Cyprus spots, and further afield

[eddyramrod]

I'm in old-car paradise here, they survive so much better in the sun. Yeah ok, the paint blisters and the upholstery disintegrates, but you want to see how much rust I don't have to deal with!

 

So, this thread is for me to show you any old cars I happen to find, mostly in Cyprus, but there will be some from elsewhere too.

 

So let's begin with one elsewhere! This is a 1978 Mercury Cougar, spotted for sale in Fresno, California in March. I'm in love.

 

I can see this Land-Rover from my front porch, and I have never seen it move in the 16 months I've been in this house. Ripe, isn't it?

I saw this parked up at the Sunday flea market near Limassol. I have a bit of a thing for old estate cars and vans, I believe they should be preserved. They work hard for 10 or 20 years and then just get flung. Humans? Bloody ingrates...

Finally in this set, a most-unexpected Cadillac Seville. It's been sitting in the same place at least two years now, surrounded by other scrappers.

[eddyramrod]

Here's a section we could call "Travels with my Capri" as it appears in each shot!

 

Let's start with a twin! Mine's the one with the black number plates... I actually pulled into this car park in Limassol to photograph some ships, and only saw the flash of red when I got back in the car. It's two miles from where I bought my Capri, and abpout three months after the event. Until then I thought I had the only Mk1 on the road in Cyprus, now I know it's just the only Mk1 on the road in Paphos.

This X1/9 belongs to my friend Costas (we're outside his office here). He has quite a collection, of which you will be seeing more, don't worry!

Could be 1972, couldn't it? I've been waiting for a chance to nab this Manta, and one Sunday morning I found it in this car park in Paphos, with an empty space beside it. I just had to, didn't I?

James Bond Alfa! The owner is a Greek Cypriot who was delighted to see a Capri park in front of him. We had a moment of mutual admiration.

Random Minor van. Again, I was just out on a Sunday morning and there it was. I've seen it since on the road, so I know it works.

And if you have a Minor you have to have a Beetle, don't you? I just happened to park by this one while I went to a bathroom shop nearby. In the driveway of the house behind us, there's a Series 1 Landy...

And to finish off, Capri meets two sisters! The maroon one would have once been the same colour as the 1967 1500 Super that was my Dad's last new car; the brown one is a 1600E on UK plates.

 

There will be more, I use the Capri all the time and take my camera with me too.

[eddyramrod]

Some random assorted shite now...

Triumph 2000 is advertising a local restaurant across the road. This is at the Paphos seafront strip, my back is to the Med here.

One for Douglas Adams here! This Prefect sits in a used-car lot near the motorway. Also near a large supermarket and McDonalds, so plenty of passing traffic!

Two tons of shite! 1963 Chevrolet Impala is in Limassol, visible from the motorway... when it's in. Yes, a big old beastie like this is in regular use! Well done that man!

From an Impala to a Mini... which was restored last year by the local garage I use. Old cars seem to be popular with teachers here, for some reason, I know several who drive something old. One has a 1946 Humber Hawk, and yes, I do have pics...

[trigger]

There's a nice collection of old tat in Cyprus isn't there!, I wonder what the story is behind the UK plate 1600E and how long it's been over there, I sure it's lasted a lot longer over there then if it had still stayed in Britain.

[eddyramrod]

Trust me Trigger, there's a LOT more to come, just from the pics I already have! The 1600E isn't quite as good as it looks, it does have rust issues, but I've heard it running and seen it drive, so I suppose it could be saved. I'll post up more pics... and more... and more... and more...

[michiel]

Excellent thread already, can't wait for more!

[garethj]

Cool pictures, the only question is why you aren't rolling in money after exporting some of this stuff back to the UK?

 

We know that 70s Fords are hitting big money, but how much would a non-rusty Mini be worth too?

 

What's the deal with the abandoned Land Rover? Are the headlights lower than they should be?

 

And, more pics please

[eddyramrod]

Thank you, thank you. Exporting is a paperwork minefield, so you can count me out of that unless I absolutely have to, in which case I'll be bringing the cars I have. Importing is also a paperwork minefield. Either way it's expensive. Buying cars here is evilly expensive too.

 

I think you're right about the Land-Rover. There are lots here with assorted mods, made just to keep a vehicle in use, so this could be one of those stories. I don't even know who owns it, or who I could ask to find out, so I guess it'll just rot where it is. Eventually.

 

And don't worry, you can't escape me now! I can fill this site with pics!

[trigger]

I did say that once you get the hang of posting photos that there be stopping you!

[Split_Pin]

That blue Manta looks factory fresh! Nice spots!

[mk2_craig]

Hey me and Ms_Craig are coming to Cyprus for a week next month, leave us some tat to spot eh!

[Barry Cade]

Yay! More X1/9's please!!

[eddyramrod]

Craig, pm me and we'll arrange to meet if you like, as long as you're in the Paphos area!

[Albert Ross]

Re: Land Rover headlights:-

 

That's a Series 2 or 2a. Incorrect lamp positioning courtesy of strange owner.................. ordinarily, flat windscreen brackets denote a 2 or 2a. This had a plastic grille whice was S3 territory, but the light in wings variants were available from 1968 with a metal grille..... just not like this...... So to recap. This was built prior to 1968 but the owner wanted a later set-up lamps wise. The closely grouped auxiliary lamps are also a civvy giveaway

[eddyramrod]

What it is to have access to someone who knows his stuff. Thank you Albert, excellent notes. The number plate would be correct for early-60s, so 2/2a would be right, of course.

 

Now, shall we have some more?

What's better than Two Jags? Want to go for three? These are all at a garage in Paphos. The two outside now have For Sale signs on them, but having spoken to the owner when I took these pics months ago, my impression is that he knows how to charge. It's reasonable to assume that the indoor one will be available too.

Restoration project. I've actually been offered this 1966 Wolseley 16/60, but with my A40 in bits I just can't take on another one at the moment. Big shame, as they were registered in the same series. The Wolseley is DC 280, my A40 is DC 894. This does need a complete restoration: I don't think there's one outer panel that won't need attention, the interior is all pretty tired and it's anyone's guess how long it is since the 1622 B-series actually ran.

I had a big Christine moment when I saw this! It's an Opel Olympia from about 1959/60, and it's outside the local Opel/Chevrolet dealership. Apparently it was abandoned in all the unpleasantness in 1974, and has recently been exhumed. It's to be restored as a showroom ornament.

Finally in this set: how about a Horizon? If ever there was a "shite" car... This one is sitting at the end of a cul-de-sac in Paphos, near a large supermarket. I'd only driven down to turn round after stopping to photograph a Mercedes... honest, officer!

[FredTransit]

Bump for a real thread.....

[eddyramrod]

Thanks Fred!

 

I did promise to show you some of the cars belonging to my friend Costas; let's see how these few go down. I'm only scratching the surface here!

This is his rally-replica Talbot Sunbeam, running a twin-carb 1600. He's nearly ready for paint, he told me yesterday. Apparently it's been 9 years in the making.

1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 berlina, anyone? I think I might have referred to this in another thread. I rather like it...

These two are his Escort. First pic is how it was dragged out by a bunch of us one day in June, after it had been standing four years at his father's garage. Second pic is less than a week old, and shows the car as it is now. The Mexico engine is strong and beautifully painted; the floor has been welded, by Costas; lowering blocks have been installed at the rear; work is progressing on the front suspension. Again, should be ready for paint very soon.

You could be forgiven for thinking that Costas has a bit of a fetish for white cars, but it's purely coincidence. There are a lot of white cars here and he happens to own a bunch of them. He has plenty in other colours too, don't worry.

[michiel]

Ooh, I love those Opels, got quite a few old pics of them, like this double van shot:

 

[eddyramrod]

And what a stylish van they make! Beats our old A60 van by a long way...

[Torsten2001]

NOTHING beats an A60!

Eddy, if you ever find yourself near Limassol and have a chance to take the coast road west from the city centre there was a very nice Toyopet Tiara parked in a driveway a few years ago, yes, I did say TOYOPET TIARA, it appeared to be a fixture and well loved! I had no camera and it was dark!

[eddyramrod]

That's my usual route into Limassol! I do look out for interesting cars, which makes driving a bit.... exciting! Don't recall that one though, how far out, can you remember? And was it visible from the main road? If I can find it, I'll certainly grab a shot.

[Guest]

Seems a pretty awesome place in terms of tat. Have the border troubles been sorted out now? Have all the abandoned cars been dragged out?

 

There's a really early black Amazon in a scrappy in Cyprus - pictures of it have been posted before. If you see it, please get some more shots of it - particularly the chassis plate, as it's rumoured to be one of the earliest 120s still extant.

[eddyramrod]

Seems a pretty awesome place in terms of tat. Have the border troubles been sorted out now? Have all the abandoned cars been dragged out?

.

Absolutely, absolutely not and absolutely not. One does occasionally hear tales of cars repatriated from the North to the families of their original owners but apparently it's a nightmare. The politicians rumble on, and on, and on...

 

If I do find a black Amazon in a scrappy I'll get whatever pics I can, natch. Meanwhile, here's a nice Amazon in use...

...with a Stag, Zephyr, Minor, Wolseley, Daimler, XK, S1 Landy... Paphos Classic Vehicle Club in action, hosting a show at the beach in April. If you could see far enough across the Med, the next landmass would be Africa. Not sure exactly which bit... Egypt? Libya? Whatever's due south, anyway.

[eddyramrod]

Some more exhibits from Paphos Classic Vehicle Club...

This is a 1946 Humber Hawk, belonging to our club president. His wife has a 1968 Fiat 500...

Who said pandas were an endangered species? Seems even in Cyprus you can't go to a show without meeting one.

Very much makes me regret flogging my 62 before we came, when I could have shipped it... especially as I recently saw a 61 convertible in the same green as mine! Note the Corvette beyond!

Zephyr is a regular at our events. It's the 1703cc Zephyr 4, same as my dad had from new. I nearly bought this one, but settled on the Capri instead.

The club's "other" A40, with an Austin 7. What a beautiful pair... I'm really looking forward to displaying Annie next to this one when she's finished.

 

Now there's a thought... when you're restoring a car, and especially if you're upgrading at the same time... is it ever actually "finished?"

[Gompo]

Nice pics Eddy, very much appreciated.

 

Cheers, Greg.

[eddyramrod]

My pleasure, and loads more to come. In fact, just gathering them is a pleasure...!

[Torsten2001]

That's my usual route into Limassol! I do look out for interesting cars, which makes driving a bit.... exciting! Don't recall that one though, how far out, can you remember? And was it visible from the main road? If I can find it, I'll certainly grab a shot.

From what I can remember it was a couple of miles out of Limassol, on the right, under a car port, looked loved and amazing!

[eddyramrod]

If I can find it, I'll snap it...

[eddyramrod]

I think it's time for some more snaps...

How about a Sherpa? Yes, I know at this age it'll be a Pilot, but it's the same thing, anyway it's only 800 euros.

Travels With My Capri again... Mk1 Escort, into my friendly local garage for a couple of little jobs.

Marina 1.8 returning to nature. In Sandglow, FFS!

[gtd2000]

Cyprus used to be one of my favourite places afer spending 6 months there back in the late 80's.

 

I returned in 2005 and to be quite honest my rose tinted memories were swept out....pity really.

 

I'll look out some of my other old pics but here are some that I can access at work: