WARTBURG · WARTBURG TOURIST · Cars
WARTBURG TOURIST Ultra-rare
As of 2025 Q4, 7 WARTBURG TOURISTs remain registered in the UK — one of the rarest cars in Britain on today's roads. That's down from a peak of 8 in 2024 Q1 — only 88% of the high-water mark, a loss of about 1 cars. They're disappearing at roughly 0 a year (3.8% of what's left), a pace that would halve the survivors by around 2043 if it held — though in practice the last, most-cherished examples tend to linger far longer. In all, the WARTBURG TOURIST is rarer than 81% of the 2,408 UK car models we track, putting it firmly in 2025's endangered class.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Genuinely rare — only 7 left on UK roads.
Rarer than 81% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
📉 Rate of decline
Disappearing at about 0 a year (3.8% of survivors). At that pace roughly 6 would remain in 5 years, and half the current fleet is gone by around ~2043.
About the TOURIST
The Wartburg 353, known in some export markets as the Wartburg Knight, is a medium-sized family car produced by the East German car manufacturer AWE for their Wartburg brand. It was the successor of the Wartburg 311 and was itself succeeded by the Wartburg 1.3. The Wartburg 353 was produced from 1966 to 1988, becoming the Wartburg with the longest production run. During its lifetime, it saw several changes and improvements, the most recognizable of which came in 1985 with a front facelift (as pictured here), a slightly different layout around the engine block, and a new carburettor.
WARTBURG TOURIST — questions & answers
How many WARTBURG TOURIST are left in the UK?
As of 2025 Q4, 7 WARTBURG TOURIST were still registered in the UK — 2 licensed and on the road, plus 5 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the WARTBURG TOURIST rare?
The WARTBURG TOURIST is genuinely rare, with only 7 left, making it rarer than 81% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Is the WARTBURG TOURIST increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of WARTBURG TOURIST on UK roads held steady. At the current rate of decline, roughly 6 would remain in 5 years.
What fuel do most WARTBURG TOURIST use?
Most WARTBURG TOURIST run on petrol — about 100% of those still registered.
When did the WARTBURG TOURIST peak?
The WARTBURG TOURIST peaked at 8 registered in 2024 Q1, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.