The Moog Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 Some of the shite around in Cambodia. Mostly everyone uses Motos but there are some around Tico SR255 by Bibblybubbly, on FlickrSR638 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Nissan MarchSR8545 by Bibblybubbly, on FlickrSR573 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr JeepishSR8e33 by Bibblybubbly, on FlickrSR8553 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Very niceSR2256 by Bibblybubbly, on FlickrSR94346 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Another MercSR15456 by Bibblybubbly, on FlickrSR26445 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Got more if anyone is interested ...
Junkman Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 That fintail Benz looks like a right old cracker. Are those Ford MUTTs US Army Surplus?Why don't they have number plates?Show us more, please!
Spiny Norman Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 Serious horn for that old Merc -MOAR PLZ!
KruJoe Posted February 22, 2013 Posted February 22, 2013 YES! Bring it on!And do tell us more about your travels. Most intrigued
Shep Shepherd Posted February 22, 2013 Posted February 22, 2013 I wonder how that black Merc escaped being seized and scrapped like most private cars were during Pol Pot's rule? Perhaps it was used by a member of the Khmer Rouge?
ChinaTom Posted February 23, 2013 Posted February 23, 2013 I used to see that old merc and its old colonial passenger a lot. He has another one. Despite the 280E badge, it is a diesel. It's alright there isn't it? I don't need to travel to Cambodia any more and I am missing it. I used to leave the plantation amongst "one pair of trousers per village" hopelessness, through Kampong Speu with the Chinese run sweatshops where costs are as low as 1 cent producing 5 T-shirts, then through the city past old Merc's, a few Camry coupes, and some dealer forecourts with Panameras and Maybachs out front, to my hotel that had a second floor corridor ENTIRELY lined with guitars that ended up at a bar where Mojitos are served to you until you fall off your bar-stool. Had a photo of that corridor, but can't find it. Anyway, it's the Nagaworld hotel / casino on HunSen Avenue. Also, if you fet the chance, go down to Sihanoukhville and visit the bar/nightclub run by some Russian cold-war dude that hangs an old Antonov from the ceiling and uses the cockpit as his office. Enjoy it - I'm a bit jealous.
The Moog Posted February 27, 2013 Author Posted February 27, 2013 The Merc is used by one of the hotels I think as the luxury pick up vehicle. It is a different one to yours Tom, as definitely petrol. The Jeeps are odd as they are all auto and not 4x4. Almost bought one but that would be only for the fact that they had an axe attached! Currently living in Siem Reap. Have been since last August working with about 5 different organisations. Packed job in last year and decided to do something different. Here for another 8 weeks then off to Indonesia and then Malaysia to do marine research for 3 months. Then back to Siem Reap for a month and home to UK. Well that is when the money runs out. This Merc had the universal picture of a knob drawn on it ... including the obligatory spunk ... made me chuckle SR2346 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr In Cambodia people with no money have ox, a little money a tractor, more money a moped,SR222 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr lots of money a car (always a Camry.. yawn)SR9425 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr and those at the top a Lexarse.SR1135 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr If you are rich enough you dont even need a licence plateSR326 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr A Cambodia delivery vehicle for plate glass SR312 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Honda Bike ShiteSR2572 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr More to come Mondulkiri
KruJoe Posted February 27, 2013 Posted February 27, 2013 Well done for making that move!Cambo looks just like Thailand, but everything is on the wrong side. Are there lots of OJCs trundling around? If so - do share. Seems 'Oriental Offerings' has some competition! An update is well overdue. Must.Get.Arse.In.Gear. PS, I see no cock and bo11ox, do you have a close-up?
The Moog Posted March 3, 2013 Author Posted March 3, 2013 Nope most of the cars are new Camrys or Lexus (i). Being left hand drive nothing that interesting around here. Couple of shots I have still to get including a Peugeot delivery van which I will try to do. These are from Mondulkiri NE Cambodia Stripped trucks ... dont know why they do this.. MD83648 by Bibblybubbly, on FlickrMD8372 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Proper Ratlook! MD846 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr How this looks so pristine considering the roadsMD231 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Truck MechanicMD83937 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Not sure he does MOT's MD928 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Cambodian BreakersMD911 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Local Driving SchoolMD999 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr
KruJoe Posted March 3, 2013 Posted March 3, 2013 Stripped trucks ... dont know why they do this.. That's some serious ironmongery! I've not seen it done quite like that, but I reckon it's a forestry / timber truck, designed to shrug off falling trees. I've seen tractors in Thailand with a similar frame-work. A cab would only get mullered. Never mind the driver - life is cheap over there.
RedSparrow Posted March 3, 2013 Posted March 3, 2013 Pretty sure that's a yank truck, probably left in the region after the Vietnam war.
Albert Ross Posted March 3, 2013 Posted March 3, 2013 Look closely at the framework, it's an engine driven winch, that runs centrally above the seats, dragging the heavy items up and in. Saves having an extra vehicle (fork lift) to load, when it can be operated by one man, in a rural setting. I am contemplating a similar thing (rear section only) to use inside the Land Rover when collecting engines etc. Also, it offers protection to the vehicle in a roll over situation, and can be righted with minimal damage to the hardware. Note also the wipe-clean seating. Just find another driver.
ChinaTom Posted March 3, 2013 Posted March 3, 2013 It's timber. They are clearing 1,000's of km2 up in Mondul and Ratanakiri for plantations. There is a lot of exotic stuff in there too - teak, ebony, pyinkado, rosewood etc etc that the Chinese buy up for their silly uncomfortable furniture. It's damn good business and this is why the Government there always insist they do the land clearance, not the company who is granted the concession to farm the land. We managed to get nearly half the clearance rights to one of the plantations and the proceeds from the timber paid for the whole factory construction. There is good money spent on haulage due to the narcotics rivalling economies. Some of this stuff is $3,500 / m3 at the boundary. Probably double that at the port. At nearly $50k for an uncomfortable silly sofa for your telecommunications company Everton sponsoring boardroom ante-room, you can afford to buy and modify a nice truck... Sting would be furious...
The Moog Posted March 4, 2013 Author Posted March 4, 2013 Lots of forest clearance up there although technically it is illegal (like that stops anyone here!). What happens instead is that the army actually do the work, working with companies who are surprisingly related to people in the army. Big issue is illegal rubber plantations. Cambodian law states that if you illegally clear someones land then plant a crop on it, they cant evict you until your crop is matured. In the case of rubber trees that can be 15 years! imagine being allowed to do that in the UK. "Errr yeah I cut your grass and put my E Type resto project on there, but no you cant move me until it is finished in err.. 25 years... " One very screwed up country that will only change with a revolution.... sad really..
ChinaTom Posted March 4, 2013 Posted March 4, 2013 Yeah, the army act on behalf of the Government (well, whatever Senator has decided to grant a concession to his wife / mistress). Clearance is not actually illegal providing the concession is in place through the courts, and the area doesn't exceed 10k Ha. I know what you mean about revolution, but there is already one happening - the Chinese! They all but own that country now. Last year I had reason to get close to 2 of these Senators. One of them invited me to come to the see his son take delivery of his new Lamborghini power boat. Bought with some aid money from Beijing. Whackiest thing I ever saw was an application by a Fuzhou based restaurant chain to open an elephant meat restaurant in PP! In the restriction mitigation sectiopn was an admission that it would actually be beef, but the clients who would visit the restaurant on an organized package tour (same company, obviously) would not be told and "would not cause problems". Corruption rocks - you can really do what you want! And we worry about horseburgers... Anyway, seen any Camry coupes yet? Cambodia introduced me to them - I never knew they existed until I got there.
AnthonyG Posted March 4, 2013 Posted March 4, 2013 The Ford MUTT and the ex US Army truck probably survived because they were used by the Khmer Rouge after they took over the country - or they made their way north from Vietnam. You couldn't officially buy military surplus Mutts in the USA as they were deemed to have unsafe handling characteristics - prone to roll over - and most were scrapped when replaced by the Humvee.
The Moog Posted March 5, 2013 Author Posted March 5, 2013 Anyway, seen any Camry coupes yet? Cambodia introduced me to them - I never knew they existed until I got there.Not yet, all saloons. Last of the spots (unlikely to get more as it is wall to wall yawn) Got that Beemer BMW3254 by Bibblybubbly, on FlickrBMW3253 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Cambodian version of "1 Life ..Live it" Mine Clearance by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Nice vanPosh delivery Pug by Bibblybubbly, on FlickrPosh Delivery Pug 2 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Not quite sure what has gone on hereMerc Odd by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Nice oneTwo Tone by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Will cost you $500 if you want these guys to do any workCambodian Fire Brigade by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr Posh hotel vehiclePosh1 by Bibblybubbly, on FlickrPosh2 by Bibblybubbly, on Flickr
michiel Posted March 5, 2013 Posted March 5, 2013 Those old Frenchies (Peugeot & Citroëns) are most fab!
KruJoe Posted April 11, 2013 Posted April 11, 2013 Hey, that W123 Coupe Pickup works far better than it deserves to.It's a useful tool, but in that part of the world I don't know how they've increased its value by doing that to it. Your pics make me miss Thailand. My folks just came back from Thai, Cambo and 'Nam. Hopefully they have some spottings for me to share...
skattrd Posted April 11, 2013 Posted April 11, 2013 Nice pics sir. I'm liking that Merc pick-up as well.
JohnDeere Posted April 13, 2013 Posted April 13, 2013 The ubiquitous Camrys (tourist taxis) and Lexii (posh folks) are all US used imports. Speedos in mph and some with dealer stickers etc. When I was there I wondered just how many of them were nicked from some picket fenced suburban driveways before washing up in the east. One driver tried to impress me by asking me to guess where his motor was made, and a bit disappointed when I correctly answered 'Canada' (Ontario being the new Detroit these days of course). Another Camry broke down about 5 miles from our destination when it wouldn't shift beyond first. Speedo stopped reading at the same time, so presumably the 'box lost its speed sensor input - common fault on these apparently and no doubt fixed later in a roadside shack by the local Toyota fixer. Still, they notch up intergalactic mileages without the benefit of much infrastructure.
The Moog Posted July 26, 2013 Author Posted July 26, 2013 Few more Seen leaving a temple just as we got there. .
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