Wartburg 312 saloon car

Wartburg 312 saloon car, 1966.

The Wartburg 312 was first marketed to the British in 1957, imported by the German manufacturer, VEB Automobilwerk Eisenach. This model was based on the Wartburg 311 saloon and described by Autocar magazine as ‘a typical sturdy, simple, Eastern-bloc motor car’. The 312 model’s key difference was its lighter steering, and it became a favourite in Eastern and Northern Europe as well as in South America. However, partly due to its German name, sales remained low in Britain. The 312 model was followed by the Knight model in 1967, probably making this car one of the last few of the Wartburg 312s imported into Britain.