Another meaning of the name Trabant is companion or companion. There can't be a more appropriate name for the "Trabi" when you consider how long a vehicle had to last in the GDR. The P601, built from 1964 to 1990 at the Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau, was the third and most frequently built model in the Trabant series, whose two-stroke engine was produced in the Barkas factory - by 1990 over 2.5 million Trabis had left the Zwickau factory.
However, the model history began as early as 1958 with the series production of the Trabant P 50 (P = plastic / 50 = 500 cm3 of the 17 hp engine), followed by the P50/1 station wagon, the P 60/2 with four-speed gearbox and finally the P 60 with 595 cm3 and 23 hp. In 1964 the Trabant 601 model appeared with a new body modified in the then modern trapezoidal style, but technically still related to the P 60. In the 26 years of production, however, there were various changes such as an improved brake system, an automatic clutch (Hycomat) and numerous detailed improvements and equipment variants.

Even if its appearance hadn't changed, it didn't hurt its popularity, as it was a reliable and indestructible vehicle that made holidays in the Eastern Bloc possible in the first place and thus generated a bit of freedom. A good year later, in the summer of 1965, the station wagon (Universal) appeared. Even if, as with the sedan, the exterior shape of the P 60 model had changed completely, the interior remained identical. New to the previous standard versions of the sedan and station wagon 601 were the models 601 S (special request) and the 601 de luxe (later 601 S de luxe) with full equipment. This difference was very easy to recognize, because the 601 de luxe immediately caught the eye with its usually different-colored roof and the shiny chrome bumper. Other details followed later, such as bumpers, reversing lights, fog lights and rear fog lights. But the 601 S was also often supplied with a different-colored roof, but the different configurations of the equipment variants usually varied. The 601 standard variant was mainly available in the station wagon version, as these were used in trade, business and industry. Depending on the application and the respective user, the single-color version received not only various lettering but also noble chrome plating of the lamp rings, hubcaps, wheel trims or wheel nut covers.

Since most of the changes to the Trabant only took place "under the hood" - with the exception of a few improvements to the grill, wheels and colour, rear light bumpers, which were carried out at the same time on the sedan and station wagon - the external form remained completely untouched. This circumstance meant that exports to the west took place only in the first ten years with 20,000 vehicles, mainly to the Netherlands and Finland. In addition to the standard variant, these also include the sedan and station wagon models with a colored roof and in the "de luxe" version. The corresponding detailing of the points of differentiation mentioned above is of course a matter of course.