Barkas meeting 2025: GDR fans celebrate the cult vehicle in Podelwitz!

Barkas meeting 2025: GDR fans celebrate the cult vehicle in Podelwitz!

On September 21, 2025, a very special event will take place in Podelwitz: the Barkas meeting. Fans of GDR vehicles come together here to celebrate the historic model. The Barkas, a vintage vehicle known as a universal commercial vehicle, has won a permanent place in the hearts of many car enthusiasts since its introduction 60 years ago at the Leipzig Trade Fair. Loud LVZ Series production originally started on June 14, 1961 in Hainichen, and since then a total of 175,740 examples, including minibuses, ambulances and fire engines, have been manufactured.

The vehicles are characterized by their versatility, even if they are not particularly fast. Barkas is often referred to as the “Bulli of the East”, which is due to its high popularity in the GDR. The vehicle is equipped with two-stroke engines and had an output of 42 hp in early models. These engines were revised several times over the following decades, which enabled them to be used in various areas of application.

The fascination of Barka

Countless stories surround this original means of small transport. Bernd Kriener from Calbe imported a rare Barkas motorhome model from Hungary, which, however, only offers two front seats and is therefore less suitable for large family trips. Jens Hauer from Weißenfels sees it differently: his Barkas with eight seats is exactly the right vehicle for family trips. The “velvet ocher” that was once considered unattractive was transformed into a nostalgic journey back in time to the 1960s, as Christian Braun from Pomßen shows with his converted Barkas. His pack donkey, the last four-stroke B 1000 from 1990, today has an Intercamp caravan from 1977 attached, with which he plans to replace an even older trailer from 1966.

Even the technical characteristics of the Barka are remarkable: This transporter from the VEB Fahrzeugwerk Karl-Marx-Stadt was based, among other things, on front-wheel drive technology that still causes a stir today. The extensive model range also includes variants such as panel vans, station wagons and flatbeds, which made the Barkas a true all-rounder of nature. Information about the technical details can be found at noble-oldtimer.de.

A life's work with history

The history of the Barka goes back a long way. The engineer Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen, who founded an engine factory in Frankenberg in 1923, laid the foundation for the development of the Barka. Even though the production line had to stop on April 10, 1991, the legacy of this commercial vehicle lives on in the hearts of its fans. Loud Moz There are currently around 3,800 Barkas recorded in the registration statistics, which shows that the fan base is still loyal to this extraordinary vehicle today.

The upcoming Barkas meeting promises to be a meeting place for like-minded people and a counterpoint to the fast-paced modern world. Once again, the Barkas can be experienced in all its diversity and shows that nostalgia and functionality can go hand in hand.