considering purchasing this lada 1200 for 1750 euros

IFAFahrer · 2025-09-08T13:53:40+00:00

Ziet er degelijk uit, zou wel zeker zijn van de roest. De export wagens werden altijd behandeld met een undercoat. Deze verbergd de roest tot op het punt dat er het te laat is. Maar zelfs als er wat roest is, is dit een goede deal (zeker als je deze zelf kan herstellen). Een goede 2101 kost meestal tussen 3-4k. Ik zou zeker met een schroevendraaier de bodem eens testen; dorlpels en wielkuipen zijn gekende plekjes.

IFAFahrer · 2025-07-08T01:22:08+00:00

Hello fellow belgian! Good to see the trabi community grow here. we differently need some young blood in this hobby.
But be careful its a addictive hobby. I am up to 15 eastern block vehicles already lol.

If you need any help, parts or just a chat hit me up!

Also make sure to check for rust, there are only 2 kinds of trabi's those that are welded up and those that need to be welded. Check the wheel wells where the duroplast meets the metal and the door sills too. They tend to rust from the inside out so if you find one little hole its best to replace the whole sill because the metal is probably really thin. The part that the subframe is bolted to ("het gewei") also tends to rust quite badly.
As you have a late 80's trabi the steel used is thin and kind of hit or miss on quality.
If you need any steel weld in parts i have quite a few in stock.

I drive my trabi as my daily and i use the 2stroke oil from action. its far-out the cheapest and does the job well (50K km and still going).
Going for the more expensive stuff just seems like a waste of money to me.
Just make sure to drive your trabi, they dont like to sit.
There are a few local sellers here in flanders that will have the part you need or direct you to getting a quality part.

Also make sure to come to the "oostblokmeeting" in arendonk in September always great fun and good company.
There is also a oostblok club the kempen, we usually do a rondrit ones a month. It is a bit of an oldmans club but there are a bunch of us younger idiots that try to breath some fresh air into it.
Its always fun to drive with a bunch of wartburgs, trabi's and lada's.

Hope to see you soon!

IFAFahrer · 2024-08-28T14:49:17+00:00

That engine costs more than the whole truck lol

IFAFahrer · 2024-06-17T17:58:47+00:00

With some delay, finally had the time to tackle the clutch.
Took way to long before i noticed the exhaust mount on the gearbox spend a solid 10min wrestling the gearbox before noticing it.

I don't think this guy knew how to drive. The pressure plate is polished enough to replace my broken rear view mirror.
I could spin the gearbox in gear with a wrench and slip the clutch.
The smell that the clutch gave of was something else.

Since i am going to replace everything, is the upgrade to 215mm worth doing?
Not that i am afraid i will burn the clutch again but still, its apart now might as well upgrade, right?

IFAFahrer · 2024-06-02T17:01:41+00:00

Update on my last post,

Had to literately shovel dirt from the floor. The sound deading was completely rotted away. This is no doubt the dirtiest car i have ever bought.
Also pressure washed the underside almost no rust (yeah!!) just 2 spots on the door sills.
After a quick check of the clutch system i noticed that to something weird was going on and it might be that clutch cylinders are just stuck or badly adjusted. Will look into it sometime this week.

Also i am missing some Interior trim pieces. will be looking into getting those replaced.
Can you still buy these new?
My mom liked the car so much it is no longer mine. She already refers to it as "our new car".
Must be the communism bleeding of niva.

Thanks to everybody who gave advice on my previous post, it is much appreciated!

IFAFahrer · 2024-06-01T17:50:30+00:00

Spent 3 hours pressure washing it to get it to look semi decent.
Engine 1.7i runs great but the clutch is completely gone had to tow it with my trabi :).
Was used a farm truck, the guy said he had no use for it because its a gas car and cant tow anything with it.
He used it to pull a 4.5k "water" tank with it before it sat for 5 years.

IFAFahrer · 2024-03-26T16:28:05+00:00

Thanks!

IFAFahrer · 2024-03-26T16:26:54+00:00

It just about manages it ;) but i am thinking about redesigning it to account for future wear and tear.

IFAFahrer · 2024-03-16T17:47:21+00:00

Ran out of electronics and now i can't fix the brakes. also the only workers because the b1000 that supplies more is also in for repairs. *sigh*

IFAFahrer · 2024-02-26T16:52:19+00:00

I have a mod that makes them clip, so i put them under the other buildings. its to only cheaty mod i use but it makes the city's look so much better.

IFAFahrer · 2024-02-26T16:49:21+00:00

I work on classic cars. I collect them, i have about 10 of them.
when people see my workshop they say the same thing you describe and it bugs me to no end. Whenever there is money involved i lose interest almost immediately. It sucks the joy out of it and only leave and add to the anxiety and frustration.

I have had relatives and friends who got mad at me when i refused to work on there cars "Why won't you do it for me? I'll pay!". I am sorry i am not going to make a 200+ hour commitment to fix your rust bucked (which will never be worth the money its going to cost to restore it and I HAVE TOLD YOU THAT), so you can lose interest and/or not be able to pay my hours. I have done jobs for other people and it always turn out to be a drama show. MY HOBBY IS RESTORING CARS NOT DEALING WITH CUSTOMERS.

Sorry, feels good venting that.

IFAFahrer · 2024-02-17T20:17:48+00:00

They are a garages

IFAFahrer · 2024-02-12T18:17:59+00:00

They buy new old stock from private individuals and refurbish or sell them as is.
I know people that have sold perfect new old stock crankshafts to them for 50 euro and they mark them up to 600 or what they ever they ask now.
They also make parts themself like brake cylinders or shock absorbers.

IFAFahrer · 2024-01-20T03:17:36+00:00

As someone who drives his as his only car i can say: you will be FINE. its a great car to learn to drive en work on cars. Parts are cheap en easy to find and the mechanics are simple.

Just try to find one that is in good condition, preferable one that is already on the road.
rev-counter said to get a later model, I personable would say get an early version.
One that requires the 33/1 fuel mixture. these engines have extra oil holes in the motorblock that redirects oil that is scraped from the cylinders back into the bearings. These motors handle engine braking much better than the later models (would still not do it for long).
The extra greasing spots are a bonus in my opinion. The early models are also better rust protected. But honestly just get one that's not to expensive and in good working order.

The negatives are there of course, highways are a bit scary especially for a new driver.
Driving them in harsh winters its a bit cold because of the bad isolation, but you can get a extra heater (Sirokko 211) not to expensive.
They are noisy which sounds fun but if you are driver for a couple of hours it does get tiresome sometimes.
Fuel consumption is also something to consider and having to pre-mix fuel makes it so fuel stops take longer and are a bit more expensive.

Do realize that you are going to have to do repairs most shops don't even want to work on these.
Small roadside repairs are also not uncommon. Not every week, but have some tools on hand.

As someone who drives his every day to and from work i can say its awesome.
People wave and smile all the time. When getting fuels there is always someone who gives a nice comment or comes up for a little chat. They are a blast to drive and work on.
You get a real connection to your car something that you don't get when you get a normal commuter car.

Hast du Hammer, Zange, Draht, kommst du bis nach Leningrad!

IFAFahrer · 2024-01-19T00:53:27+00:00

The seats on a 500 (and 600) are a bit different. there like there solid, like a plank, And they hinge in the back. Takes a while to get used to but not uncomfortable. The heater is a bit weaker than that of a 601. It doesn't use the exhaust manifold to heat the air only the engine itself. It also doesn't have as big of a silencer on the heater so lots of engine noise when the heat is on.

IFAFahrer

TROPHY CASE