A German wedge styled Treser T-1 'Youth Car'

Compact not Small Maybe many of us have never seen the figure of this tiny car before. Well, that's reasonable because this car actually only exists in Germany called the Treser T-1 'Youth Car' which was first produced by Walter Treser Automobilbau GmbH, a car manufacturer based in Hofstetten, Germany.

The Treser T-1 'Youth Car' is produced by Walter Treser Automobilbau GmbH only 20 units ever during a short production periods of 1987 to 1988. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)

Who's Walter Treser? He's a German famous automotive engineer who once worked for Audi. Perhaps, his name is best known for his role in the development of the original Audi Quattro or 'UR-Quattro,' as it is called today. Treser championed the integration of 4-wheel drive into the company's race cars and passenger cars. His efforts at Audi resulted in a string of rally racing victories and DTM competitions that would continue well until today.

The Treser T-1 'Youth Car' style conveys its mid-engined packaging, with minimal front and rear overhangs, and a high shoulder wedge-shaped profile. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)

As quoted of the Rarecomponentcars, shortly after parting ways with Audi, Treser went on to establish his own custom car manufacturing and tuning company in Hofstetten, Germany in 1981. It should also be noted that during the production period, this car manufacturer in addition to making the cars as mentioned above, also produced several other car models. For the first two years, the company dealt with concept cars. It was not until 1987 that Walter's auto company produced his first vehicle under the owned marque, Treser.

The Treser T-1 'Youth Car' interior features door shelves, sporty control panel, high center console with accessible shift lever arrangement. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)

The company is mostly known for making the most expensive Audi ever built. It was a turbocharged Quattro that featured a tuned suspension and a full leather interior. Its output stood at 250 horsepower. Treser built a similar Audi 100 and went further with the Treser-Audi Quattro Roadster. This model debuted at the 1983 IAA in Frankfurt, the Tresser's roadster featured with a powered retractable roof and exaggerated, track-mounted blister fenders that were wider than the standard one.

The Treser T-1 'Youth Car' is powered by a rear-mounted transversely Golf GTi engine to drive its rear wheels. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)

The company also produces various other Audi models with integrated 4WD and higher ground clearance some kind of a trendy "Safari" thing decades earlier called Treser Hunter Type 85. Among the models of this type is the stretched and raised Audi 5000 named Treser Largo.

There's a seat shell for a small trunk behind the two optimal shell seats, called an 'oven bench' in internal jargon, was arranged in such a way that the roof disappeared, snake-like, behind it when opened. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)

Still, Walter Treser's true ambition was to create a car of his own. The idea was to produce an affordable sports car and that's could be a defying project for him. Then he decided to build his dream car as a hardtop roadster featured with a rear-wheel drive, rear-engine that was powered by a Golf GTi engine mounted transversely. He partnered with Hydro Aluminum, a company he tasked with designing an aluminum honeycomb floor-pan for those car.

One of Treser's more famous creations of the 1983, the Treser Roadster based on the Audi Ur-Quattro. (Picture from: Flickr)

Treser designers Gert Schollmann and Hans-Joachim Walitschek began designing the T-1 in 1982. The style conveys its mid-engined packaging, with minimal front and rear overhangs, and a high shoulder wedge-shaped profile. The interior features door shelves, sporty control panel, high center console with accessible shift lever arrangement. 

One of Treser's more famous creations of the 1984 to 1985, the Treser Hunter Type 85 based on the Audi 100. (Picture from: FavCars)

A seat shell for a small trunk behind the two optimal shell seats, called an 'oven bench' in internal jargon, was arranged in such a way that the roof disappeared, snake-like, behind it when opened. As the result the Treser T-1 'Youth Car' has a brief and compact designs The spec called for light weight and an aerodynamic shape, with a fully retractable folding roof. 

One of Treser's more famous creations of the 1986, the Treser Largo based on the Audi 5000. (Picture from: AudiStory)

Initially, Treser intended his car could be considered to be a "Ferrari for young people" featured with interesting but not too expensive technology, and affordable production costs. However what happened next was the opposite, the T-1 sports car development costs had soared through the roof construction also due to the bespoked aluminum floor and uses Volkswagen sourced drivetrain components. As the result, the company only built 20 examples of Treser T-1 'Youth Car.' This unique Treser car debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show 1987 with a black hardtop and a red example with the retractable roof and a beige leather interior.

The car was then enrolled for racing during the DTM season with Tom Kristensen was the test driver behind the wheel. The race was exciting, but not enough to save Walter Treser Automobilbau from bankruptcy. The company became insolvent in 1988.😭 

As quoted of the Audiworld, the Treser brand name made a comeback in the early '90s. This time, they tuned Volkswagen Corrados, Polos, and Golfs. Treser decided to come back to motorsport as well. He was part of the team that developed the 4WD DTM Calibras built by Opel. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PETROLHEADIA | RARECOMPONENTCARS | AUDIWORLD | SECONDWIKI | ROADANDTRACK | 1000SEL ]

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