Zombie East German Sports Car Dies Again

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

They called it the “Ferrari of the East”: The Melkus RS 1000 was East Germany’s only sports car, “powered” by a mid-mounted Wartburg 3-cylinder 2-stroke engine. Most cars had 1 liter engine, a few were 1.2 liter mills. Fitted with gullwing doors, it looked fast. 101 cars were made between 1969 and 1979 in the Dresden factory, to buy one, you had to race it. In 2009, Sepp Melkus, grand child of founder Heinz Melkus, resurrected the company and started building the Melkus RS 2000. No more, the company is bankrupt.

Sales of the 122,000 euro sports car, powered by a 2 liter engine, were not enough, says A utomobilwoche [sub]. Yesterday, insolvency was declared at a Dresden court. Never say die: There is interest by investors who may want to buy the assets.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Econobiker Econobiker on Oct 04, 2012

    Any truth to the rumor that Melkus will be building the cop car for Carbon Motors next? nuk nuk nuk...

  • Elie Elie on Jan 02, 2013

    Too expensive one for a liter.Need to think for the manufacturer. www.germanimportservices.com/services.htm

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