From all the Soviet bloc countries, only the GDR could boast of having its own sports car, which not only participated in races, but was also designed for the public roads. In 1969 an East German racing driver Heinz Melkus began to produce sports car of his own design Melkus RS1000, and until 1986 101 cars were made. The car had folding upwards doors “gull wing”, at different times it was equipped with the engines with the capacity of 1.0 up to 1.2 liters, 70 – 90 hp, it weighed only 700 kg that allowed it to make possible to conquer the first hundred in nine seconds and accelerate up to 165 km / h. Of course, the rates were prominent, but do not forget that Melkus RS1000 was a unique project that has no analogues in other countries of the “people’s democracy”. In addition, Heinz Melkus also designed and prepared the cars for the racing series Formula 3 and Formula Junior.
After the reunification of Germany Melkus stopped making sports cars, and became a dealer of the BMW Company. However, many East Germans remembered the cars Melkus with nostalgia that prompted the son and the grandson of Heinz Melkusa – Peter and Sepp – to revive the brand. Unfortunately, Heinz himself could not take part in this project because he died in 2005.
The car Melkus RS2000 “lit up” for the first time in 2006, and three years later at the Frankfurt Auto Show has been demonstrated the pre – production prototype. Peter and Sepp did not develop the car with a blank slate but simply picked up and subjected to a radical alteration the car of the model Lotus Elise. The car received the door of the “gull wing” and as a power plant unit were used the two – liter turbo engines of the Volkswagen Company or the Opel Company with the capacity of up to 270 – 300 hp. It is true, the price of the reincarnated “Melkusa” has appeared to be high enough – more than 100 000 Euros. Moreover this is the price for a basic modification.
And the other day it was announced about the launch into the production of a car of the “special series» – Melkus RS2000 Black Edition. The body of the car is painted in six layers of the black lacquer the interior is decorated with the black leather, in Alcantara and with the black polished wood inserts. In the front bumper there has appeared a carbon splitter, and on the sides of the body -carbon “skirts”. The capacity of the two – liter turbo engine in combination with which works the six – speed manual gearbox, is increased up to 325 hp. The first one hundred the 950 – pound Melkus RS2000 Black Edition travels in 4.5 seconds and the maximum speed makes 270 km / h. After all the improvements the price of the car has become completely exorbitant – 149,900 Euros or $ 195,600. In Germany, by the same price is Porsche 911 Turbo, but Lotus Elise can be bought several times cheaper. However, in contrast to them, Melkus RS2000 Black Edition will be a relatively rare car. However, like any other Melkus.
