The Barkas B 1000 is a forward controlvan made by East German manufacturer Barkas in Chemnitz (then Karl-Marx-Stadt), Germany. It was made in multiple body styles: a van, a minibus seating eight, and a pickup truck. Special-purpose vehicles based on the B 1000 were made as well.
Overview
The B 1000 uses body-on-frame construction, with box-section or U-section frame rails being used depending on the type of vehicle; panel vans and minibuses have box-section frames, whilst pickup trucks and special vehicles have U-section frames. It is powered by a 1-litre liquid-cooledtwo-strokestraight-three engine coupled to a four-speed synchromesh manualtransmission and mounted ahead of the front axle, between the driver and passenger seats. Depending on configuration, the B 1000 can reach a top speed of 95–100 km/h (59–62 mph).[1]
Production of the four-door panel van commenced in June 1961, with the minibus following in spring 1964, and the pickup truck in spring 1965.
With its payload of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) and its spacious interior, the B 1000 proved to be very durable and reliable.[citation needed]
The B 1000 received some minor updates in 1963 and 1972:
1963: The single-circuit brake system was upgraded to a dual-circuit brake system, and the column shifter was replaced with a regular central shifter.
1972: The 220 W alternator was replaced with a 500 W alternator, and power output was increased from 31 kW (42 hp) to 33 kW (44 hp).
There were no major design alterations across the B 1000's 27-year production period. The succeeding Barkas B 1000-1, introduced in autumn 1989, carried over the B 1000's underlying design, but was fitted with a different engine.
In 1990, manufacturing operations were sold to a Russian company, but production was never restarted.[2]
Gallery
Rear view
1965 B 1000 pickup truck
1981 B 1000 pickup truck with additional tarpaulin
1987 B 1000 panel van
KLF 8 fire engine, well visible rear door
Minibus
Interior
B 1000 semi
B 1000 motor home
B 1000 cabriolet bus
Three-axle truck based on a B 1000 chassis
Bibliography
Werner Oswald: Kraftfahrzeuge der DDR. 2nd edition. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN3-613-01913-2, p. 199–205
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barkas B 1000.