These Western European cars could be purchased by GDR citizens with West German marks

A lot happened in the GDR in the 1980s, including a lot of special things. Which brings us straight to the heart of this story: Western cars that you could buy in the GDR. You didn’t even have to be a high-ranking government official to do that. It sounds absurd, but it really happened.

Those who had dollars or Deutsche Marks could turn to Genex for this. The company ‘Geschenkdienst- und Kleinexporte GmbH’, founded in 1956, later called ‘Geschenkdienst GmbH’, was owned by Alexander Schalck-Golodkowski, Honecker’s financial man who mainly filled his own pocket well. Erich Honecker, head of the central committee of the Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands (SED), chairman of the State Council and chairman of the National Defense Council, had come to power in 1971. He created a new economic model; the ‘Einheit von Wirtschafts- und Sozialpolitik’ was to ensure a continuous improvement of the material and cultural standard of living. In return for this rising standard of living, the workers had to work harder and improve the productivity of GDR industry. Despite all efforts, however, it was inevitable that the country would lose connection with Western industry. So the plan failed miserably. But that is an other story.

Also electronics

The GDR citizen could buy Western cars at Genex, with a small caveat: if you wanted to enjoy Western comfort, you had to make sure that the car was paid for in D-marks or dollars. This could be done through friends or family from the West or by GDR citizens themselves if, for example, they had Western currencies at their disposal after an inheritance. Genex published its own catalog called ‘Geschenke in die DDR’. It contained things of which the GDR citizens dreamed: Jacobs coffee, Atari computers, JVC color televisions and Bosch drills. Even motorboats were offered for sale, as well as ready-made houses from Neckermann.

Also models from communist countries

Genex also had many DDR products in its catalogue, such as radios from RFT, cameras from Praktica and drilling machines from Multimax. That was of course a clever example of bottlenecking: first the product range in the GDR was reduced, as a result of which many products became scarce. You could then buy those things from Genex for Western money. The highlight of the colorful catalog was undoubtedly the car section, which took up approximately 70 percent of the pages. It also contained many models from communist countries, such as the Barkas (a van, which cost from DM 17,155) or a Skoda 120 L (DM 12,975). At the beginning of 1989, a Trabant cost from DM 5,375, while a Wartburg 1.3 with four-stroke engine with DM 14,530 was a lot more expensive. What was special was that these models were delivered within a few weeks and not, as was usual for a Trabant, for example, only after twelve to fifteen years. Really, that’s how long the people who didn’t have Western money had to wait.

Genex cars significant share

The share of these Genex cars in total sales was significant. In 1975, for example, 54,050 Wartburgs were built, of which 7,300 were sold through Genex: a share of more than 10 percent. And then there were the highly sought-after western cars and motorcycles. Examples from 1988 are the Yamaha XJ 600 (DM 8,500), BMW 318i (DM 30,500), Peugeot 309 GR (DM 24,700), Renault 9 GTL (DM 18,000) and Fiat Uno 60 S (DM 15,000).

10,000 Golfs to DDR

After payment in the West, the cars were delivered to the GDR after six to eight weeks. For maintenance, the owners could go to selected garages. However, Genex was not the only supplier of Western cars in the East. From 1978, the government itself imported larger numbers of Western cars, which could then also be paid for with DDR marks. At least if you had been on the waiting list for a car for a few years, for example a Lada or a Wartburg. For example, 10,000 Golfs, 1,000 Volvos 244 DLS and some time later also 5,500 Citroëns GSA Pallas and 10,000 Mazdas 323 were exported to the GDR.

Volvo 244 DLS the most expensive

The Volvo 244 DLS, a special DDR version, was by far the most expensive; you had to pay no less than 42,000 marks for it. The Volvos were not supplied by Genex, but by fifteen IFA dealers in the GDR. An invoice accompanying this car shows that 42,171.50 GDR marks were paid for it and that it was first registered in 1977. It has halogen spotlights from the East German manufacturer FER. The 244 DLS is a version built specifically for the GDR; it has the raised grille of the six-cylinder Volvo 264, while under the hood is simply the 100 hp 2.1-liter four-cylinder of the 244 DL. These cars were mainly driven by GDR stars or highly successful, mostly self-employed craftsmen. It was no coincidence that most of the units were delivered to East Berlin, as the capital’s fleet had to become more colorful and international in order to impress guests. You can imagine how the people of Dresden, Erfurt and Schwerin reacted. Despite the secretive character of the Genex company, many GDR citizens were familiar with it. Only not always in a positive sense: Genex was mainly a source of annoyance for those who did not have Western money. And that was the vast majority in the country.

Citroën GSA Pallas: wonderfully extravagant

The hydropneumatic suspension ensures maximum suspension comfort, the 65 hp 1.3 boxer engine grunts satisfied and the interior looks nice and futuristic with its control satellites and magnifier-like speedometer. The GSA Pallas was wonderfully extravagant. From 1978, the GDR officially imported Western cars and 5,500 of the GSA crossed the Wall. Those who wanted one had to prove that they were about to be assigned a car (for example a Lada) and could then transfer.

Ford Orion: travel car for the middle classe

Ford Orion: GDR citizens could also opt for the Ford Orion, the compact sedan based on the Ford Escort that was advertised as the ‘Reiselimousine der Mittelklasse’. The 1.4 engine of 71 hp gave the Orion a top speed of 164 km / h. In 1988 the delivery time was a modest eight weeks. The price: from DM 20,571.

VW Golf I: trade with metal presses, tools and electronics

Volkswagen exported no less than 10,000 Golfs to the GDR, mainly to East Berlin. There was barter trade: the GDR supplied metal presses, tools, electronics and even a Carl Zeiss Jena planetarium to the VW factory in exchange for the Golfs. The Golf cost about 20,000 DDR-Mark and was therefore hardly more expensive than, for example, a Wartburg 353. This is what the insurance and tax card of GDR cars looked like.

Fiat Regata: Italian chic

Fiat Regata: Fiat first mainly supplied the 131 to the GDR, later also Unos and Regatas. The smart West Berlin Fiat dealer Foti served as an intermediary, which supplied directly to Intershop and Genex. The Regata, the chic sedan version of the Ritmo, which had already been refreshed at the time, was a lot more modern compared to the 131 with its front-wheel drive and transversely mounted engines.

Mazda 323: With the Emperor’s Compliments

Erich Honecker visited Japan in 1981 and was received with all respect, even by the emperor. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen economic ties. It is therefore not surprising that 10,000 Mazda 323s ended up in the GDR, with a price of 32,000 GDR marks. Later, the 323 was also available through Genex.

Volkswagen T3: bus with windows and benches

Volkswagen T3: In 1989 the T3 at Genex had a starting price of DM 29,406. It was delivered as a Transporter with side windows, three rows of seats and a sliding door on the right. In the back was a 1.9-liter 60 hp boxer, which could take the bus to a top speed of 118 km / h. The interior was mainly designed for practicality and makes a rather spartan impression.

Peugeot 205 GR: candidate for license building

In 1987, a Peugeot 205 GR came directly from the manufacturer as a test car to the GDR. Reportedly, a possible license production was being looked into. That would have been a smart move.

Volkswagen Golf II: Genex’s most popular

From 1984 Genex supplied the second generation Golf as a 1.3 with 55 hp, as a 1.6 with 75 hp or as a 1.6 diesel with 54 hp. The starting price in 1988 was DM 19,514. There was not much choice of colors: you had to make do with Gambiarot, Marineblau or Alpinweiss. In the 1980s, the Golf II was Genex’s best-selling western car with 11,000 copies.

BMW 3 Series: even with six-cylinder

Even BMWs were available in the GDR! The Genex brochure shows the BMW 3 series, which is the generation known as E30 in the 1980s. Buyers could buy a 316i for DM 29,000, but a 318i and even the six-cylinder 320i were also in the catalog. The latter started at DM 35,900.

Volkswagen Passat: only with 1.8

The closed-nosed Volkswagen Passat, also known as the coatis, was introduced in 1988. On the other side of the Iron Curtain, GDR citizens could also buy the middle class car. For just over DM 30,000 there was very little to choose from. A 1.8 with 90 hp and the CL equipment, although you could go for a sedan or a slightly more expensive Variant.

Fiat Tipo: no digital dashboard

The Fiat Tipo looked modern even by Western standards in the late 1980s. The East Germans could drive it as a 1.4 with 71 hp. There was also a choice of three colors, but a version with a digital dashboard? That was really too ambitious for the GDR.

Renault 5 GTR:

The Renault 5 GTR was also in our price list in the years 1989 and 1990. The fairly basic version of the 5 cost just over 15,000 German marks in the GDR, which is a lot less than with us. In the Netherlands, the 5 GTR cost almost €11,000 (more than 24,000 guilders). A DM in those days was about 0.88 hfl.

This is an abridged version of a story previously published in AutoWeek Classics 12 2019.