| Dacia 500 Lăstun | |
| Manufacturer: | Tehnometal Plant (Dacia) |
| Production: | 1988–1991 |
| Assembly: | Timișoara, Romania |
| Class: | City car (A) |
| Body Style: | 3-door hatchback |
| Layout: | FF layout |
| Engine: | 0.5 L I2 |
| Transmission: | 4-speed manual |
| Wheelbase: | 1915NaN |
| Length: | 2950NaN |
| Width: | 1410NaN |
| Height: | 1352NaN |
| Weight: | 5900NaN0 |
The Dacia 500 Lăstun (in Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan pronounced as /ləsˈtun/) was a small city car manufactured by Tehnometal, Timișoara, under the auto marque Dacia. The name derives from the Romanian for house martin, a small bird related to swallows.
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 22.5PS, fuel consumption of 3.3L/100 km, a maximum speed 1060NaN0[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 9L/100 km, making the car less economical than the long running Dacia 1300 series.
Tehnometal manufactured a total of 6,532 vehicles.[3]