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Buy Classic Melkus Cars
Melkus is a rare Dresden racing marque whose RS 1000 pairs gullwing doors with Wartburg-based two-stroke engineering. For Australians, an authentic car and an import plan belong together.
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Melkus listing references from Classic Trader
Below you will find listings related to your search that are no longer available on Classic Trader. Use this information to gain insight into availability, value trends, and current pricing for a "Melkus" to make a more informed purchasing decision.
1979 | Melkus RS 1000
Rarität, Flügeltürer, vollst. restauriert und neu aufgebaut, Historie, TÜV & H
1976 | Melkus RS 1000
Vey rare racing car
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History & Heritage
Racing driver and constructor Heinz Melkus established the Dresden business in 1959. Its Formula Junior and Formula 3 cars explain the marque’s practical, competition-first approach. The RS 1000 became its road-car landmark: from 1969 to 1979, just 101 low, gullwing coupés were hand-built in East Germany. The later 15-car reconstruction initiative and 2009–12 RS 2000 revival are separate eras which must be accurately described in any sale.
Highlights & Features
The RS 1000 turns ordinary Eastern Bloc source parts into an extraordinary package: a modified Wartburg frame, 992cc or later 1,119cc water-cooled two-stroke triple, three carburettors and five gears driving the rear wheels. Its fibreglass shell, aluminium doors and rear service opening were lightweight solutions, not cosmetic gimmicks. Melkus formula cars and the PT 73 Spider remain important to the make’s story even though the RS 1000 is the most recognisable survivor.
Technical Data
At 4.0m long and approximately 690–850kg, a standard RS 1000 was quoted at 158–165km/h. Its 2,450mm wheelbase and three-carburettor engine matter more to the driving character than headline power.
Market Overview & Buying Tips
Australian supply will nearly always be a European LHD import. Before paying a deposit, confirm eligibility for import approval, shipping and marine cover, biosecurity cleaning, state registration and engineering requirements. A 2023 fully restored RS 1000 was offered via Classic Driver/MyCarmunity at €89,000–109,000; Classic Trader recorded a €109,500 past listing. Convert only after allowing freight, duties/taxes and compliance costs—these figures are evidence, not an Australian valuation.
Use a German DDR specialist to inspect the car before export. Examine frame tubes, steel door structure, sills and fibreglass repairs, and insist on photos before filler and paint. Door hinges must operate cleanly, with even gaps and secure latches. Verify chassis number, original registration, export title and restoration invoices. Test crankshaft health, cooling, carburation, oil-mix practice, clutch, five-speed gearbox and brakes. Wartburg familiarity helps, but RS-specific fabricated parts and original trim are scarce at Australian distance.
Driving Feel
The RS 1000 is a compact, noisy, aromatic two-stroke sports car, not a refined fast tourer. Light weight and its mid-engine balance make country-road speeds engaging; sympathetic warm-up and mechanical empathy are essential.
Design & Coachwork
Its low body and gullwing doors look unlikely in a planned economy because they were made by a small racing workshop. Fibreglass nose and tail, aluminium roof/doors and accessible rear mechanical bay form a handmade design that should be preserved, not over-restored into a generic replica.
Summary
Find a Melkus with provenance, sound structure and a realistic Australian import budget. The right RS 1000 is a rare historic sports car whose authenticity is worth more than a dramatic repaint.