The Trabant was an icon of East German austerity, but after the fall of the Berlin Wall, many families ditched their admittedly limited vehicles to invest in more advanced Western models.

However, around a hundred of these classic cars made their way to the United States and three have found a home in Longmont, Colorado.

With two doors and a two stroke engine that is only a little more powerful than the one found in ride-on lawnmowers, the Trabant fans have to have quite a specific taste in classic cars.

However, fans like to emphasise the frugality of the car's construction over its perceived cheapness. In short, the manufacturers did away with any unnecessary luxuries and focused on getting the basics right.

To this end, the surplus Trabants actually caused quite a problem for the German authorities following the reunification because they were almost impossible to dispose of, leaving scrap yards piled high with their slowly rusting shells.

The good news is that fans in the US and elsewhere in the world have been keeping the Trabant alive and well with their efforts, restoring and maintaining this tough little car against the odds.