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May
26
… we couldn’t go surfing due to a massive beach break. We drove down the coast instead, heading to Biarritz for a Café au Lait. Walking out on the Capbreton pier is always a little adventure on a day like that. Walking back to the shore and setting foot on dry land again, we thought our eyes were fooling us. But indeed… there was something missing from the Toyota Tercel that drove past.
May
23
Some people drive a Citroën 2CV for fun. Some people want to have more fun with their 2CV and take them on a trip to the Sahara desert in Morocco. A great idea if you are not afraid to take your classic vehicle on long distance trips under sometimes harsh conditions. The French call this kind of adventure “raid” – and it is anyone’s guess whether or not this word originates from being afRAID once or twice along the way.
The Toyota LandCruiser 80 Series pictured here seems to belong to the head of the organization committee, called “Le pape organisation”. The bumpers have been removed and the suspension raised. A snorkel and a heavy duty roof-rack kitted out with various gear, necessary for serious off-roading, complete the picture. This rig looks to be ready to tackle some dunes!
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May
23
Deux Deuches Custom: A pair of Citroën 2CV at the beach in Cap de l’Homy – modified beautifully in the typical and tasteful French customizing style. The best paintjobs I have ever seen on a 2CV, absolutely spotless! On the red/pink 2CV I especially like the widened fenders that are integrated nicely into the flipfront. The deep dish steelies are a great touch as well.
May
23
Worldwide the Citroën 2CV unites many enthusiasts. There are plenty of clubs and interest groups. They even organize huge meetings each year, one of which I visited in 2009 in Lit-et-Mixe while being on a surfing holiday nearby. But wait… the 2Cv has a sister even most Citroën enthusiasts describe as being rather… ugly.
May
23
At first glance this might be a vintage something-or-another. And even at the second and third glance most people will still be fooled. If you look closely, you might spot a few hints here and there: three lug wheels and familiar headlights. But only if you open the hood does it dawn on you, that this might not be that vintage at all. This vehicle was actually built in 2007! The base is a classic Citroën 2CV, that has been extensively modified by the Burton Car Company in the Netherlands. This is the most elegant 2CV conversion ever, in my opinion. I just love the attention to detail and the tasty color combination. Well done, guys!
May
05
My girlfriend tried to scare me while pointing out the obvious. Oh well I thought and pretended to be calm and totally in control of the situation – while flicking on the high beams of my Impala brown 190E. Remember the day in driving school, when they told you that deer and many other animals freeze and subsequently don’t move, due to temporary blindness? Gotta tell you – it works mighty fine to stop a French dino in its’ tracks. Just look at his eye.
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Mar
19
Borgward produced quite a few technically interesting vehicles in the 1950’s but was forced into bankruptcy in 1961. The Borgward B 611 I found in Bremen represents a company that unfortunately is long extinct. However, the brand is still loyally supported by enthusiasts from the (e.g.) Borgward IG and the Borgward Club Bremen. The van featured here looks like it was properly restored at one stage and painted in period-correct colors. Sun visors have been popular accessories back then, available in various sizes and colors.
Apr
27
Taxis in South Africa. They may not always adhere to the street code of conduct and find make their own way around traffic jams. They may not always yield to somebody that has the right of way or cut in front of you. But – they do provide (more or less) reliable transportation for many people, who can’t afford to own a vehicle. I especially like the colorful and well kept ones in Durban. The old-school Toyota Hiace Siyaya is my favorite body style, even though the newer models have more safety features and are equipped with air-conditioning. I found these two beautiful Siyaya Taxis in Durban, near the uShaka marine world.
Jan
13
Kallies Quarry. A four wheel drive playground that features very steep tracks in some places, with deep ruts and a pond that requires wading through. This bone stock Jeep Wrangler did it without problems. A Jeep actually going offroad is a rather rare sight in South Africa, because most 4x4ers prefer either Toyota or Land Rover. This actually reminded me of the fun we had with Jeeps when I was living in Texas/USA, many years ago.
Dec
22
Frequent readers might remember the Ford Cortina Bakkie based tow truck featured here at Drive-by Snapshots earlier this year. There is more variety to this topic, though. On my way to Bloemfontein, I found this Ford Cortina Bakkie 4×4 for sale at a used car dealership. Admittedly a nicely executed four wheel drive conversion in mint condition. Actually, I wouldn’t mind at all owning something like that. Pure early 80’s style & function!
Dec
02
The goal of most tourists coming to South Africa and visiting game parks, like the Kruger National Park, is seeing the Big Five: lions, African elephants, Cape buffalos, leopards, and rhinoceros. As a rule of thumb, you must always look very carefully to spot the various animals in the bush. Take a look at the first picture and try to spot the big five hiding there. Do not scroll down yet, as it would spoil the fun! Take your time…
Dec
01
On our way from Johannesburg to Swaziland, we spent a night in Kapshehoop. We enjoyed very nice accommodation in a tranquil and peaceful little town. No fences, no locks on the doors and not a single security patrol car anywhere. On the next morning, after packing our stuff in the car and heading out of town, we found something unexpected in South Africa. An Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint Veloce, which quite nicely matched the “building” it was parked in front of. Mustn’t be easy to find spare parts for it in this remote part of the continent.
Oct
20
Small boats may be launched by hand.
Medium size boats may be launched by a rusty bakkie.
Big boats need something a bit more substantial in weight an power…
This is where the mighty Mercedes-Benz MB Trac comes in handy. This being a highly sought after machine even in Europe, you can imagine how surprised I was to find such a brute at the remote beach of Sodwana Bay in South Africa. To be honest, it was spectacular how the MB Trac launched catapulted the boat into the sea!
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Oct
20
Diving in Sodwana Bay always means getting up very early, before sunrise. The boats, divers and their equipment are shuttled from the diving base near the dune to the waterfront. A tough job in sun, sand and salt. Most diving companies use late model bakkies or 4x4s. Ocean Divers Pretoria still uses a Series III Land Rover, which has been rebuilt a couple of years ago. The vehicle is in good overall shape with lovely patina, but rust caused by the saltwater is already visible again on the drivetrain and suspension components. Thank you for keeping the old Landy alive!
Sep
01
Let’s suppose you just bought a brand new Toyota Hilux 4×4. It’s as bright and shiny as it came from the factory. No scratch, no dent, hardly any kilometers on the odometer. Everybody is admiring the beautiful black paint and chrome plated accessories, but you think there is something missing. You scratch your head and wonder which box you forgot to tick when you ordered the vehicle. Surely, something is missing. To find out, you head over to the FWDCSA Base4 club grounds and talk to the experts.
Aug
19
While staying at the famous Blue Sky Mining Backpackers just south ofDurban, I had the chance to snap a few pictures of their Toyota LandCruiser VX clay model. The model was excellently detailed to the smallest possible detail! Hella auxiliary lights, badges, wipers, a surfboard rack and even a set of mudguards – fantastic 🙂
Unfortunately it was rather big and heavy and therefore I couldn’t possibly buy it and take it back to Germany. Luggage weight restrictions on airplanes be damned…
Jun
10
A beautiful Sunday afternoon, driving along the Doubs river in France with the convertible top down. We found this pair of Convoi Exceptionnel trucks, parked opposite the lock between Le Barre and Ranchot . The load looked quite interesting and we stopped to have a look. We could only guess the function of these impressive machines, named Sercel Nomad 65. But the internet is our friend and a quick Google search later, we knew that these machines are in fact broadband vibrators used for geological survey activities. If you want to learn more about it, check out the Sercel homepage or download the Nomad 65 Neo press release PDF.
Jun
09
Imagine a sizzling hot day early in June, with temperatures well over 30°C and no wind whatsoever. We are cruising through the pine forests between Biarritz and Bordeaux at a leisurely pace with the windows and sunroof wide open. The loudspeakers of the trusty old Mercedes play a tune most Germans immediately associate with childhood memories of family summer vacations.
May
31
Todays post is something for classic car fans who love challenges. I found this French hot rod with a mock-up concrete mixer on the back in rural France back in 2007. Ever since then, I’ve been wondering what the hell this is actually based on.
Apr
28
The DeTomaso Pantera is a car that will always have a special place in my heart. I fell in love with this elegant but somewhat brute supercar when living in the US. Our neighbor had a yellow Pantera with a stroked liter V8 engine, based on a Ford FE Marine(!) block. Visiting the 2007 Jim Clark Revival, I found the Perfect Pantera. It just has the perfect stance and is equipped with a beautiful set off multi-piece BBS wheels. The body has been tastefully modified, retaining the clean lines of the original design – albeit accentuated perfectly.
