RE: Plastic Fantasies

[rochow@pixelmagic.com]

>At 09:27 99-09-12 GMT, Phil Payne wrote:
>
>>I don't think the Trabbie was even plastic, though.  Wasn't it largely
>>made from pressed paper?
>
>No, it was a mix of cotton and epoxy. And the very early models were 
>made of wood. After all, it is a DKW offspring.

It's just that it *felt* like cardboard, hence the period nickname 
"Rennpappe" (racing cardboard).

I saw one running a red light and being hit lightly in the right front fender  
by a mid-80s Passat; the Trabbi jumped/slid a about 1/2 meter sideways
after the Passat came to an immediate stop, with much of the fender of 
the former torn off and sticking to the bumper of the latter.

I rode in one; the 2-stroke engine noise isn't so bad, because your
knees cover your ears.

-gbr