#wartburg #wartburg311 #gdr Jörg introduces us to his Wartburg 311 1000 Coupé. After the Wartburg 311 and Wartburg HT, followed by the 313 Sport, the Wartburg Retro Canal series continues with a Wartburg Coupé.

The shapely Wartburg Coupé was available in 2 different series, the 311-3 Reise Coupé from 1957-1961 and the 311-3/1000 Reise Coupé from 1962-1965. The difference to the model up to 1961 was the larger 1000 cubic centimeter 1.0 liter engine with 45 hp and the 3-part panoramic rear window.

Like all other models in the 311 series, the coupes are based on the body and chassis of the Wartburg 311 sedan introduced in 1955.

Thus, all models/types of the 311 and 312 series are identical from the front bumper to the A-pillar. Including bulkhead, windscreen frame, windscreen, dashboard, steering column.

As a distinguishing feature, different headlight rings were installed depending on the model. For example, the coupe has extended headlight rings.
The coupe shares (like the convertible) the rear end with the sedan, including the trunk lid and the fuel filler cap.
The floor assembly is also largely identical for all models.
The styling of the coupe was done in the Meerane bodywork. The Wartburg Coupe was to be manufactured as a replacement for the F9 convertible sedan.
The coupe was presented to the public together with the Wartburg Camping and the Wartburg 313 Sport at the Leipzig Spring Fair in early March 1957.

The first versions still had the so-called shark grille and the so-called knobs in the lock carrier and in the fenders and straight decorative strips. Furthermore, the cars had an elaborate 3-color paint finish.
Wartburg 311 Coupe 1959
In 1959, the shark grille was replaced by the sport grille.

In the first three years of production (1957, 1958 and 1959), the coupes were still manufactured in the Meerane bodywork.

That was changed when the P50 station wagon was built in Meerane from 1959. The production of the coupe then had to be relocated to Dresden and was the replacement for the production of the convertible that was being phased out there.


The Meeraner statistics indicate 965 wagons.

1960 Relocation of production to Dresden
The reason for the relocation of production was the launch of the Trabant station wagon (P50) in Meerane.
The 311/3 Coupé premiered at the Leipzig Spring Fair in March 1957