Event Bulgaria Fest - Task complete

[barrett]

Right, I can't join in on this trip but I would very much like a cheap two-stroke Wartburg. Is anyone considering going but not actually fussed about bringing something back and would like to find, buy and drive back an old smoker on my behalf? I'd obviously pay for the car and cost of bringing it back. I haven't really thought this through at all tbh but would anyone be interested in having this sort of conversation?

Maybe it would be easier if somebody just bought one and then sold it to me when they got back here? I'd want a 70s-mid '80s saloon or estate, in a suitably period colour, with column shift (the floor change is really horrid) that isn't about to disintegrate.

 

Is thus feasible?

[dollywobbler]

Right, I can't join in on this trip but I would very much like a cheap two-stroke Wartburg. Is anyone considering going but not actually fussed about bringing something back and would like to find, buy and drive back an old smoker on my behalf? I'd obviously pay for the car and cost of bringing it back. I haven't really thought this through at all tbh but would anyone be interested in having this sort of conversation?

Maybe it would be easier if somebody just bought one and then sold it to me when they got back here? I'd want a 70s-mid '80s saloon or estate, in a suitably period colour, with column shift (the floor change is really horrid) that isn't about to disintegrate.

 

Is thus feasible?

 

Well, much as I'd like to keep whatever I bring back, I'm still me, so it'll be for sale when I get here. A Trabbie or a Warty are toppermost on my list. I've only driven Wartburgs with the floor change, so the column does appeal. Someone posted a horrible green Tourist that was right up my street.

[barrett]

A green Tourist would suit me perfectly.

 

 

I'd be wary of a Trabby only because I've seen how badly they rot, and how well they hide it. Wartburgs seem to be much hardier, not to mention much nicer to drive. I assume the column shift is, like everything else, related to the DKW and therefore lovely and precise, which is the opposite of the floor change

[catsinthewelder]

There was me having ideas of buying a Trabant because the bodies don't rot.

[dollywobbler]

There was me having ideas of buying a Trabant because the bodies don't rot.

 

The bodies don't, but they're a bit like a P6. There's an underframe that seriously can.

[The Moog]

So basically we need to find 6 Wartburg's ...

[dollywobbler]

So basically we need to find 6 Wartburg's ...

 

BULGARIAN WARTFEST.

[The Moog]

I was wholely intending in coming back in a tourist.

 

As mentioned above Andy said that most Buglarian cars are kept on a shoestring and worked hard. Therefore likely to have challenges.

 

Barrett - could bub not be the man for you?

[meshking]

BULGARIAN WARTFEST.

That's some specialist viewing material.

 

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[barrett]

I'd be equally happy with a Škoda 1000MB, but my cursory searching hasn't revealed anything suitable or in budget.

 

Wartburgs are genuinely nice cars to drive, cheap over there with enough choice to not have to buy the first one you see and with a decent following in the UK to make long-term ownership a little easier. Two strokes tend to last about 100,000km before they seize, so try and find low mileage examples, or ones on 120,000km that have presumably just been rebuilt. I wish I could go.

[omegod]

I can just picture the Bulgarian equivalent of Cavcraft literally bursting through his front door after a long day sometime next May

 

" Blagorodna put down that cabbage, you won't fucking believe what happened today, a load of scruffy Australians came in to my yard and I offloaded all those shite Wartburgs even the scrapper wouldn't take for three times they're worth, and they were so happy  " 

[castros_bro]

Unfortunately I have occasionally been reading the odd (all of them) post here.

Fortunately, over Christmas, I have been threatened/offered the sack.

Unfortunately P reg Megane is a Renault.

Fortunately the last Autoshitest owner was running it on veg.

Unfortunately I aspire to (more)  two stroke motorbicycles and a roof rack.

Unfortunately the Turkish (or possibly Greek as having a fishing rod and there's a river) is not too distant so a detour......

[catsinthewelder]

If logistics allow, it might even be worth someone driving over in a reliable motor with a few tools and for use shuffling around. Said motor would probably want to come back as well, so potentially someone who isn't looking at buying, driving there and back for support purposes. If it's a largeish car it could even have a moped or something slung in the back for the return journey.

 

If someone was to do this, I'd suggest those going chip in to cover the fuel for the "support" vehicle

 

A veg powered Renault Migraine has to be the perfect reliable modern support vehicle for an Autoshite adventure.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Right, I can't join in on this trip but I would very much like a cheap two-stroke Wartburg. Is anyone considering going but not actually fussed about bringing something back and would like to find, buy and drive back an old smoker on my behalf? I'd obviously pay for the car and cost of bringing it back. I haven't really thought this through at all tbh but would anyone be interested in having this sort of conversation?

Maybe it would be easier if somebody just bought one and then sold it to me when they got back here? I'd want a 70s-mid '80s saloon or estate, in a suitably period colour, with column shift (the floor change is really horrid) that isn't about to disintegrate.

 

Is thus feasible?

Wasn't Bub in said camp?

 

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[wuvvum]

I would definitely agree that a 2-stroke with a column shift is definitely the way to go if one is contemplating Wartburg ownership.  I had a go in Ed Weeks' (admittedly slightly tweaked) example years ago and it was really rather lovely.

[dollywobbler]

Wasn't Bub in said camp?

 

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I think Bub has started our new phrase, Bubamatic. That said, you can do clutchless gearchanges with a freewheel...

[bub2006]

Right I'm definitely tempted to go now. Manuals seem to be ok so far. Say a prayer as I now have a manual car. I will see what finances are but I have a large diesel estate with towbar which may come in handy for recovery or support purposes.

[dollywobbler]

Well thanks Bub. You've ruined my new phrase already. Sheesh. Glad to hear you're mobile again, and manualmatic!

[bub2006]

2.1 turbo diesel ftw! And sorry for knackering it up for you so soon!

[Tamworthbay]

2.1 turbo diesel ftw! And sorry for knackering it up for you so soon!

Or you could fly over and drive a shitty wartburg back for me

[bub2006]

That could work!

[bub2006]

Reading back I think Barrett has same idea too?

[Tamworthbay]

That could work!

I am away that week so can’t make it, but a two stroke Wartburg would sit nicely here. Budget would be tight but doable.

[bub2006]

It's worth thinking about.

[bub2006]

Does insurance cover you from Bulgaria home or do I need to buy it along the way?!

[The Moog]

Does insurance cover you from Bulgaria home or do I need to buy it along the way?!

We should be able to get insurance in Bulgaria and drive back on that.

 

Wartburg prices definitely are going up in the Sofia area

[bub2006]

Someone on the inside is watching this thread. Shush time to speak in code.

[andy18s]

Delivery service may be possible.......

[pompei]

This talk of Trabbies reminded me of this...

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/12/will-self-road-trip-trabant-disability-michael-shamash

[omegod]

How feasible to take an A Frame in carry on luggage and bring two back