Adrian_pt Posted May 25, 2008 Author Posted May 25, 2008 Vinyl roof was a factory option for the export models... as for electric windows ... it seems pretty bizarre, but I do have the original brochure which definitely states that the GLX came with that as standard. Will whack them up. Pretty slim chances of finding one though, I think there's only one left on the road, most were scrapped after just a few years. Can't be many Dacia Dusters left either. I did a sneaky DVLA check on all the Dacias I've got pictures off, there was an estate taxed till 2007 and an ARO pick-up (never officially imported and on a Q) taxed till 2005, the rest are long dead. There will be a dacia section, I promise...
Adrian_pt Posted May 25, 2008 Author Posted May 25, 2008 ... but for today, the cream of Romania's Fiat population. These were imported officially in the 60s so are fairly thick on the ground. Even some 80s models imported after the Revolution have survived admirably. As sual, some photos I took, some I didn't. Enjoy! Elderly 850 in daily use: I nearly bought this in 2006, 450 quid and pretty nice condition, seller was a bit of a tool though and messed me around - not great if you're travelling 250 km to see him... For whoever was complaining that I missed the 131: Another shot of that 1100R, one year previously: Fiat 1300, in 2005, this has since gone: Fiat 600 with the arse end of an early (pre-76) de luxe Dacia. This could be a scene from the early 70s... Tasty, but very tragic... Topolino, still in use till pretty recently. Lots of pre-war cars had really shocking modifications done to them to keep them on the road: spare parts weren't available, but some things are inexcusable. This is a pretty moderate example, as you'll soon see... Bad photo, great car Not even a chance of recuing this sad Topolino. Believe it or not, the owner says it is a "museum piece"... Sorry 1800 and 850 on the same farm. Love the chickens! This is what I'm talking about when I mean gratuitous shit. Originally, believe it or not, this was a 1941 NSU-Fiat 1100. Considerably improved with wings of a Warszawa, home-made bumper, windows which are literally off the back of a van, hacksaw convertible job, something very weird to the windows, arse end taken off something else, seats off a tractor, dashboard off a circa 1990 Dacia, an over-riing impression of sheer, sheer horror... This, believe it or not, was registered to drive and be driven around until the old-style numberplates expired, in late 2000. Something a tad more normal, but still exciting: 500, 600, 850, all pleasingly battered. Another knackered pre-war Fiat, but this time one that's retained a shrap of dignity. If you imagine the NSU would have (except for the radiator grille) looked identical... Lovely duet here: Something really rare now: a Fiat 1100L. This was the streched taxi version. In reasonable condition despite the pretty poor paint. Again, not been off the road for long. Something even rarer: Fiat 1500 Smart Coupe by Lombardi. This belonged to a friend of mine who sold it to make room for a '36 Steyr, a '37 Aero, and the remains of an ex-racing '36 Ford. Nicely crinkly. And, finally, proof that not all pre-war cars in Romania are that bad:
MrRegieRitmo Posted May 25, 2008 Posted May 25, 2008 For whoever was complaining that I missed the 131:I'm whoever! - thanks for the consideration. Nice car! Are you based over there Adrian?
Adrian_pt Posted May 25, 2008 Author Posted May 25, 2008 Im sure you're not the only one who likes to see a 131 on the road! Nope - in UK, but frequently travel over.
MrRegieRitmo Posted May 25, 2008 Posted May 25, 2008 Im sure you're not the only one who likes to see a 131 on the road!I hope not & very much doubt it, there are plenty of 131 lovers about. But I was the complainant is all I was saying.Oh so you're not from the land of the 'Cheeky Cheekies' then?!
Adrian_pt Posted May 25, 2008 Author Posted May 25, 2008 Family originally from there, now in England though.Anyway, I might as well present the tank I have in Romania! 1972 Volga M24, ex-secret police, km to the moon and back, will be fully restored to the original as it's been bashed about a bit. Meant to be one of the best surviving in the country, though, as the vast majority had their thirsty (18mpg, very nice in this era of petrol prices) 2.4 engines ripped out and were used to cart potatoes to markets. This one has a SUPERB engine, is pretty much indestructible, and once memorably drove 250 km at -13 in the snow. Gotta give it to the Russians... oman5 1
Adrian_pt Posted June 1, 2008 Author Posted June 1, 2008 Bit more Italoshite!Very rare Lancia (Flavia?) coupe, this has been in the country most of its life and looks very sound, despite having been off the road for yonks.King of shite? Close to the top, anyway.A pair of very desirable Lancias, 2005Red shite. GTV? Not very good on Alfas and Lancias...This has since been sold. What a beaut!B-b-b-betaAnother dead GTV, they wanted 500 E but it had a problem with the documents.Knackered Lancia Aprilia, off the road since 1994 and with a lot of bits of a Beetle...Lovely and classic, not shite.But this Flavia is closer to shite, being 1) very tired and 2) an "unfashionable" saloon. Nowhere near the 6, though!
Adrian_pt Posted July 18, 2008 Author Posted July 18, 2008 Wahey, am in Romania now so can present a tad more shite. The country's changing a lot, and there's vast amounts of new stuff on the rad, with the scrappies doing a roaring trade. A lot of the cool cars I remember from last year, for example, have gone. The most important thing is I picked up the Volga for the first time - and it really is a dog! Probably one of the most tired-looking cars in my county; my grandparets are shocked by it; I absolutely love it. Even when it stalls with the choke fully out and my foot on the gas, even though whenever it rains the inteerior floods (knackered seals) and even - memorably - when, on one of the many mountain passes we were travelling through, a rear tyre exploded, leaving us stranded with no phone reception.... Without further ado: Part of a friend's collection His non-scene 1600TL And a perfectly preserved Bug The Volga, in all its glory Looking proud Lovely spot, shame about the tyre Primer-tastic Probably the best view Interior = shite. By next year I aim to have the car fully restored to original condition... We couldn't resist parking next to this dog-eared 1969 Dacia 1100, now very rare... Could almost be a scene from the 60s Luckily, underneath 2 seat covers was the original half-vinyl... mmm. Something insanely rare: a Delta 1310. This was the Dacia soled on the Israeli market; apparently Dacia sounded like a rude word. A few got refused due to crap build quality and are now on the streets of Romania. Terrible housing; terrible Renner Early 60s Bucegi lorry, still in daily use Shite houses and cars in Roznov Three elderly Dacias in a row in Focsani, an increasingly rare sight Old Jap van A TV-12 (Tudor Vladimirescu) built at the Autobuzul plant in Bucharest, circa 1979. I once saw one in a scrappy in Bristol, as a couple were sold over here, first as AROs (1975-76) and then as Tudors (1980). That would surely represent the cream of shite? A rare Dacia 1300 Estate. Apologies for crap pic 5 Ladas, 1 Merc ...and watch this space!
Mr_Bo11ox Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 Bloody marvellous! I'm going to Bucharest next month, only for 48 hours though sadly. I love it! Might try and persuade Ms_Bolx that we should go there on holiday.
RedSparrow Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 Fantastic pictures, always like to see the rotten rubbish our soviet bloc friends churned out!Three elderly Dacias in a row in Focsani, an increasingly rare sight Are we overlooking a Dacia 500 Latsun on the right?!
Volksy Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 Fantastic pictures, always like to see the rotten rubbish our soviet bloc friends churned out!Three elderly Dacias in a row in Focsani, an increasingly rare sight Are we overlooking a Dacia 500 Latsun on the right?!wow, that photo is full of shite, from the Shitron Axel to the Daewoo Nexia Saloon, axa rehash of a Belmont, Fantastic!
Adrian_pt Posted July 21, 2008 Author Posted July 21, 2008 Oltcit it is, and the Daewoo was called a Cielo on the Romanian market: hugely popular in the 90s with people too richto be seen in a Dacia, but a shocking car nevertheless. NOw, for maximum obscure E. European tat knowledge, the air vent on the Dacia in the middle is about two or three centimetres too low to be that of a factory Dacia. If you look closely at a picture of any post '85 Dacia, you'll see that the vent is a fair bit higher up than on the Mk 2 R12:which means that at some stage in the Dacia's lie, if was probably bodged to make it seem like a Renault (quite a popular pastime in Romania, where people whould often update the panels on their cars so they would look in line with the latest facelift), or, less probably, it's actually a messed up Renner we're looking at. Can I go home now?
nigel bickle Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 Yep -go get your coat, and join the queue of anoraks at the exit please....
Adrian_pt Posted July 21, 2008 Author Posted July 21, 2008 Before I do, a very quick shite update: 1980s Dacia 1304 B&Q Special Edition '58 Gaz in action; I've posted this before Jungleshite Renner 25 V6, top of the range and gloriously scabby Euroshite, circa 1982; love the rear handle on the (ex-Vienna) Scrote That's about it for now, although there is a rather good 929 Coupe lurking around ... Watch this space.
Adrian_pt Posted July 22, 2008 Author Posted July 22, 2008 More shite: The 929 Shit rather than shite, and with an identity crisis: Crap name, crap car. "Omerta" good people to do business with? Cheers. Stunning Dacia, one of the best I've seen Again; this is really early (1970ish) and, despite the shite mods, a really straight and goood car. Massive bonus points for the original chrome UAP on the passenger side wing, a feature till 72: This one is from about 2000. Almost unbelievable rust porn: Nice and early, a sweet little car Mouldering away Absoultey stunning GS, the epitome of shite Cherry, sadly not an Europa but pretty povvo 1100, now very rare Dying Trabi Shite by Renault, old and new I think the cream of the crop: crinkly, Talbot, gold, old giffer... spectacular.
Split_Pin Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 DELISH !!As the R12 is possibly my second favourite car, I love these pics! The early , shiny and mint Dacia is LUFFLY The 'rust porn' was obviously too much for someone, judging by the mess at the back wheel Unbelievable that such a recent car can go so rotten so quickly!
fiatdaft Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 check the camber on the talbot front wheel,i take it the mot equivilant ain't strict over there!
Adrian_pt Posted July 24, 2008 Author Posted July 24, 2008 Cheers, I'll keep them coming! MOT is taken every two years and is a bit of a joke, less so now but in the past there were MANY cars I was amazed had passed - mine for one, and that truly terrible Talbot. Having said that, the Logan, horrible though it is, has taken a lot of the really unsafe stuff off the road as, if you scrap your old one, you get 3000 lei (about 900 quid) discount off a new one. Needless to say, this means the roads are getting very dull, and also many really interesting cars from the 60s and 70s were crushed - even if they were in perfect condition, one elderly owner, etc etc. It's a similar situation to the 80s when hundreds of prewar stuff was being crushed yearly, even things of major value. Anyhoo, to quit the rmablings, a very minor update: Crumbling Granny Not shite in my book, but thougyht I'd whack it in for the R12 lovers: Shite Tricolore, oldest and newest: Finally, trully foul, down to the pound shop wheel trims, I present to you the Trabant Cabrio: Seems Ostalgie has started to hit the Romanians....
Adrian_pt Posted August 7, 2008 Author Posted August 7, 2008 Had a heavy update on the way, including a 131 estate and more pictures of a dying Tagora - but my photobuket's playing up. So unless I can get it to work, I'll confine myself to saying I'm about to get myself a Dacia in the most hilariously rat-look condition imaginable: not a panel exactly the same colour, dents everywhere, and some quite creative chicken wire use. I'm a happy man.
Jazzy Jeff Posted August 7, 2008 Posted August 7, 2008 I take it the first two letters of Romanian Plates denote the Area it is registered? Like in Germany?Also, another question, since the Cielo was so popular is there any horrid (or some on here would undoubtedly say, stonkingly gorgeous) Daewoo/Diahatsu Dominoesque hatchbacks knocking about in the Romanian Countryside? I had never come across them before I went to Hungary. They must have been imported by my estimates in the Mid 90's. Every single one I saw was in the same shade of faded red.
maximalist Posted August 7, 2008 Posted August 7, 2008 That trabbi is registred in Udine,Italy! A true autoshiter driving from Italy to Romania.
nigel bickle Posted August 12, 2008 Posted August 12, 2008 Why? Way back in the early 90's I used to import them from deepest Deutschland. Numerous trips of 4 or 5 drivers out to a mate's get the relics going and drive (& A frame) them home via Ostend (all sorts of hooky registrations/number plates etc!).At that time a 1 line ad in the local German freebie would see him deluged with free cars -no one wanted them and it cost to scrap them.Essentially, If it ran -it made it home,everytime. If it didnt run -after 10 mins tlc -we broke it for spares. The sole exception to that rule was my Tramp -which we collected in East Berlin & soon discovered (-whilst ''cruising'' 5 up) that it needed a new clutch. Took 20 mins, side of the road. Cost of the parts- nil.These are the easiest cars in the world to work on -perhaps the only 'problem' being inaccessible brakes. I still have a P50 estate in hand painted blue/grey, an early 60's P60 -my 'first', the Tramp (awaiting total rebuild post fire) and a late VW model. Absolutely marvellous -I love em !!
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