European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 15, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                 drive is on for East German cars Story and photos by Effie Bathen and Vince Crawley staff writers the Vintage Minnie mouse machines pictured Here Are for Sale at Edgar Friedrich s used car lot across from the main Gate of the . Army scamp Hof in Hof West Germany a 15 minutes from three Border Crossings Between East and West Germany. Friedrich is proud to Hawk the Little Bug eyed antique autos from the East. He does so speaking parts of at least three languages As any Good used car Salesman would. He says he a sold about 60 such Vintage vehicles since the opening of the Borders at up to 6,000 Marks about $3,600 a pop. Most of the a old timers As Friedrich Calls them have gone to automobile dealers who want them for their showrooms he said. It seems West germans who were bedazzled by the change in East Germany a politics were also immediately endeared to their miniature marvels of mobility. Friedrich Isnit the Only dealer who has leaped to take advantage of new profit potential be it from the curious cars themselves or from hard to find spare parts to repair East German cars now tooling along West German streets and highways. Quot done to see anything that strikes your fancy Stop in later Quot Friedrich urges. His inventory from the East changes All the time. Autos recently on the lot included a 1983 Wartburg the ubiquitous trabant and an original Dow built in 1937. Mixed in was a 1966 West German vow Karmann Ghia that had found its Way East. It had been painted red and modified with an adaptation of the fins from a 59 Chevy Impala. Eastern trend watchers note that red a the color of communism a is no longer  fins not your style then Why not an Ifa Quot original parts Quot Friedrich says leaning a bit on the slope of its fender explaining that it was built in 1958 from parts dating Back to before world War ii. The Musty smell that pours out the open door indicates that what he says must be True. The plaid upholstery worn in spots smells even Muster As you fold your body into the Driver s seat. Cozy. The Dow has Mats to cover the floorboards handles for passengers to grip and a speedometer that boasts an optimistic 140 Kph not quite 90 Mph. There s uncertainty about the odometer on this one but Friedrich says his autos Are in Good running a re la re proof being that their owners drove them to his lot