Ethiopian Peugeots

[Wilko220]

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/sep/11/ethiopias-vintage-taxis-near-the-end-of-the-road

 

 

[hpi_matrix]

Nice little article with some great pictures, surprised the cars are still using the original engines!

[Alan_Green]

Reading this thread while in Ethiopia.  Anyway, carry on...

[Split_Pin]

I didn't know that there were still 404s in service in parts of Africa, must be the last place to see them in any number.

[shedenvy]

Thanks for this link, it really made me smile.  We all know that even ancient crap can't be kept on the road with baler twine and pop rivets.  I'd really like to see what happens to our salvage cast offs which are 'ideal for export'.  I can imagine stick welding up some old merc vitos is probably doable but as highlighted above there must be some old school engine rebuilders out there re-grinding cranks and cast iron stitching blocks back together.  I'm sure this takes more ingenuity and technical prowess than your local kwik-fit.  I think we need a man on the ground to give us an in depth report.  Perhaps we could collectively post DW there??

[angle]

22 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I didn't know that there were still 404s in service in parts of Africa, must be the last place to see them in any number.

Cuba... 

I didn't bother taking photos after a while, there's still loads over there.

[timolloyd]

Still a few of these, plus 505s, knocking around Hurghada in Egypt when I was there earlier this year.

 

[sierraman]

What are the plans to replace them with? 

[angle]

When I was there most taxis were Ladas or Hiaces, but I imagine anything new will be Chinese or a Japanese import. 

[martc]

I know a chap from Kenya and he reckons the smart money is on (almost any*) Toyota replacing Peugeot as the tough car of choice in Africa.

* he did mention that the locals choice of Toyota very much depended on which factory it was built in.

[reb]

5 hours ago, angle said:

Cuba... 

I didn't bother taking photos after a while, there's still loads over there.

A car YouTube channel went to Cuba, I think possibly Mighty Car Mods, it seemed exactly my sort of place car wise. They showed quite a few old American cars that had long since lost their V8s and such for big old diesel engines, largely from tractors and stuff I think.

 

They were still building 405s in Africa until quite recently, I wonder how well they sold.

[angle]

Aye, there's some interesting stuff there, admittedly mostly with Moskvich engines. 

[Alan_Green]

Live from Ethiopia. Old corollas seem to be the no. 1 choice in Addis Ababa. Plus a few Ladas. And donkeys. 

[Tamworthbay]

1 hour ago, Alan_Green said:

Live from Ethiopia. Old corollas seem to be the no. 1 choice in Addis Ababa. Plus a few Ladas. And donkeys. 

Work or holiday? Guessing work......

[Alan_Green]

Found one old Pug. Might be a pickup. Private cars are mostly Toyota Vitz or old Corollas. Minibuses are all Hiaces.  Taxis are corollas or Ladas. Chatted to the Lada taxi driver. He said he'd sell it to me for £7,500, best price! 

[Datsuncog]

I can well understand why the Mk1 Yaris/Vitz is so popular - they're surprisingly tough little things. Still a common sight on  UK roads despite the youngest being 14 - while rivals at the time such as the Mk5 Fiesta and Corsa C seem to have virtually disappeared.

Wonder what the chances are of the plug-ugly but roomy Yaris/Vitz Verso taking over from the venerable 404s in Addis Ababa?