Balkan Bucket Bonanza

[Bucketeer]

This update is brought to you in association with Viktor's WiFi**. Pob bless you Viktor, whoever you are.

 

**The bar in the nearest village that I used to borrow WiFi from has shut for winter so I was left internetly stranded until earlier this morning whilst at the water spring several miles down the mountain from my house where I discovered some passwordless WiFi, named VIKTOR. I haven't a clue where it's coming from as there are no occupied houses anywhere nearby.

 

On with the dross.

 

A sad looking Beetle with a lazy eye and possibly gout.

 

 

 

Yellow Ladas.

 

 

 

 

I spotted this awesome ZIL a few evenings ago from the train as it was approaching a station. Fueled by excitement, intrigue and possibly a bit of booze I jumped off the train and walked back down the track to find it and get a picture. It was around this point that I realised just what an idiot I am. The train I had got off was the last one of the night and it was several hours walk home. Oh well, (stupid) shit happens.

 

 

 

A Tata Safari. For when mediocre just isn't bad enough.

 

 

 

I spied this Cavalier in the distance on the other side of a stream. Nothing interesting there I thought but my eyes kept getting drawn back to it. Something was amiss but I couldn't put a digit on what. The nagging, niggling back of my mind was telling me it was the wheels. The lazy front of my mind told me to get a grip and ignore it, they were just standard CD alloys. I took this picture and made a mental note to study it more closely if I reached a point where I had absolutely nothing else of any worth to be doing with my life.

 

 

So as soon as I got home I cracked open a bottle of zoom and lo and behold, Volvo 440/460 GLT(?) alloys.

I know, I know, still not very interesting but it pleased my greatly to get one over on myself.

 

 

 

Another Vauxhall on non-standard wheels but this Corsa estate was at least keeping it in the family with Mk1 Astra GTE alloys(?).

 

 

 

Keeping the theme going, an Astra with Mk2 Cavalier LXi wheels(?). I took this picture as much for the statue as the car.

 

 

Check out the legs on them. They look like they were modelled on the mutant offspring of the incredible hulk and Chris Hoy.

 

 

 

Some trucks and other stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of potential recruits for The Moog's small white Japanese hatchback track'n'drag slag racing team.

 

 

 

 

A couple of recent pictures of the area surrounding me, because I accidentally uploaded them to Photobucket along with all the spots and it seems a shame for them to go to waste.

 

 

 

 

And finally, mountain kitteh no.2 during one of her driving lessons.

She's bloody hopeless. Can't double de-clutch or owt.

 

[Supernaut]

I see your autoshite exit is going about as well as some other people's fleet reductions.

 

Top spotting as always Bucket!

[panhard65]

This is one of my favourite threads. That kitten looks a bit evil though, I don't think I would risk a ride home on a dark night if it was driving. For some daft reason I keep thinking what a good idea it would be to take a road trip round the Balkans, something like a banger rally without all the twats.

[Spottedlaurel]

Excellent devotion to the spotting cause. I've gone on an unnecessarily long jog to get photos before, but never had to endure a 2-hour walk.

[The Moog]

I can't work out whether I love or hate that corsa on gte wheels.

[Skizzer]

One of my favourite threads too - hooray for Viktor's wifi

[Jerzy Woking]

Was there a few weeks ago, only on a motorbike. Rode through each of the Balkans countries, revising some I had been to before, and going to some for the first time (Macedonia and Kosovo). Liked them all for different reasons, and each seem to retain their own identity, despite the current political position. The people in Kosovo are extremely friendly towards us Brit - filling up at a petrol station outside of Prizren, a bloke came over to us with two bottles of beer, and handing them to us said "These are from the people of Kosovo - welcome to our country". Nice.

 

Didn't get many photos, but an amazing range of cars, and an amazingly high number of Mk II Golf's still around. In some places we went to, we estimated that around 70% of the cars coming in the opposite direction were Mk II's,  and around 90% of those were white.  

[Bucketeer]

That kitten looks a bit evil though, I don't think I would risk a ride home on a dark night if it was driving. For some daft reason I keep thinking what a good idea it would be to take a road trip round the Balkans, something like a banger rally without all the twats.

 

That doesn't sound like a daft idea at all, I could even provide some local twats to replace the banger rally twats.

Also, that wasn't an evil kitty. This is an evil kitty.

 

 

 

Whilst I'm here in the big smoke enjoying a bit of wifi I may as well dump a few mediocre spots from earlier today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does this look like it's bent in the middle/about to snap in half?

 

 

 

 

I've taken up a new pastime of exploring the many abandoned/falling down houses in the mountains near me, looking for treasure and trying not to die.

I've only found one treasure so far, in this place.

 

 

 

 

The treasure was this 1989 calendar featuring a race in the border town of Ruse. Genuinely worth risking life and limb for (to me).

 

 

 

I may as well finish this post in traditional non-motoring/non-interesting fashion.

Have a picture of a bottle of Viki's bleach I bought the other day.

 

[doubleyeller]

Got hugely excited when,from a distance, I thought this was a Fuego.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep, I did exactly the same in the Ukraine, except I thought it was a Dacia 3000 (The Romanian Renault 20) - in fact thet car is based on the Renault 20, but has lost of different parts from the Renault parts bin added, so they're about as similar as a Lada Riva is to the Fiat 124! I think it's called a Moskvitch Aleko.

[Asimo]

That slightly surprised looking forward control pickup is just so much more desirable than the Opel.

Even if the Opel wasn't bent - presumably by towing and / or rust.

[Tayne]

On 24/11/2016 at 12:08, doubleyeller said:

Yep, I did exactly the same in the Ukraine, except I thought it was a Dacia 3000 (The Romanian Renault 20) - in fact thet car is based on the Renault 20, but has lost of different parts from the Renault parts bin added, so they're about as similar as a Lada Riva is to the Fiat 124! I think it's called a Moskvitch Aleko.

 

[Bucketeer]

Asimo - that's a UAZ 452 pick up. The van version is a dream vehicle of mine. Unfortunately (for me) they go on forever and thus command big bucks. Same for the ace UAZ 469 off roaders, which I believe give Tayne's fancy a right old tickling.

 

The Aleko is also great and they can be had for peanuts. Unfortunately I can't even stretch to peanuts.

 

I should get back to naming all my spots but I never think it's necessary as the motoring knowledge levels on here are generally stratospheric.

[Six-cylinder]

Asimo -

I should get back to naming all my spots but I never think it's necessary as the motoring knowledge levels on here are generally stratospheric.

Not the stuff you get to spot!

[Jon]

I'm loving that fading orange field-based 80's(?) forward control pickup from a couple of posts back but I'm not sure why I hadn't commented on it before. Excellent cat litter and bleach updates too - over here it's boring old Whiskas and something like Toilet Duck, with nary a pissed of cat or attractive lady to be seen in the packaging.

 

Don't they still make those UAZ commercials?

[Tayne]

On 24/11/2016 at 15:12, Six-cylinder said:

Not the stuff you get to spot!

 

 

[Split_Pin]

 

Don't they still make those UAZ commercials?

Yep and a chap I follow on YouTube with the name MegaRetr has a review in English and Russian of a brand new 2016 example.

[The Moog]

That would make a brilliant base for a camper. How much are they new?

[andy18s]

Delivery service available....

Ahem lol

[Bucketeer]

I'm loving that fading orange field-based 80's(?) forward control pickup from a couple of posts back but I'm not sure why I hadn't commented on it before. Excellent cat litter and bleach updates too - over here it's boring old Whiskas and something like Toilet Duck, with nary a pissed of cat or attractive lady to be seen in the packaging.

 

Well done Jon, you managed to highlight the one vehicle I hadn't captioned/named because I didn't have a clue what it was.

I posted Viki's bleach as it shows the old-fashioned nature of much of the advertising and labeling of products over here. I don't necessarily agree with using bonny lasses in such a manner but I do like that it adds to the feeling of being stuck in the '70s or summat.

Like this packet of cig filters/Barbie tampons.

 

 

Also, cop a load of this forward control doofer that I'm not naming for similar reasons to the orange one.

 

 

 

Anyway, on with the spots and rubbish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Improbably this isn't the first AC/DC liveried Espace I've seen recently.

 

 

 

I don't recall this shape of Corolla being sold in Britain in 5 door form but I'm probs just being severely recall deficient.

 

 

 

A few spots I hoovered up on the walk to get the train, bus, coach, tram and plane to the UK the other day.

 

I was well jel of this Discovery's knobblies. If I had them on the Pajero I might actually be able to get back home after going to the shops instead of having to dump it halfway up the mountain.

 

 

 

 

I'm not exactly sure what happened with this photo, I think I exhaled at the wrong time (it was about -15C).

 

 

 

The first Polski Fiat I've spotted.

 

 

 

My essential travel supplies.

 

 

 

And finally a few dull pics of my recent motoring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally finally, a wonky pole.

 

 

 

Oh and finally finally finally, if anybody is passing by this way this is where I am. Please call in for a brew. If I'm not about speak to the cat in the bottom right of shot, she'll get the kettle on.

 

[Junkman]

 

It's an Austrian Reform Muli 50.

[Junkman]

Three cylinder Perkins FTW.

PHAKT is, you would reach your house with it, no matter what.

[Ghosty]

I don't recall this shape of Corolla being sold in Britain in 5 door form but I'm probs just being severely recall deficient.

 

You are indeed, we got those. And an estate too!

You seldom see them these days, and they're seemingly only ever silver or purple for some reason.

[Bucketeer]

You are indeed, we got those. And an estate too!

You seldom see them these days, and they're seemingly only ever silver or purple for some reason.

Thanks Maxwell. I get confused now with what was available in the UK and what wasn't. I've been abroad too long seeing Corsa estates and Clio saloons and suchlike.

 

 

 

It's an Austrian Reform Muli 50.

As always Junkman, you are ace.

 

Three cylinder Perkins FTW.

PHAKT is, you would reach your house with it, no matter what.

I probably would get up the mountain in it. Very slowly.

I also found out it has portal axles and subsequently found out what portal axles are.

[chaseracer]

I was aware the new 469 had ended up clad in plastic trinkets to look like some sort of Russian Mitsubishi Wanker but had no idea you could still buy a brand spanking new bobby-basic Bukhanka.

 

 

WANT LEVEL: CRITICAL

 

DAIRY TRANSPORT COLLISION IS IMMINENT

[hairnet]

^^ warren clarke shoulda drove in firefox

 

ps how much new please??

 

alex ya daftie

[Junkman]

 

It's an Austrian Reform Muli 50.

 

As always Junkman, you are ace.

 

No, Austrian.

 

[hairnet]

No, Austrian.

 

better than cumbrian

[KruJoe]

You seldom see them these days, and they're seemingly only ever silver or purple for some reason.

 

 

Judging by the examples I've witnessed trundling around sunny* Bratfud, they're rarely any one single colour.

[andy18s]

Whereabouts are you BT?

I'm near Polski Trambesh but run into VT quite often....

And is the 4x4 for sale? Lol

[Bucketeer]

^^^ I'm about an hour south of VT Andy. The nearest village is Plachkovtsi but I'm sort of between there and Buzludzha, up a mountain, just me and the bears.

 

 

I've not much to update at the moment due to being snowed/frozen in for the last two months but that's never stopped me before so on with the show/snow.

 

The beginning of Jan and the track up to my place looked like this.

 

 

From the same time, here's some lanky northern dick sporting a shit winter beard and brand new gloves which I didn't take off for a month. Partly because -20C and partly because with gloves it's always important to keep your hand in.

[Tumbleweed]

 

 

 

Right, anyway, spots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To ease the tedium of this post, here's a snowy car identification challenge.

Answer further on.

 

 

 

I was unable to move the Pajero until a couple of days ago due to the snow. That's about three months it was stuck up the mountain unable to move.

 

 

 

Also, my road was ploughed but only up to about 4 miles away, where they just stopped and left me this lovely obstacle to further preclude escape.

 

 

 

I was pretty disappointed not to be able to get out on the roads and live my Yooha Cancanun fantasies. This was the main road in the area, snow over ice, would've been great fun.

 

 

 

Some village pappage, from various occasions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This L300 looked mint buried under snow.

 

 

Then I saw it again the other day and noticed all the quality structural duct tape.

 

 

 

Not got the snowy car ID challenge yet? Here's a more revealing shot.

 

 

 

A couple of today spots.

 

 

 

 

 

I also spent much time in this position today.

 

 

 

Further down the valley gets no sun and the snow is still thigh high. Unfortunately the stupid Mitsubishi used it's stupid big rear bumper as a snow plough and snapped stuff. The bastard.

 

 

 

 

 

Got the ID challenge yet? It was some sort of Golf thing. Wasn't that fun.

 

I saw this misspelling on a bus t'other day.

 

 

 

There was some more stuff to come but either AS or Photobucket or Viktor's Wi-Fi is being a twat, so I give up.

I'm bored of sitting in the back of the Pajero, under a duvet, stealing Wi-Fi and fighting Photobucket. I know even by my low standards this is a poor post. Soz.