Balkan Bucket Bonanza

[jonny69]

Good one looks good. Bad one looks like a Ford Pop-based special gone a bit wrong.

[Bucketeer]

A few more UK spots to pass the time.

 

Today I've decided to go big, early.

It doesn't get much bigger than this beige DS.

 

 

Moving vehicle + full zoom = crap Lancia fotoskillz

 

 

This guy appears to be a proper Volvo nutcase.

This was outside the house.

 

Three 240's hidden in the garden.

 

And the next evening I went past, another 240 and a 740 outside.

 

 

BX GTi + Xantia = fleet of win.

 

 

Coincidentally parked outside of Weldplan Ltd.

 

 

Triumverate of Triumphs. Photo style is an homage to Ebay sellers and not just me being shit. Honest.

 

 

I had forgotten how bloody handsome these are.

 

 

Karmann Avago.

 

 

Unscene scene Caddy.

I wonder how long a vehicle has to be dormant before grass starts growing up around the wheels, through tarmac.

 

 

Sweet.

 

 

Dull.

 

Normal (international spotting) service will resume in exactly 11 weeks from now.

My crappy UK spots will have to fill the void 'til then.

 

 

I really want some old Eastern Block chod - pre 1990, Moskvitch, warty or a trabi would be spot on...

going for daft money over here at the moment

 

You're right, they are annoyingly going for daft money, and I don't know why. Prices tripled overnight ffs.

 

I have noticed that even some of the Eastern Bloc chod for sale in Bulgaria is now getting lumbered with OSC (old school commie) tax. Not too many Bulgarians have cottoned on to it yet but the disparity in prices is vast. Very similar Trabies can vary in price from £200 to £2000.

[hairnet]

i did a spot of a proton last week and he had a auto renault 5 in the driveway

 

i delivered post to him today and he has a maroon ds parked in front of the cinq

 

OMG!!!1111!!onn1!!!!!!1

[Bucketeer]

When I spotted the beige DS, my first thoughts were of how lucky the owners were to be able to walk out of their front door every morning and see that beauty on the drive.

Upon reflection, maybe all they see when they leave the house is a big beige bitter reminder of the luxury lifestyle they could have had if they hadn't sunk all their money into keeping/making an old Citroen roadworthy.

[Shep Shepherd]

One day, I aspire to have a Volvo garden of my very own

[KruJoe]

Hey, these UK spots are quite special. I can tell you've had to be rather bold to pap some of them. 'Like'

I particularly enjoyed the Weldplan combo-spot.

 

 

Grim grim grim!

[Ratdat]

Those Mitsubishis are great lookers. It seems odd that there are still a few of them floating around but there seem to be none of the Galants the same shape left. You'd have thought they would have sold far more Galants than Sapporos.

[Bucketeer]

One day, I aspire to have a Volvo garden of my very own

That would definitely be LIVING THE DREAM.

Incidentally, I once had a 360 that came with its own pond in the boot, numerous species of lichen and an occasional fountain under the bonnet.

 

 

Those Mitsubishis are great lookers. It seems odd that there are still a few of them floating around but there seem to be none of the Galants the same shape left. You'd have thought they would have sold far more Galants than Sapporos.

I seem to remember seeing more Sapporos than 'regular' Mitsubishis even as a teenager when they were nearly new.

Could just have been the '80s Huddersfield glitterati all shopping from the more glamorous section of the Mitsubishi catalogue.

Many people forget that in the 1980's Huddersfield was known as 'Monaco with Whippets'.**

 

 

I can tell you've had to be rather bold to pap some of them.

Funny you should say that. I got questionned by the police on Monday evening on a spotting related matter.

 

 

 

 

 

** It wasn't.

[KruJoe]

LOLz!

Have charges been pressed?

[Junkman]

When exactly did it become illegal in the UK to photograph Autoshite?

[Bucketeer]

I didn't even take a photo.
No charges were made. I AM A FREE MAN.

I was out on one of my regular strolls looking for countryside footpaths to explore. Whilst walking down a main road I caught a glimpse of some possible classic chod through some trees and manoeuvred myself to the end of a track leading to three houses set back off the road behind the tree cover, to get a better look. I was still on the pavement as I was doing this and once I established that the potential shite was of no interest, I went on my way.
Five minutes later a horrible blue GT Continental pulled up alongside me and the driver asked why I had been trespassing down his drive. I explained that I hadn't trespassed and was just looking for footpaths, which was almost entirely true. He proceeded to repeat his question several more times in an ever more increasingly arrogant and arsey manner and then said he would phone the police to come and check me out.
I am constantly striving to be a better person, and as such I just smiled and said that he was welcome to call the police but I was going to continue my walk as I had done nothing wrong.
I carried on walking and he followed me in his Bentley for the next twenty or thirty minutes, constantly pulling into the side of the road just behind me or moving just ahead and waiting.
At this point, old grumpy me was fighting to break out and replace new gentle happy me. I fought the urges and dismissed all the great ideas I had to really antagonise him and just kept on walking until two police cars showed up.
The officers questioned me for a while and checked all my details before conceding that I had DONE NOWT WRONG and let me on my way.
Matey in the Bentley was parked 20 yards down the road grinning like a Chesire cat but I still resisted the urge to exact glorious revenge on him.

The worst part was, the potential chod I caught a glimpse of and that led to all this ballache was a bloody Figaro!

 

 

Jesus, reading that back I don't think there's any way I could have made that sound any more dull. SOZ.

[Bucketeer]

I've recently starting working on the bins to swell the coffers before heading off again.

This has presented the perfect opportunity for chod spotting and many photos of the reflection of a hi-viz jacket in the window of a bin wagon imposed on a blurry image of a shit car.

 

 

Slowly becoming lawn.

 

 

 

Slowly becoming hedge.

 

 

 

All four of the Porsches could fit inside this old yank goliath (whatever it is).

 

 

 

 

 

 

A diamond in the rough.

With bonus HOT BIN WAGON ASS.

 

 

 

All the covers seem to be coming off for the summer now, which is good news.

This Minor looks like it's been used to keep some wooden flooring dry whilst they build a ramp to jump over it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A week on Wednesday is the next time I'm passing by here again, for a better shot and a gawp.

 

 

 

The house behind the DS has a windmill attached.

 

 

 

A DS and a windmill.

This sign just up the road sums it up.

 

 

 

Tiny.

 

 

 

We do the bins in some real posh neighbourhoods. This isn't one of them but it looks like someone is trying to live like royalty.

 

 

 

Begging for some love and attention.

 

 

 

Not appalling late '70s 350SL.

 

 

 

Looooong time since I've seen a 480.

[Junkman]

All four of the Porsches could fit inside this old yank goliath (whatever it is).

 

I think it's the antidote to a yank in form of a decidedly Soviet GAZ Volga M-21.

[scooters]

That would definitely be LIVING THE DREAM.

Incidentally, I once had a 360 that came with its own pond in the boot, numerous species of lichen and an occasional fountain under the bonnet.

 

 

I seem to remember seeing more Sapporos than 'regular' Mitsubishis even as a teenager when they were nearly new.

Could just have been the '80s Huddersfield glitterati all shopping from the more glamorous section of the Mitsubishi catalogue.

Many people forget that in the 1980's Huddersfield was known as 'Monaco with Whippets'.**

 

 

Funny you should say that. I got questionned by the police on Monday evening on a spotting related matter.

 

 

 

 

 

** It wasn't.

I appear to be breeding Volvos just now and I'm not sure why...

 

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[Split_Pin]

That little Mini Van is ace. I recall a time when every self respecting budding trader had one of these. Even PETE BEALE from Eastenders had one which he often blamed for his AWOL'ness. "THE VAN BROWKE DAHN!".

 

Bentley driver seemed like a curtain twitching twunt. Fair play for not antagonizing him further, I'd have struggled there. He's not included in your bin route perchance? If so there lies an inexhaustible source of KARMA for you to serve up to him in inventive ways.

[KruJoe]

OMFG Bucketboy, what have you done?!
 

I'd forgotten all about those Lancer fastbacks... floating rooflines too... wibble.
Phit as phuq.

 

*Heads off for sneaky ebay search*

[Squire_Dawson]

Grade A*

[Bucketeer]

I think it's the antidote to a yank in form of a decidedly Soviet GAZ Volga M-21.

Thankyou, of course it is. I'd talked myself out of that as I generally don't believe what I say to me.

 

I appear to be breeding Volvos just now and I'm not sure why...

I love the image.

Little new-borns Volvos frolicking in the meadow. A grizzled old brown 960 bull estate in a adjoining field, making advances towards a pretty little 480, preparing to produce the ultimate breed, a BFO Volvo estate with pop-up headlights.

 

 

That little Mini Van is ace.

It was teeny tiny. It just looked like a toy. I don't know how I ever managed to drive a Mini in the past. I'd need to dislocate various parts of my body to fit in that.

 

 

OMFG Bucketboy, what have you done?!

I'd forgotten all about those Lancer fastbacks

Joe, sorry for any future wallet lightening you may experience from my brazen flaunting of picures of old Japanalia.

I know what you mean about the car though, I never gave them a second glance when they were quite common many years ago but that one stirred up some carnal longing.

 

 

Two shots from yesterday to throw on the pile.

 

 

 

[Squire_Dawson]

That 3-wheeler on axle-stands has to be in with a good chance for the Calendar!

[Bucketeer]

The three wheeler has apparently been like that for a couple of months, on a busy road.

 

Today has been a productive day on the bins. Well, in regard to chod spotting anyway, which is the priority OBV.

Apologies for the dark early morning shots but it was early in the morning. And dark.

 

 

Smooth Sovereign

 

 

 

This is a huge swanky house, kudos to the owners and their FLEET OF WIN.

 

 

 

This was taken with full zoom whilst balancing on top of a 6 foot high gate. They look to be hiding away some prime Americhod down there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7am, still a bit bleary eyed and sleepy, did a big old comedy double-take when passing this purple Zephyr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This photo has THE LOT. Puzzled owner in background, thumb in corner, an Anglia on axle stand/pallet combo and some bins.

[Bucketeer]

I've been trawling through the large school of photos taken from the last couple of years and I've found some sprats that should probably be thrown back but instead I'll leave them here to decay.

 

In the early part of my travels, I was passing through Munich and really wanted to visit the BMW Museum. I only had one reason for this - to see an E28 M5 in the flesh. Most other BMW's and certainly all newer ones do absolutely nothing for me, but ever since reading the review of the then new E28 M5 in Motorsport magazine as a young lad I have had BIG HORN for them. I think it was the first time I'd come across the term 'Q car' and the phrase 'wolf in sheep's clothing', and along with the Thema 8.32 (Autocar) and the Maserati Karif (Car) I had found an outlet for my unspent youthful lust.

 

Anyway, I did visit the museum and here follows about half of the snaps I took whilst there (the other half are unfortunately on a memory card that I believe is floating about somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea).

Some most all of the photos are of a poor quality and a bit shite-light but (picture a shoulder shrugging, couldn't care less emoticon here).

 

 

BMW Welt on the left, Bmw Museum to the right (the silver cereal bowl) and BMW Headquarters behind.

 

 

Headquarters and museum again. For something built around 1970 the 'four cylinder' headquarters building is pretty impressive.

 

 

BMW Welt was ignored as it was just a glorified showroom for the current model range and therefore as appealing as pubic lice.

 

 

R32 motorbike, late 1920's and the first 'bike to wear a BMW badge. It's at this point that I should mention that the facts I am providing are only possibly correct. It was longer ago than yesterday and Munich sells some very nice beer, so I may have forgotten most things.

 

 

The old F1 cars were a lot smaller than I expected. I could've almost worn this one as a shoe.

 

 

More motorbikery, with added sidecarliness.  Soooo low to the ground, this one. Balls of plutonium to passenger it.

 

 

Gorgeous 1930's nine cylinder 27litre 132 aeroengine.

 

 

The Touring Car Room. I spent far too long and left far too much drool in here.

Even now, the cars still smelled of petrol and sweaty racesuit. Sensual overload.

 

 

 

 

 

The 'M' room. And the oft fantasised about E28.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The biggest surprise of the day by far was the 507. Quite possibly the most beautiful car I have ever stood beside.

Unfortunately the pictures of this and many others are on the lost scuba diving memory card, so have one I borrowed from the internet.

 

That's about it.

All in all, the museum was a lot better than expected and WOOD REKORMEND.

[Bucketeer]

Holy beetroot cow!

That interior really is something else. The steering wheel and dash do however slightly bring to mind a Humbrol/nail varnish colour coding spree more likely seen inside a 1.1 Saxo with 20 foot wheels and most of the country's fibreglass production affixed to every exterior panel.

And £26,500 is A LOT. Mind you, I don't really know what prices they command nowadays. I forced myself to stop looking years ago when I realised I would forever be too poor to have one.

 

Thanks for the video link too. That M5 looks mega, the more 'used' appearance of it does everything for me.

Bar the driving and ownership experience, he pretty much sums up exactly how I felt/feel about them.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I sometimes think Chris Harris could be one of us , his fleet includes quite a lot of old chod.

But then you read that he's towing his 205 XS with his Ferrari FF to Paris to have the dampers hand built by Jean Todt or something and I realise why he's not

[Bucketeer]

A 205 towing a Ferrari would be a lot more AS.

 

Just three more old photos and then I promise no more until France in ten days time.

 

 

I thought this sign from N.Cyprus would be appropriate for here - borky/borkey developments.

 

 

Early on in my first winter in Bulgaria. I was sat on a bench near the river having a little nip of Mastika (think Ouzo but stronger and nicer) to warm up when this scene unfolded in front of me. Bulgarian people are brilliantly stubborn and nothing will stop them going where they want to go. Snow and ice on the road? Use the river of course. More mega zoom phone camera shonkiness unfortunately.

 

 

[Bucketeer]

Straight after SF14 it was time to recommence traveling. I'm sure all the angles of all the cars from Wales have already been posted by others so I'm going to skip that.

I was very kindly transported out of Wales by the estimable KruJoe in his Rover of delight.

 

A prestigious British sports car, parked next to an Aston Martin.

 

 

Having very cleverly missed the Eurostar, I booked a ticket aboard the Megabus. I was very fortunate and a new bus had just been added for the day I wanted to leave, and before the price rose to five and then twenty pounds I managed to get my ticket (London Victoria to Paris Porte Maillot) for ONE POUND, plus 50p booking fee. Triple megabarg!

 

J'arrive a Paris.

 

 

Most of my brief stay in Paris was spent with a very agreeable English lady who I met on the coach, so I didn't get much spotting done. The first motoring sight of any note was this sweet little 500 puttering across the Seine.

 

 

Further down the river I saw this Amphicar on the back of a barge. Unfortunately I couldn't get any closer for a better (or lower) shot.

 

 

 

Near St.Lazare train station was this display of 2CV's, apparently for transporting tourists around the city.

I can't recall who it was that quite recently posted about their tour of Budapest in a Trabant, but I think this is a similar concept.

 

 

It looked very popular.

 

 

Whilst in Paris I arranged to stay at a chateau in Normandy for a few weeks. Free food and lodgings in exchange for a bit of gardening and general maintenance work. I spotted some reasonable chod rustique on the walk to Normandy but had nothing charged with enough electricity to take pictures. Soz.

I eventually arrived at the chateau last night. After a fantastic night's sleep, I was awoken this morning by the sound of a Willys Jeep trying to start and upon inspection I saw these two outside.

 

 

There were a few Americans and Brits staying in B+B rooms in the chateau. They had come for the D-Day commemorations as we are just a few miles from Omaha beach and and many of the landing points. I had been told nothing about any commemorative plans in the town, so I went for a stroll down to the sea-front this morning to see if there was anything else of interest.

As it turned out, there was a huge gathering/display/parade/celebration and here is what I saw. There are quite a number of photos so I will split this post up into three(ish) sections.

First up is the militaria spread along the main road through town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2 is coming just as soon as I've fed the chickens, and in the immortal words of BTO you aint seen nothing yet.

There is also some non-military stuff too, for variety.

[Bucketeer]

La deuxieme portion.

 

Onwards to the beach, and things just got busier and busier. All of the owners/drivers and passengers of the vehicles were dressed in appropriate WW2 wear, as were a number of the crowd.

 

 

There were numerous formation plane fly-bys but it's impossible (for me) to take a decent photo of aircraft in flight.

 

 

Due to the large numbers of people coupled with limited space on the seafront, the photos aren't terrific but I tried my best.

 

 

 

A few people were having mechanical maladies. Ou est la A-frame?

 

 

Most of the vehicles were sporting plaques from previous events they had been involved with.

 

 

C'est une magnifique Dodge, non?

 

 

 

The big guns were out in force.

 

 

I presume this was a prison-type truck for transporting POW's, or maybe deserters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many people were really getting into their roles.

 

 

Down a side alley was this beautiful 404, driven here all the way from Switzerland.

 

 

Even more come shortly.

[KruJoe]

Cracking stuff Alex!

[Bucketeer]

Merci Joe.

Onwards avec la troisieme portion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it would have been to operate this from the exposed rear of a jeep whilst under fire.

 

 

 

Would something like this really have been used during WW2?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I discovered that the sure-firest way of getting many, many strange looks is to photograph an old Volvo whilst a hundred military vehicles are parading behind you.

The roof must be aftermarket?

 

 

 

In the background is a peace statue donated to France by China, who are obviously famed for their peace efforts. Apparently it was originally destined for Paris but they rejected it as they have a relatively large Tibetan community.

 

That's it, done.

[Lankytim]

That Volvo is a half assed Ambulance conversion IIRC.

[KruJoe]

Fantastique!

 

 

I reckon this might be described as "bitchin'"...

 

 

But WTF is it?

 

 

Also:

 

Would something like this really have been used during WW2?

 

Yeah, I think devices like this were parachuted in with/near forces dropped behind enemy lines. I'm certainly no expert though!