Dacia Lăstun

Dacia 500 Lăstun
Overview
Manufacturer	Tehnometal (Dacia)
Production	1988–1991
Assembly	Timişoara, Romania
Body and chassis
Class	City car (A)
Body style	3-door hatchback
Layout	FF layout
Powertrain
Engine	0.5 L I2
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	1,915 mm (75.4 in)
Length	2,950 mm (116 in)
Width	1,410 mm (56 in)
Height	1,352 mm (53.2 in)
Curb weight	590 kg (1,300 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	None

The Dacia 500 Lăstun (Romanian pronunciation: [ləsˈtun]) was a car manufactured by Tehnometal, Timişoara, under the auto marque Dacia. The name derives from the Romanian for house martin, a small bird related to swallows.

History

The Lăstun was a low-cost Romanian car for urban transport built between 1988 and 1991,^[1] featuring a two-cylinder air-cooled engine of 499  cc, producing 22.5 hp, fuel consumption of 3.3 L/100 km (86 mpg_-imp; 71 mpg_-US), a maximum speed 106 km/h (66 mph)^[2] and fiberglass bodywork similar to the Lancia Y10. A stretched bodywork prototype 500 Lăstun was exhibited at the 1989 Bucharest trade fair.^[3] Another prototype from the early 1990s featured hubcaps, body-coloured bumpers, and head restraints.

The Lăstun was marketed with the advertising slogan was "Un Autoturism de Actualitate" (A Contemporary Vehicle).

Production continued until 1992.^[2] Due to its size, the Lăstun was primarily a city car, suitable for use as a second car. In 1989 cars received 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. Also the small 0.5L engine had some carburateur break-downs, which brought the average petrol consumption to almost 9 L/100 km (31 mpg_-imp; 26 mpg_-US), making the car less economical than the long running Dacia 1300 series.

Tehnometal manufactured a total of 6,532 vehicles.^[3]

Engines

Name	Capacity	Type	Power	Torque	Top speed	Acceleration 0–400 m	Combined consumption
G.V.500	499 cc	4 valves OHV	22.5 hp (17 kW; 23 PS) at 5500 rpm	34.5 N·m (25.4 lb·ft) at 3500 rpm	106 km/h (66 mph)	26 s	4 L/100 km (71 mpg-imp; 59 mpg-US)

References

1. Lazăr, Dumitru. "Povestea "Lăstunului"". Autoturism (2/1990). p. 10;13.
2. "About Dacia 500 Lăstun". Romanian Cars. 6 January 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
3. "Dacia Lastun – Smartul Romaniei" (in Romanian). Autogreen. 18 January 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2011.

External links

• Dacia 500 Lăstun at autoevolution.com
• Dacia 500 at automobileromanesti.ro