1973 Wartburg Knight 353 from Czech Republic - Comments

Blown clutch immediately after purchase.

Dead battery after all night radio Europa concert in Stromovka park.

Mmassive leak from brake lines.

A great car. The 2 stoke engine is a gem, its masochistic and DEMANDS to be revved until it explodes. Surprisingly good petrol consumption. Steers like a pregnent cow on an ice track, but the stop light acceleration more than makes up for it. Reliable as all hell, it always starts (after a fashion). Many times in the Czech winters I see new cars stuck but the Burg slams through snow like it wasn't even there. Could probably survive a thermo-nuclear detonation.

If they still built them, I'd buy another.

Man, I never laugh like this in the last two years at least!

Thanks, thanks, 1000 thanks to you. Keep on! Write more!

I agree, funny description. do you still own it?

Please DON`T encourage him. However, he`s probably not even around at present. I`d say he`s resting in a rubber room somewhere- dreaming of "failed bob weight governors"- and all the cars he`s "owned"- like: "warbling" Wartburgs, Volgas and Tatras (fitted with Sikorsky helicopter parts!) Let`s hope he makes a full recovery, one day. Poor soul!

I too have noticed the " bob weight governor" obsession and I have been frankly wetting myself because of your amusing observations. That's what I love about this site, a combination of informative reviews and totally hilarious comments. Cheers!

Yes I still own the car. I am moving to Tampa June 2006 and have already made arrangements to have the 'burg shipped back :)

Call me crazy, but I am loyal.

Hell yeah, to the guy who pointed out how interesting the dynamic between reviews and comments are. I came here to look at reviews as I usually do, but I am now trolling to find the funniest comments. And that guy who commented Dreaming of failed Bob weight governors is definitely making for some late night entertainment. I love how you pointed out in a review of a Volga that he likes to imagine that things like gear shift nobs and steering wheels get sheered off. That had me in stitches.

Liking Wartburg is understandable, even making them was in those days. Owning one was more or less the only choice for some people, including my father. But who, on Earth, who named it Knight? Jaysus!

L.K.

Wartburgs are very nice in styling. The engine is pretty powerful for its size and the guy who said failed bob weight governers and tatras with sikorsky parts is a poor soul himself and tatras are really good cars!

I once went to an auction to buy a van, but when it came up for sale the gearbox was growling in the manner of an irritated bear, so I passed on it. Thw auction was held on a winters evening, some 20 miles from where I lived I lived, and whilst we were there it started snowing. No really fancying a 20 mile trip on public transport, I bought a Wartburg Knight for £10 to get me home. What an experience. Coming down the motorway, I looked in the mirror to see that some wag had put an enormous Roman candle up the cars exhaust! (Had previous owner got the 2 stroke mix wrong?) That was only the begining. As the snow began to settle, the "car" began to show an ability to go its own way!. Anyway, it got me home, just. Next morning I started the engine, to be greeted with a lawn mower noise and clouds of acrid smoke. I wondered what to do with it. As it was constructed of something resembling Bacofoil, I decided that scrapping it was a no go. Charity sprang to mind, so I parked it at the top of my road with the documents & keys left in the unlocked car. Now, normally, round here an unlocked car is lucky to last 10 minutes, but 2 months later it was still there. Eventually it disapeared, to where I don't know. shows you, even the car nicking scallies got some pride!

Hello: I´m looking for a Wartburg Knight (Right hand drive) for a very long time! So if someone wants to sell one or knows where a Wartburg is waiting for getting a new home... please let it me know! You can contact me under the following email-adress: robert.hotzan@btuc.de.

Thanks.