Trabant P50

The first overview already exists. This piece is a buyer’s comparison of the four Trabant P50 0.5 MT versions, using only the given numbers.

If you are choosing a Trabant P50, you are not choosing between generations. There is 1 generation (1958–1962), one body (Sedan 2-doors), and 4 versions, all named 0.5 MT. The name is identical in the catalogue; the cars are not. Separate them by output: 0.5 MT 17 hp, 0.5 MT 18 hp, 0.5 MT 20 hp (kerb 620 kg, top speed 100 km/h), and 0.5 MT 20 hp (kerb 650 kg, top speed 90 km/h).

The first overview already exists. This piece is a buyer’s comparison of the four Trabant P50 0.5 MT versions, using only the given numbers.

# Trabant P50: which 0.5 MT version to buy

If you are choosing a Trabant P50, you are not choosing between generations. There is 1 generation (1958–1962), one body (Sedan 2-doors), and 4 versions, all named 0.5 MT. The name is identical in the catalogue; the cars are not. Separate them by output: 0.5 MT 17 hp, 0.5 MT 18 hp, 0.5 MT 20 hp (kerb 620 kg, top speed 100 km/h), and 0.5 MT 20 hp (kerb 650 kg, top speed 90 km/h).

What you are buying is a 499 cm³ Gasoline Inline 2-cylinder, Front, transverse, Carburetor, boost No, Manual 4, FWD, tank 24 L, drum/drum, dependent leaf-spring both ends. The arithmetic below is the whole decision.

Specs that actually differ between 0.5 MT versions

Shared and therefore useless as a filter: displacement 499 cm³, fuel 76, cylinders 2, layout Inline, boost No, gearbox Manual 4, drive FWD, tank 24 L, 0–100 not measured, city/highway/combined consumption not measured, CO2 not measured, eco class not measured, ground clearance not measured, wheel size not measured.

Compression (the only other engine number that moves): 0.5 MT 17 hp = 6.6; 0.5 MT 18 hp = 6.8; both 0.5 MT 20 hp = 7.2. Bore × stroke is 66 × 73 on all four.

Which generation changed what

There is nothing to compare between generations. Production of generation 1 is 1958-01-01 to 1962-12-31 for the generation and for every 0.5 MT. Body stays Sedan 2-doors. Version count is 4, not a later restyle listed as a new generation. If a listing says “second-generation P50,” it is not this catalogue’s model.

Within this one generation the step is not a new gearbox or drive. It is more compression, more peak rpm on the two 20 hp cars (3750 → 3900), more torque at the same 2750 rpm, and — on one 20 hp car only — +30 kg kerb and −10 km/h top speed versus the other 20 hp car.

Power per litre and kg per horsepower

Displacement is 499 cm³ on every 0.5 MT, so specific output is just horsepower divided by 0.499 L:

• 0.5 MT 17 hp: 17 / 0.499 ≈ 34.1 hp/L
• 0.5 MT 18 hp: 18 / 0.499 ≈ 36.1 hp/L (+2.0 hp/L vs 17 hp)
• 0.5 MT 20 hp (either): 20 / 0.499 ≈ 40.1 hp/L (+6.0 vs 17 hp, +4.0 vs 18 hp)

Kerb is 620 kg on the first three and 650 kg on the heavier 20 hp 0.5 MT:

• 0.5 MT 17 hp: 620 / 17 ≈ 36.5 kg/hp
• 0.5 MT 18 hp: 620 / 18 ≈ 34.4 kg/hp (2.1 kg/hp lighter per horse than 17 hp)
• 0.5 MT 20 hp, 620 kg: 620 / 20 = 31.0 kg/hp (5.5 kg/hp better than 17 hp; 3.4 better than 18 hp)
• 0.5 MT 20 hp, 650 kg: 650 / 20 = 32.5 kg/hp (still 4.0 kg/hp better than 17 hp, 1.9 better than 18 hp, but 1.5 kg/hp worse than the 620 kg 20 hp car)

Torque per litre (Nm / 0.499):

• 17 hp: 42 / 0.499 ≈ 84.2 Nm/L
• 18 hp: 43 / 0.499 ≈ 86.2 Nm/L
• both 20 hp: 45 / 0.499 ≈ 90.2 Nm/L

Peak torque rpm does not change (2750 on all four). The 20 hp pair simply makes +3 Nm versus 17 hp and +2 Nm versus 18 hp at that same engine speed. Peak power rpm is 3750 on 17 and 18 hp, 3900 on both 20 hp cars — a +150 rpm shift, not a different transmission.

Performance and economy: what is measured

0–100 km/h: not measured on all four 0.5 MT. Do not rank sprint from a blank field.

Top speed is measured and is the cleanest on-road ranking we have:

• 0.5 MT 17 hp: 90 km/h
• 0.5 MT 18 hp: 95 km/h (+5 vs 17 hp)
• 0.5 MT 20 hp, 620 kg: 100 km/h (+10 vs 17 hp, +5 vs 18 hp)
• 0.5 MT 20 hp, 650 kg: 90 km/h (same as 17 hp, −10 vs the other 20 hp, −5 vs 18 hp)

The heavier 20 hp 0.5 MT has the same 20 hp / 15 kW / 45 Nm / 7.2 compression as the 100 km/h car and still posts the 17 hp car’s top speed. The +30 kg kerb (650 − 620) is the only mass difference in the data that lines up with that −10 km/h.

Fuel consumption city / highway / mixed: not measured on all four. Tank is 24 L on all four, so range cannot be calculated from this dataset. CO2 not measured. Eco class not measured. “Better mpg” is not a claim you can make between these 0.5 MT cars from the numbers we have.

Dimensions and weight: the 30 kg exception

Ground clearance: not measured. Wheel size: not measured. You cannot choose a P50 0.5 MT on tyres or ride height from this catalogue.

Kerb and gross:

• 0.5 MT 17 hp, 18 hp, and 20 hp 100 km/h: kerb 620 kg, gross 950 kg. Payload by subtraction: 950 − 620 = 330 kg.
• 0.5 MT 20 hp 90 km/h: kerb 650 kg, gross not measured. Payload not measured. You cannot claim the same 330 kg on this version.

The heavier car is +30 kg empty (+4.8% vs 620). At 20 hp that is the 31.0 vs 32.5 kg/hp gap above. If you need a published gross mass, the 650 kg 0.5 MT 20 hp is the one version that does not give it.

Tank 24 L is not a differentiator.

Problems and reliability: what the numbers do and do not say

There is no failure-rate field in the data. What you can say without inventing history:

Same on all four 0.5 MT: Carburetor, boost No, Gasoline, fuel grade 76, Manual 4, FWD, drum front, drum rear, dependent leaf-spring front and rear. Choosing 17 vs 20 hp does not change those labels.

What does change is compression: 6.6 → 6.8 → 7.2. That is +0.2 from 17 to 18 hp and +0.6 from 17 to either 20 hp (+0.4 from 18 to 20). Higher compression is the mechanical step that tracks the +1 / +3 hp and +1 / +3 Nm. It is not a different cylinder count or a different layout.

Valves per cylinder: not measured on all four. Do not infer a valvetrain from the blank.

Which 0.5 MT to choose

Default buy: 0.5 MT, 20 hp, 620 kg, 100 km/h. Same 499 cm³ Gasoline Inline 2, same Manual 4 FWD, same 620 kg / 950 kg as the 17 and 18 hp cars. You gain +3 hp and +3 Nm versus 0.5 MT 17 hp, +2 hp and +2 Nm versus 0.5 MT 18 hp, compression 7.2 vs 6.6 / 6.8, 40.1 hp/L vs 34.1 / 36.1, 31.0 kg/hp vs 36.5 / 34.4, and top speed 100 vs 90 / 95. There is no extra ratio, no extra driven axle, and no extra tank litres in the data — the extra “money,” if the market prices it that way, buys only this engine step on the same kerb.

If that 20 hp car is not available: 0.5 MT, 18 hp. +1 hp and +1 Nm versus 17 hp, compression 6.8 vs 6.6, 36.1 vs 34.1 hp/L, 34.4 vs 36.5 kg/hp, top speed 95 vs 90. Same 620 / 950 kg. It is the middle step, not a different car.

0.5 MT, 17 hp is the same 620 / 950 kg Sedan 2-doors with the lowest specific output (34.1 hp/L), the worst kg/hp (36.5), compression 6.6, 42 Nm, 90 km/h. Choose it only if the listing is clearly this output and you accept −3 hp, −3 Nm, and −10 km/h versus the light 20 hp 0.5 MT. It is not a different body or a different generation.

Avoid confusing the two 20 hp cars. Both are named 0.5 MT, both 20 hp / 15 kW @ 3900, 45 Nm @ 2750, 7.2 compression. The 650 kg version is +30 kg and 90 km/h, matching the 17 hp top speed, with gross not measured. On kg/hp it loses to the 620 kg 20 hp car (32.5 vs 31.0) and on top speed it loses to the 0.5 MT 18 hp as well (90 vs 95). If the goal is the 20 hp engine, confirm kerb 620 kg and 100 km/h; if the listing is 650 kg, you are not getting the 100 km/h ranking.

Do not choose on 0–100, mpg, clearance, or wheels. Those are not measured on every 0.5 MT. A comparison that uses them is not from this dataset.

Do not choose on generation. One generation, 1958–1962, four versions, one Sedan 2-doors. The buy is which 0.5 MT output and which kerb, not which “gen.”