Autoshite from Poland

[Peter C]

Last summer I enjoyed a holiday in Poland. I took my camera wherever I went and took snaps of some old-skool eastern-European metal.

 

The majority of these cars are still in daily use, although there is an increasing number of modern cars being introduced to Polish roads, so if you want to enjoy these sights for yourself you'd better start packing!

 

Rust in Peace - Mercedes W123:

 

 

Lada 110 - never sold in the UK:

 

 

Poland's "best" car - the FSO Polonez:

 

 

Back in the 1980s, this was Poland's most popular car - FSO 126p:

 

 

 

 

Another eastern-European favourite - the Skoda Favorit:

 

 

 

Poland's Ford Transit, produced until the early 1990s - the Zuk:

 

 

Still a very common sight, the everlasting W123 Mercedes:

 

 

 

 

Another Polish great, the FSO 1500 (FSO 125p):

 

 

Why repair a wing mirror if you can fit another?

 

 

And some treats I spotted on route via Germany:

 

Another great looking W123 Merc:

 

 

A pair of cool 'Dubs:

 

 

 

And lastly, James May's (of Top Gear), favourite car - the Dacia Sandero:

 

[nigel bickle]

Just love that Zuk-quite high on the wish/acquisition list.

[Peter C]

Nigel,Do you actually have an FSO 125?Peter

[VWPowered]

great spots those

 

see afew of these over here

[Lukas]

They were available in three different body-styles, but sadly no-one bought them here so you never see one.

[VWPowered]

yeah one i saw was a hatchback

 

[nigel bickle]

Yes Peter- why do you ask? Blue one. I've several of its predecessors too, the original Fiat 125.

[Station]

Is the Mercedes a common sight due to taxi use? Aren't they built in Turkey?

[michiel]

Check!

 

[Peter C]

Yes Peter- why do you ask? Blue one. I've several of its predecessors too, the original Fiat 125.

Well, my background is Polish and back in the late 1970s my father had a pair of FSO 125p, both bought new. Also, whilst on holiday in Poland, about 15 years ago, I bought one to use and abuse for four weeks. I'm a great fan of all FSO cars and would love to see some pics of yours.

[Peter C]

Is the Mercedes a common sight due to taxi use? Aren't they built in Turkey?

Not sure about Turkey. As far as I know, they were built in Germany and South Africa.

[nigel bickle]

Here's the pickup last summer,working for 'a living'.

 

I'll tryto find a pic of the saloon

[AnthonyG]

Is the Mercedes a common sight due to taxi use? Aren't they built in Turkey?

Not sure about Turkey. As far as I know, they were built in Germany and South Africa.

Trucks and Buses are currently built in Turkey but no cars.A lot of secondhand Mercedes cars end up in Germany though, one of the reasons being the large Turkish population of 'guest workers' in the former West Germany, who buy middle aged ones up and sell them back home for a good profit. This trade has been going since the 1960s.

[seth]

They could have rolled this out....

 

 

...next to the original sierra concept and it would have looked just as space age!

 

 

[MrRegieRitmo]

Check!

 

Nah, I'm sure it's Russian!

[pompei]

Are those 155 wheels on the pick-up, Nigel?

[MrRegieRitmo]

Here's the pickup last summer,working for 'a living'.

 

I'll try to find a pic of the saloon

Voila!

 

[Peter C]

Voila!

 

Looks sweet and brings back fond memories. Would love to see some more pics!

[MrRegieRitmo]

Have a look here:

 

http://www.autoshite.com/forum/viewtopi ... light=125p

[shite_meister]

Cool, I go to Polakland every year, my missus and her family though I was strange because I went right out of my way across a busy road to take a pic of a Zuk:

 

Lots and lots of modern VAG bilge filling the streets, I think give it a few years and it'll have lost its interesting shite forever.

[Lukas]

You are right, sometimes I think whole Europe is replacing all the different and individual cars for VAG-s**t! They will become biggest manufacturer in the world just because no-one seems to have own character nowadays!

[Milford Cubicle]

Maybe we should vandalise all VAG cars in a nice way, just by painting them in various shades from the BL colour palette. That'd make things a bit more interesting.

[Rusty Pelican]

Maybe we should vandalise all VAG cars in a nice way, just by painting them in various shades from the BL colour palette. That'd make things a bit more interesting.

We need to do something , everythings turning silver

[nigel bickle]

Yup-Alfa 15 inch rims - kinda suits it, I think. The originalsteels arecack,anyway.

Makes parking tougher, but fine the rest of the time. 98pcd - so anything Eyetie will fit.

 

Thanks for the pics Reg-I didnt have those! Typical.

 

Off to France shortly to collect my latest Strada. I think you'll like it!

 

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb290/nigelbickle/fiat/stradamk1.jpg

 

[MrRegieRitmo]

Thanks for the pics Reg-I didnt have those! Typical.

 

Off to France shortly to collect my latest Strada. I think you'll like it!

 

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb290/nigelbickle/fiat/stradamk1.jpg

 

Can't see the pictures at work unfortunately but going by the picture names in the link, yes it sounds like right up my street!

Although....French? LHD? Shouldn't it be a Ritmo!?

 

That picture of the FSO was one of the ones I took of your fleet out the front of your place as at Dec 08 when I popped round with the Estefette manual.

[michiel]

Fab Ritmo, good to hear you're well enough (I guess) to go shopping abroad Nigel!

[nigel bickle]

Mk1 Ritmo-30,000mls(km equiv) offroad since 89 .NO BL**DY RUST!!Time I sorted that FSO then-hadn't realised it had been that long. If only the weather would improve....

[MrRegieRitmo]

Seen the pics now from an internet pc in our office. Looks good Nigel, 65CL like mine, except mine is red, 3-door & has the other style Fiat badge, a blue strip on the bonnet rather than a red round one on the bumper. We both have a broken rear light though! :wink:EDIT: you'll be after an R14 next!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Splendid work Bickle!!! How are you getting it home? Via the shiters' favourite vowel?

[nigel bickle]

Thats the one. Taking the Mrs to Paris for her birthday in 3 weeks, collecting it on the way back. (She'll be kinda expecting it -checks the boot every 'long journey' for large lengths of steel!)Collect it at dusk -hoon up theD roads-home,late evening.Simples.By the way Testes, its one you pointed out-so you're to blame if its a munter. OK?