be watching along!

From my experience with a Saab v4 which also had a freewheel, you only need a clutch moving off from rest and not for other gearchanges. Double de-clutching helps.

I don't know if I should feel so pleased to see the return of the Communistic Industrial Machine, but this series was pure joy to see sir. Thank you. 👍😁

Congrats, Really enjoyed the series!

Did anyone else get a second hand dopamine hit when he got it started? Seriously, that excitement is infectious!

I've been waiting like a small child for this to come out. Feels great to see it alive and well again. Good job, Robert! :D

This is the most wholesome video on this entire site. Im so happy for you OP. You deserve this :)

Ive really enjoyed this series. thank you

I'm so happy for you!!

4:46 EXTREME ENERGY!

Love these cars ♥️ reminds me of childhood in Denmark 🇩🇰 You have one of the coolest cars in the US 👍🏻

Congratulations! it looks great.

Well done! I share your joy!

watching this made a professional mechanic happy before work. It would be amazing to be able to help you out in person, if only you didnt live in the midwest, aka hell. sweet house/shop. keep it up. i love all your videos

Cool project! :D Glad its running properly again, sounds great. I am using a Trabant as my daily driver and I love it. And also restoring another one in my yard. Properly setup it doesnt feel that slow. There are also more advanced contact less ignitions that correct the ignition timing in high RPMs. 120km/h on the speedometer are possible (but I am sure not that healthy) with mine :)

Great Job !

Congratulations!

Dont really care for the car. The enthusiasm and joy of Rob is absolutely priceless! Could probably watch this all day..

did anyone else notice that the when he was changing the shift lever, the black wire was on the right of the old one and on the left of the new one. That trabant is doomed

That excitement is contagious!

I wish my parts runner was as entertaining as yours. LOL

"Dying from communist inhalation" - you got that right!

Thoroughly enjoyable and well presented!

Great job man, happy you are happy.

Amazing! Now how about a series of videos on daily driving the Trabant in the US :P

When you smiled I saw Mr. Bean with brilliant and smart manner.

This is just so satisfying to watch.

Congrats! And cheers for a thoroughly enjoyable engine rebuild series

TWIN TURBO BUILD

Great video as always! Just one thing, you seem to Suffer from the doug demuro syndrome when it comes to in car camera placement. Try positioning the camera in a way which positions you in the left half of the frame, with the right half showing mostly steering wheel and a bit of windscreen. This way it will look as if you're looking into the frame and not out of it, making you seem more engaged with your audience. If you look at top gear or any other big car show they will always do it that way. It doesn't really take away from your awesome content but it would make it quite a bit more visually pleasing :)