The Trabi twins: Flensburg's brothers live their GDR car passion!

The Trabi twins: Flensburg's brothers live their GDR car passion!

In Flensburg everything revolves around the love of GDR vehicles, and no one embodies this passion better than the twins Sebastian and Anselm Sonntag. The two 43-year-olds, who were born in Dresden, have built up an impressive collection of ten vehicles in their hometown, including notable models such as the Trabant, Barkas and Volga. According to the ARD media library park their treasures in winter storage and garages where they are regularly repaired and used. Even though the word “Ostalgie” is often used in connection with the vehicles, the brothers emphasize that their enthusiasm is based more on a deep love of technology and the attractive appearance of these cars.

The brothers aren't just collectors; they also actively use their vehicles. They bring their treasures on the road for trips to work in Denmark, visits to their mother in Sweden or to fan meetings at Pentecost outside Flensburg. This year the Pentecost meeting of the IFA Friends Flensburg is coming up, which is a very special event. For the 30th anniversary of the circle of friends, the brothers have to prepare 101 things and bring their own vehicles such as the orange-red Barkas “Minoli” and the burgundy-colored Wartburg “Opa” into top condition. The Wartburg, incidentally an heirloom of their late grandfather, has a very special sentimental value for the brothers.

The vehicles as cultural heritage

The Sundays' fascination with IFA vehicles is not only about their personal preferences, but also reflects a larger context of the automobile history of the former GDR. How rameder.de describes, vehicle construction in the GDR was an important industry that produced a large number of models. Brands like Trabant and Wartburg were not only vehicles, but also symbols of an era in which engineering and design played an important role.

In particular, the Trabant, known for its thermoset body material, and the Wartburg, which was produced in various versions from sedan to convertible, are still cult today. The heritage of these cars goes back to the beginnings of automobile production in the post-war period, when the first models were manufactured in Zwickau. With the Wartburg 311 and later variants such as the Wartburg 353, the engineers had also found their place internationally.

The twins' closely linked hobby

Sebastian and Anselm Sonntag's passion is not just an individual hobby, but also part of a cultural heritage. This connection to history and technology is what drives them. They are determined to share their enthusiasm with others and experience how their hobby also serves as a bridge to other enthusiasts. The following applies to the two twins: A life without their GDR vehicles? Unthinkable!