Road Cars - Melkus

Melkus is a German automotive brand that gained recognition for producing high-performance sports cars during the mid-20th century. Though the brand may not be as well-known as some of its contemporaries, it carved out a niche with its distinctive, lightweight, and stylish vehicles.

Melkus was founded in 1959 by Wolfgang Melkus, an East German engineer and race car driver. The company was established in Dresden, East Germany, and was focused on building sports cars that combined performance with craftsmanship.

Wolfgang Melkus had a background in motorsport, and his experience with race cars played a significant role in the design and engineering of the vehicles produced by his company. The brand was initially created to cater to a niche group of performance car enthusiasts within East Germany and beyond.

The Melkus RS 1000 was the first and most famous car produced by the brand, making its debut in 1969. The car was an ultra-lightweight two-seater sports car, with a fiberglass body and an innovative design that set it apart from other vehicles of its time.

Melkus is a niche brand with a unique place in automotive history, particularly in the context of East Germany's automotive industry. Despite producing only a small number of cars, the brand's commitment to building lightweight, performance-oriented vehicles was ahead of its time and has given it a lasting legacy among enthusiasts of rare and collectible sports cars.

The Melkus RS 1000 remains a symbol of Eastern Bloc ingenuity, standing out in a region largely known for utilitarian vehicles, while the brand’s modern vehicles continue to embody that spirit of motorsport-inspired design and exclusive performance.