Practically Classics Forum

Super rare, UK market RHD Wartburg Tourist (estate):


From yesterday's show but only just now found on the phone as I'd forgotten to upload some of the images to flickR.

My father's uncle changed his tired old VW Beetle (Prior to that he had Jowetts and when Jowett went, the local dealer took on VW), for a new Wartburg estate, back in about 1972. Between then and his death in 1988, he had just about every make of Commie car going. Ladas, FSOs, Yugos etc etc used to be popular in the Heads of the Valleys area but since the Pacific ring cars have come along, they've just gone (I used to be in a local classic car club and one of the members had an old Lada). Skoda are still there but of course they now have a new image.

There were a good few Eastern Bloc motors there yesterday, mostly shagged-out Ladas and a road-legal Polski-Fiat 125P estate that looked as though it doubled as a home for the owner's chickens, unless that guano on the back seat was actually some form of domestic decorating product. I didn't want to get close enough to catch the smell.

A few farmers still have ancient Ladas, Dacia Dusters & similar that they use on their own land only, many are surprisingly sound, few are seen as being in any way desirable which I guess is par for the course in an area where cars aren't so frequently disposed of in favour of newer ones.

How about this little cracker, found this in Crete;

I only saw some old VW Transporters around Hastings to-day.

What is this (photos)?

Dacia Duster 4x4.

Here a one:


Only recently superseded by this new version:


...which is just a much of a plug, IMHO.

A vintage (Or just post vintage) Bentley went by today. It sounded like a "Six", so I reckon it could have been a 6 1/2 Litre. It had a very tall bonnet, indicative of a very long stroke engine. Very nice

I saw a Austin Seven and a Ancient-looking Suzuki Jeep.

hi everyone
i see allsorts every day,ranging from the cars at work which include a 1950 ford pilot,a1950's austin a35,a 82 ford capri,a 81 ford fiesta,2 morris minors a 66 and a 67,a reliant scimitar,several ford sierras and a volvo 740 which was my dads last car before he passed away,and several old landrovers
then theres the trip to work
i usually see a 1980s maestro van diesel,old tractors,old buses, series 3 landrover and occasionally the odd 3 wheeler or microcar owned by the local expert,then theres the local datsun and nissan guy in the next town who has allsorts of old stuff its great