Treser Roadster T1

The way into disaster


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Treser: Liner Largo Audi 200 5000 4000 Hunter Type85 Hunter Type89 quattro Roadster
Superpfeil Type89 Type44 T1 and T2 Walter Beutlich

Der Treser Roadster T1
In 1987 Walter treser had enough of "only" converting Audis. He constructed a small-production car: The Roadster T1
As main donator for parts the VW Golf GTI 16V was chosen. As you probably know, not exactly the weakest car of that time. In the Treser the engine was placed transverse mounted in front of the rear axle. Like in the Golf, it guaranteed excellent driving. With the mid engine concept, the Roadster was very quick in turns. But you should know what you were doing: the low rotating mass resulted in surprising oversteer when you pushed only a bit to hard.
If you could handle that, you really had fun driving. The Roadster is like a Coupe when closed and really open with the hardtop retracted.
The Body is somehow a predecessor to the SpaceFrame concept of the Audi A8. A skeleton of aluminium profiles is planked not with aluminium but with fiver enforced plastic that further stiffen the body. The chassis is planked on both sides and the room iinbetween is filled with polyurethan foam that improves the rigidity of the whole car. The result is a solid car that is not exactly lightweight: 1100kg. The reasons are that the Roadster should be as stiff as possible, the large wheels, the mechanism to retract the roof and that the used front axle is constructed to cope with the weight of a front engine.
Despite all that great ideas, this vehicle drove Treser into bankruptcy. Difficulties in production and the high price tag sadly led to the end of one of the most innovative tuners and manufacturers of Germany.

To remind you of the car, some pics:
(1)

(1)

(1)
 
A bit more about the T1 can be found for example at retractabe hardtop online.

The Treser T2
(2) Treser even worked on a second creation, the T2. It was again based on the Golf, though it now shared the drive train layout (front engine), too. The car is owned by Walter Beutlich, who bought it when Treser went bankrupt. The car shell be restored and made driving again.
(2)


Models Racing Special
Your Audis My Audis Special Audis Galleries Links
Treser  other companies  private people

Treser: Liner Largo Audi 200 5000 4000 Hunter Type85 Hunter Type89 quattro Roadster
Superpfeil Type89 Type44 T1 and T2 Walter Beutlich

(1) Pics from auto motor und sport, issue 9, April 23rd, 1988; scanned by me.
(2) Pics from the collection of Beutlich Karosseriedesign.

Copyright 2000, 2001 by Jens
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