Volksbank director gives Trabant to Malta Classic Car Museum

Herbert Skok, managing director of Volksbank Malta Limited, has donated his 27-year-old Trabant to the Malta Classic Car Museum. Mr Skok and his partner, Netty Farrugia, spent 10 days on the road with the Trabi, driving down from Czech Republic to Malta.

"We picked up the car in Brno, passed through Austria and crossed the Alps, drove through Italy, crossed over to Sicily, and finally boarded the ferry to Malta," Mr Skok explained. "All in all, we drove 2,615 km, with a maximum speed of 80 km/h.

"It was a very unique experience. Huge trucks were overtaking the car on the motorway, and everybody was laughing and waving at us."

In spite of the long distance, the small old car needed repairs only once, when a petrol station attendant added the wrong kind of oil to the petrol. Unfortunately, the engine was not running properly for the rest of the journey, and the couple just made it to the ferry in Pozzallo.

"When we arrived in Grand Harbour, the car just did not start again," Ms Farrugia said. "This was the worst experience of our trip... the car had to be towed home. We couldn't make the last few kilometres on our own four wheels!"

The Trabi was fixed and handed over to Carol Galea, director of the Malta Classic Car Museum, late last month. "We are very happy to include this car in our collection", said Mr Galea. "It is the only Trabant in Malta, and it is definitely a collectors' item."

The Malta Classic Car Museum is in Tourist Street, Qawra, and is open from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the week, and from 9.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. on weekends.