T3 or Trabant?

[johnski@it.com.pl (John M. Kowalski)]

Does anyone know which came first:  the VW Type 3 or the Trabant?  The
Trabants look scarily similar to the T3 Notchbacks.  And the Trabant 601
Combis look like the VW Variants.  When we were at a Bug Rally up in
northern Poland, some kid, while pointing at our '65 Variant, said to his
father "Look Daddy, even old Trabants are coming to this rally!"  We thought
it was funny at the time, but ever since then I find myself staring at our
Variant wondering why it does look like a larger version of the trusty ol'
Trabbie 601.

Any clues as to production dates?

Thanks,

John