During its lifetime, it saw several changes and improvements, the most recognizable of which came in 1985 with a front facelift (as pictured here), a slightly different layout around the engine block, and a new carburettor.

First introduced in June 1966, the Wartburg 353 was the creation of the former German BMW production facilities (called EMW under Soviet occupation).

Its origins were ultimately derived from a 1938 DKW design and powered by a two-stroke engine with only seven major moving parts: three pistons, three connecting rods and a crankshaft.

However, due to the nature of the planned economy, deliveries to private owners could take ten to fifteen years.

Because of its forward centre of gravity and front-wheel drive, the car had typical front-wheel-drive road handling, usually displaying significant understeer, especially in wet conditions.

However, in the Western European markets, the Wartburg was quite competitive especially because of its high maximum power of 58 hp at 5400rpm and top speed of 170km/h[2] which is uncommon for passenger cars in the West, despite the two-stroke engine design.

Resale values were extremely low, and in Finland, official figures on removals from the car register gave Wartburg the shortest average life span of all listed manufacturers, this due to German reunification, at nine years and three months.

Noteworthy characteristics of the model are simple design, dependability, occasional and cheap maintenance, strong chassis-based car frame, front-wheel drive, rear-wheel ABS regulator, a 525-litre trunk, and innovative electronic gauges fitted after 1983.

It was also available as a pickup version named Wartburg 353 Trans but was unsuccessful, mainly due to limited payload (only 450 kg) and low transport volume.

The car entered the British market as the Wartburg Knight in early 1967, and a year later, the estate "Tourist" model followed.

From chassis number 17:20 932, on vehicles produced after 14 June 1982, the carburetor was switched to a Jikov 32 Sedr with pre-heated intake mixture (upgrading older models was not suggested), new brake drums rear and H4 headlights.

The model was characterized by matt black PVC door window frames, imitation leather trim and wood grain, trunk liner, fog lights (front and rear), two-tone horn, heated rear window and a Malimo corduroy interior.

In 1972 a four-stroke inline-four of 1.6 liters producing 82 PS (60 kW) was developed, but the political leadership canceled the project in favor of a facelift.

Seeded and numbered 80, 81, 105 and 104 of 168 original entrants, they took in all the classic narrow, snowy and icy gravel forest tracks of the UK.

Second only in speed to Skoda of the "Eastern Bloc" entries, the Wartburgs proved formidably durable and reliable vehicles.

[12] MED-ambulance emergency vehicle of the Red Cross of the GDR in the field of rapid medical aid (SMH), urgent medical aid (DMH), and the urgent house call service (DHD) with a total of 100 vehicles, of which four were in the service of the National People's Army (NVA) Melkus RS1000 a sports car from Melkus developed from the Wartburg 353.

The song spawned a sequel on their second album 'Ja Eventualno Bih Ako Njega Eliminišete' from 1996, titled 'Car Core', about tuning a Wartburg, also in a humorous way.