.

Lăstun: Difference between revisions

Wikicars, a place to share your automotive knowledge
Jump to navigationJump to search
(Dacia 500 - Lastun)
 
(3 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
Dacia 500 - Lastun
{{Template:List of Lăstun Models}}
Information of this car including the logo and poster can be found at:
The '''Lăstun''', also named '''"Dacia 500"''', was a cost-effective Romanian car for urban transport built between 1986 and 1992. It featured a two cylinder air-cooled engine of 499  cc, producing 22.5 hp, with a fuel consumption of 3.3 L/100 km (86 mpg-imp, 71 mpg-US) and having a maximum speed 106 km/h (66 mph). The Lăstun was built in Timişoara, Romania, although it was sold as a Dacia, and was manufactured in small numbers. The body was of glassfibre, and was not dissimilar to that of the [[Lancia Y10]]. An enhanced bodywork prototype 500 Lăstun was also made, and exhibited at the 1989 Bucharest trade fair. There was also a luxury prototype made in the early 1990s, with hubcaps, body-coloured bumpers, and head restraints. The advertising slogan was "Un Autoturism de Actualitate" (A Modern Vehicle). The name means literally in Romanian "House Martin", which is a small bird related to the swallows.
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Shop/1185/index.html


This is the first car completely designed and manufactured in Romania. The model has in common with the company in Colibasi Romania only the name, “Dacia”, being totally different. The car was called “Lastun” too.
===Overview===
History: In March 1980, The Ministry of Machines Construction decided to design and manufacture a small, economical city car, supposed to be suitable for 2+2 persons 
It is a commonly held belief that the Lăstun production stopped after 1989, which is not strictly correct: it continued until 1992. However, there is little doubt that the Lăstun was not adapted to the needs of Romania at the time. Due to its size and fragility, the Lăstun was only really a city car, suitable for second car status, something which was heavily frowned on by the regime and which was in any case economically inaccessible for most Romanians. Furthermore, the build quality was universally decreed to be atrocious, and the Lăstun was unable to cope with the scrapes and knocks it received on Romanian roads. Yet there were some modifications made by the Lăstun factory. For example, in 1989 cars received the luxury of side lights, and in 1991 the Lăstun was lightly restyled to the front, the only modification being a new bonnet with a one-piece grille. However, despite the car's one selling point of excellent fuel economy, there was very little market for such a car assembled in such a manner, and the last few were sold in 1992.
(2 adults and 2 children), max. speed 70km/h, max. consumption 2-3 liters gasoline/100km. It was decided to be a 2-door, "coach" type body, front wheel drive, and transversal situated engine.  
After the tests, it resulted a 2-cylinder, air cooled engine, 499 ccm, 22.5 HP, 3.3 liters gasolione/100km, max. speed 106 km/h. The body was made of synthetic material,
(a type of fiber glass), offering a high corrosion resistance. The manufacturer was Tehnometal, which became later Intreprinderea de Autoturisme from Timisoara. 
This car was produced only in reduced series, until 1989.  At TIB* 1989 it was presented the model DACIA 500 LASTUN with an enlarged body. In this option the car could accommodate four people in a higher comfort, and having more room in the trunk. 
This model wasn't produced in series production.  
* TIB is the International Exhibition Bucharest


Source / about the author: my name is Nick Seghedi. I created the above mentioned web site for "Dacia 500" web site in 1996-1998, using my experience as an owner of a "Dacia 500" also called "Lastun", (see pictures), and also having an involvement with the design of this car; (mostly the logo). Please let me know if you have any concerns of questions regarding the s content. Please note the email dacia500@hotmail.com is not valid anymore you can contact me at: nickseghedi@yahaoo.com
Due to its small size and low quality the Lăstun was subject to many jokes. Few have survived, and the number on the road has been estimated to be in the low hundreds. It was never exported.
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Shop/1185/d500c.jpg
 
Also the small 0.5L engine had some carburateur break-downs, which brought the average petrol consume to almost 9 L/100 km (31 mpg-imp, 26 mpg-US), making the car more less effective than the long time produced 1300 series.
 
==See Also==
{{Dacia}}
 
==External Links==
 
 
[[Category:Makes]]
[[Category:Timişoara]]
[[Category:Dacia vehicles]]
 
 
{{Modern-auto-stub}}

Latest revision as of 05:14, 6 January 2009

Search By Model

(insert logo here)

Defunct

The Lăstun, also named "Dacia 500", was a cost-effective Romanian car for urban transport built between 1986 and 1992. It featured a two cylinder air-cooled engine of 499  cc, producing 22.5 hp, with a fuel consumption of 3.3 L/100 km (86 mpg-imp, 71 mpg-US) and having a maximum speed 106 km/h (66 mph). The Lăstun was built in Timişoara, Romania, although it was sold as a Dacia, and was manufactured in small numbers. The body was of glassfibre, and was not dissimilar to that of the Lancia Y10. An enhanced bodywork prototype 500 Lăstun was also made, and exhibited at the 1989 Bucharest trade fair. There was also a luxury prototype made in the early 1990s, with hubcaps, body-coloured bumpers, and head restraints. The advertising slogan was "Un Autoturism de Actualitate" (A Modern Vehicle). The name means literally in Romanian "House Martin", which is a small bird related to the swallows.

Overview

It is a commonly held belief that the Lăstun production stopped after 1989, which is not strictly correct: it continued until 1992. However, there is little doubt that the Lăstun was not adapted to the needs of Romania at the time. Due to its size and fragility, the Lăstun was only really a city car, suitable for second car status, something which was heavily frowned on by the regime and which was in any case economically inaccessible for most Romanians. Furthermore, the build quality was universally decreed to be atrocious, and the Lăstun was unable to cope with the scrapes and knocks it received on Romanian roads. Yet there were some modifications made by the Lăstun factory. For example, in 1989 cars received the luxury of side lights, and in 1991 the Lăstun was lightly restyled to the front, the only modification being a new bonnet with a one-piece grille. However, despite the car's one selling point of excellent fuel economy, there was very little market for such a car assembled in such a manner, and the last few were sold in 1992.

Due to its small size and low quality the Lăstun was subject to many jokes. Few have survived, and the number on the road has been estimated to be in the low hundreds. It was never exported.

Also the small 0.5L engine had some carburateur break-downs, which brought the average petrol consume to almost 9 L/100 km (31 mpg-imp, 26 mpg-US), making the car more less effective than the long time produced 1300 series.

See Also

Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination
DACIA

The Renault Group


Renault | Nissan | Infiniti | Dacia | Samsung | Alpine


Current: Logan · Sandero · Duster

Historic: 1100 · 1300 · Denem · 1310 · 2000 · Duster · 500 (Lăstun) · Gamma · Liberta · Nova · SuperNova · Solenza ·

Racing: Duster Ice Racer

Concept / Prototypes: Brasovia Coupè Concept · Jumbo Highrise · Nova Minivan Concept · Logan MCV Heuliez Concept · Duster Concept


Include notable internal links here


Renault Corporate website a subsidiary of the Renault Group



External Links