The singer Helen Shapiro directing traffic in Bucharest, 1968.
cetățeanul ăla avea și dreptate.
1 day ago
7 April 2010
1968 - Renault-ul cu perdele - The Renault with curtains
Cantareata Helen Shapiro dirijand traficul in Bucuresti, 1968.
The singer Helen Shapiro directing traffic in Bucharest, 1968.
The singer Helen Shapiro directing traffic in Bucharest, 1968.
6 April 2010
Science Fiction: Mrs Ceausescu's Citroen
Exista o tendinta ca orice masina veche mai speciala care a existat in tara in "epoca comunista" sa fi avut un proprietar celebru. Sau era masina lui Dej, sau era a Ceausestilor; cateodata mai apare inca un personaj cunoscut al epocii. De obicei e vorba despre Volga / ZIL / ZIM / Dacia 2000 / Dacia 1301 / Mercedes. Cateodata este un sambure de adevar, fiind vorba despre fosta masina unui mare smecher sau inalt nomenclaturist, sau o masina care a facut coloana oficiala de cateva ori, sau o masina din garajele de stat. Cert este ca daca credem orice spune in mica publicitate (pentru ca oricare cumparator s-ar lauda cu "fosta masina lui nea Nicu") trebuie sa constatam ca si Dej si Ceausestii au avut zeci sau chiar sute
de masini intre ei.
Asta este cazul unui Citroen CX 2400 Prestige de vanzare in Targoviste care se gaseste la http://www.ieftineala.ro/index.html . Clar spune ca masina fusese dat dar de regele Spaniei in 1986 lui Elena. Buuun. In plus circula prin capitala, in timpul comunismului, cu numarul 17-B-4031. Buuuun. Revolutia a gaist-o in garajul Securităţii de Comandamentul Naţional de Grăniceri. Si-a facut treaba si la politia frontierii in Constanta, pana in anul 2002, cand s-a vandut. Buuuuuun.
Totusi sunt unele detalii care nu se potrivesc. Masina in poze e clar un CX seria 1, deci nu are cum sa fie din 86. Daca are numarul de serie 00003 (fapt nedocumentat) inseamna ca anul de fabricatie trebuie sa fie 1976. Deci ar fi surprinzator ca regele Spaniei, in 1986, sa fi dat Ceausestilor o masina veche de 10 ani. De fapt nici nu s-a u intalnit in 86. E posibil, doar, sa se fi intamplat in 1979, cand Nicolae si Elena a vizitat Spania la invitatia regala. Totusi trebuie sa ne intrebam ce s-a intamplat cu masina intre 1979 si 1986.
Numerele 17-B au fost emise in doua serii: prima in 1979-80, a doua in 1987-88. Din nou, daca era masina Elenei, aproape sigur ar fi avut 1-B cu trei sau patru cifre, corespondand cu restul masinilor familiei si oficiale.
Blindata nu e. Unica in Romania anilor 80 nu era - masina alba, de exemplu, exista, fiind importata din Germania prin 86-87, si am auzit de cateva alte exemplare. O mica cercetare arata faptul ca cuvantul "Ceausescu" nu exista pe talon. Aproape sigur era o masina de ambasada, sau proprietatea unui strain, sau o masina importata
si apoi confiscata. Posibil sa fi fost vanduta la licitatie de catre stat. Posibil chiar sa fi fost folosita de forte speciale, precum alte "masini tari". Samburele de adevar exista intrucat Nicu Ceasuescu la un moment intr-adevar avea un Citroen, inmatriculat 1-B-232. In plus, nu e primul CX "al Elenei" sa fie pus la vanzare ... acum cativa ani exista si exemplarul visiniu de mai jos. Constatam ca e o masina aproape sigur fara legatura la fostii dictatori, si ramanem pe faptul ca de fapt e o masina de serie in stare nu chiar excelenta.
Din pacate povesti false, unele create ca solutia unui mister, altele fabricate din dorinta de a vinde un obiect, exista peste tot, exista bine inteles si cateva masini bona fide. (Un bun prieten are DS-ul lui Henri Coanda, spre exemplu, iar primul proprietar personal a Volgii mele a fost sef de securitate pe Vrancea.) E foarte important sa invatam sa facem distinctie dintre povesti si realitate!
In Romania there is a tendency for every old car to have had a famous former owner. Normally it is either Dej or Ceausescu, but occasionally it is any other illustrious person around at the time. The cars tend to be Volga / ZIL / ZIM / Dacia 2000 / Dacia 1301 / Fintail Mercedes. Sometimes there is a grain of truth, the car having being owned or used by a former high-ranking official, or hving taken part in a few motorcades, or having belonged to the State garages. But if we believe everything the sellers of these cars say then it turns out that Dej and Ceausescu had tens if not hundreds of cars between them.
This is the case with a Citroen CX 2400 Prestige advertised as having been owned by Elena Ceasuescu at http://www.ieftineala.ro/index.html . Apparently it was given to her by Juan Carlos of Spain in 1986. It was driving round the capital with the plates 17-B-4031. At the Revolution it was in a garage of the Romanian secret border police. It carried out some work over the next decade with the border polce in Constanta before being withdrawn and sold in about 2002.
But some things don't stack up. From the photo it's clearly a Series 1, so was at any stage not new in 1986. If it is indeed the third ever nade (which is dubious) then the year is 1976. Would the King have given Ceasuescus a 10-year old production car? Doubtful. In fact, they did not even meet in 1986. it is possible (just) that the car could have been given as a gift in 1979, when the Ceasuescus spent a few days with the Spanish royals. But that still leaves unclear what happened to the car
between 1979 and 1986.
The plates beginning 17-B were issued in two series, first in 1979-80 and second in 1987-88. But if it had been the Ceasuescus it would have had the "important" 1-B plates wtih three or four digits, as all their other cars did.
It is not armoured. It was certainly not unique in 80s Romania - among a few others I've head of, the white one in the picture was definitely around then, having been imported from West Germany in 1986/87. A few questions reveal that the word "ceasuescu" appears nowehre on the logbook. Perhaps it was a former Embassy car, or one imported by a foreigner, or sold by the State at auction having been abandoned or confiscated. Possibly, too, it maight have been owned by the Securitate or other special forces. Other Western models certainly were at the time. The grain of truth is that Nicu Ceasuescu did at one stage have a Citroen, registered
1-B-232. But, interestingly, a couple of years ago, another CX (the burgundy example) was put up for sale, also "having belonged" to Elena Ceasuescu... We can only conclude that this particular car is almost certainly not linked to the former dictators. All that remains is that it is a normal production car, albeit a desirable model, and in need of a bit of TLC, to put it kindly.
There are many stories being circulated by many wheeler-dealers. Doubtless there are a few bona fide cars around as well. (A good friend owns Henri Coanda's DS, for example, while the first "non-Government" owner of my Volga was head of the Vrancea securitate.) But we must learn to tell the difference between pretty stories and the truth.
de masini intre ei.
Asta este cazul unui Citroen CX 2400 Prestige de vanzare in Targoviste care se gaseste la http://www.ieftineala.ro/index.html . Clar spune ca masina fusese dat dar de regele Spaniei in 1986 lui Elena. Buuun. In plus circula prin capitala, in timpul comunismului, cu numarul 17-B-4031. Buuuun. Revolutia a gaist-o in garajul Securităţii de Comandamentul Naţional de Grăniceri. Si-a facut treaba si la politia frontierii in Constanta, pana in anul 2002, cand s-a vandut. Buuuuuun.
Totusi sunt unele detalii care nu se potrivesc. Masina in poze e clar un CX seria 1, deci nu are cum sa fie din 86. Daca are numarul de serie 00003 (fapt nedocumentat) inseamna ca anul de fabricatie trebuie sa fie 1976. Deci ar fi surprinzator ca regele Spaniei, in 1986, sa fi dat Ceausestilor o masina veche de 10 ani. De fapt nici nu s-a u intalnit in 86. E posibil, doar, sa se fi intamplat in 1979, cand Nicolae si Elena a vizitat Spania la invitatia regala. Totusi trebuie sa ne intrebam ce s-a intamplat cu masina intre 1979 si 1986.
Numerele 17-B au fost emise in doua serii: prima in 1979-80, a doua in 1987-88. Din nou, daca era masina Elenei, aproape sigur ar fi avut 1-B cu trei sau patru cifre, corespondand cu restul masinilor familiei si oficiale.
Blindata nu e. Unica in Romania anilor 80 nu era - masina alba, de exemplu, exista, fiind importata din Germania prin 86-87, si am auzit de cateva alte exemplare. O mica cercetare arata faptul ca cuvantul "Ceausescu" nu exista pe talon. Aproape sigur era o masina de ambasada, sau proprietatea unui strain, sau o masina importata
si apoi confiscata. Posibil sa fi fost vanduta la licitatie de catre stat. Posibil chiar sa fi fost folosita de forte speciale, precum alte "masini tari". Samburele de adevar exista intrucat Nicu Ceasuescu la un moment intr-adevar avea un Citroen, inmatriculat 1-B-232. In plus, nu e primul CX "al Elenei" sa fie pus la vanzare ... acum cativa ani exista si exemplarul visiniu de mai jos. Constatam ca e o masina aproape sigur fara legatura la fostii dictatori, si ramanem pe faptul ca de fapt e o masina de serie in stare nu chiar excelenta.
Din pacate povesti false, unele create ca solutia unui mister, altele fabricate din dorinta de a vinde un obiect, exista peste tot, exista bine inteles si cateva masini bona fide. (Un bun prieten are DS-ul lui Henri Coanda, spre exemplu, iar primul proprietar personal a Volgii mele a fost sef de securitate pe Vrancea.) E foarte important sa invatam sa facem distinctie dintre povesti si realitate!
In Romania there is a tendency for every old car to have had a famous former owner. Normally it is either Dej or Ceausescu, but occasionally it is any other illustrious person around at the time. The cars tend to be Volga / ZIL / ZIM / Dacia 2000 / Dacia 1301 / Fintail Mercedes. Sometimes there is a grain of truth, the car having being owned or used by a former high-ranking official, or hving taken part in a few motorcades, or having belonged to the State garages. But if we believe everything the sellers of these cars say then it turns out that Dej and Ceausescu had tens if not hundreds of cars between them.
This is the case with a Citroen CX 2400 Prestige advertised as having been owned by Elena Ceasuescu at http://www.ieftineala.ro/index.html . Apparently it was given to her by Juan Carlos of Spain in 1986. It was driving round the capital with the plates 17-B-4031. At the Revolution it was in a garage of the Romanian secret border police. It carried out some work over the next decade with the border polce in Constanta before being withdrawn and sold in about 2002.
But some things don't stack up. From the photo it's clearly a Series 1, so was at any stage not new in 1986. If it is indeed the third ever nade (which is dubious) then the year is 1976. Would the King have given Ceasuescus a 10-year old production car? Doubtful. In fact, they did not even meet in 1986. it is possible (just) that the car could have been given as a gift in 1979, when the Ceasuescus spent a few days with the Spanish royals. But that still leaves unclear what happened to the car
between 1979 and 1986.
The plates beginning 17-B were issued in two series, first in 1979-80 and second in 1987-88. But if it had been the Ceasuescus it would have had the "important" 1-B plates wtih three or four digits, as all their other cars did.
It is not armoured. It was certainly not unique in 80s Romania - among a few others I've head of, the white one in the picture was definitely around then, having been imported from West Germany in 1986/87. A few questions reveal that the word "ceasuescu" appears nowehre on the logbook. Perhaps it was a former Embassy car, or one imported by a foreigner, or sold by the State at auction having been abandoned or confiscated. Possibly, too, it maight have been owned by the Securitate or other special forces. Other Western models certainly were at the time. The grain of truth is that Nicu Ceasuescu did at one stage have a Citroen, registered
1-B-232. But, interestingly, a couple of years ago, another CX (the burgundy example) was put up for sale, also "having belonged" to Elena Ceasuescu... We can only conclude that this particular car is almost certainly not linked to the former dictators. All that remains is that it is a normal production car, albeit a desirable model, and in need of a bit of TLC, to put it kindly.
There are many stories being circulated by many wheeler-dealers. Doubtless there are a few bona fide cars around as well. (A good friend owns Henri Coanda's DS, for example, while the first "non-Government" owner of my Volga was head of the Vrancea securitate.) But we must learn to tell the difference between pretty stories and the truth.
25 March 2010
Constanta 1941
Inainte de razbo nu erau extrardinar de multe masini europene in Romania. Majoritatea erau de origine americana, fapt nesurprinzator considerand ca Ford avea fabrica la Floreasca. De fapt, inca din anii 20 Romania era identificata ca piata nr.1 in sud-estul Europei pentru masini din America.
In timpul razboiului totusi, o gramada de masini au sosit din Germania, apoi un numar mai redus, tot modele europene, din Rusia. Multe au stat in tara. Recent a fost expus de vanzare un Adler inca cu hartii nemtesti.
Aceste doua poza arata ofiteri nemti, in zona Constantei, cu niste masini Ford Eifel. Eifel era modelul cel mai mic de Ford fabricat in Germania. In 2003 am avut sansa sa vad un Eifel la Roman, jud. Neamt, masina era intr-o curte din 85 dar inca arata destul de solida si originala. Ulterior masina a disparut. Cu 2 ani mai tarziu era pe Internet, cu un strat de vopsea neagra "matt", clar aplicat in mod grabit, la pretul astronomic de 15,000 Euro. La banii astia se poate gasi unul restaurat in Germania....
In timpul razboiului totusi, o gramada de masini au sosit din Germania, apoi un numar mai redus, tot modele europene, din Rusia. Multe au stat in tara. Recent a fost expus de vanzare un Adler inca cu hartii nemtesti.
Aceste doua poza arata ofiteri nemti, in zona Constantei, cu niste masini Ford Eifel. Eifel era modelul cel mai mic de Ford fabricat in Germania. In 2003 am avut sansa sa vad un Eifel la Roman, jud. Neamt, masina era intr-o curte din 85 dar inca arata destul de solida si originala. Ulterior masina a disparut. Cu 2 ani mai tarziu era pe Internet, cu un strat de vopsea neagra "matt", clar aplicat in mod grabit, la pretul astronomic de 15,000 Euro. La banii astia se poate gasi unul restaurat in Germania....
24 March 2010
TV-41 in North Korea / TV-41 in Coreea de Nord
Nu am avut "sansa" sa calatoresc in Coreea de nord insa am auzit, si am vazut in imagini, ca un model de taxi relativ raspandit este celebra noastra Dacie 1310. insa se pare ca si TV-ul a ajuns pe acolo. E vorba de un rar TV-41M produs intre 1967 si 1972. A fost primul model TV care s-a exportat desi a fost o tentativa la TV-4M (1964-67), sau cel putin s-a produs o brosura. Numarul de 41-uri si 51-uri astazi in tara e foarte mic, in oirce caz nu depaseste 10-15. Inca mai sunt cateva in Cehia si Germania, tari care mai pastreaza asa ceva, restul s-au dus si am ramas doar cu memorii. TV-41 e cel mai vechi tip de TV care mai exista, modelele anterioare fiind extincte...
In Pyongyang multe masini si mai ales camioane au o viata extrem de lunga. E un obicei local sa pui o stea pe cabina unui camion care semnifica 50,000 km fara accidente. Nu e rar sa vezi modele vechi sovietice cu 10, 15 sau in unele cazuri 20 de stele. Ma intreb cate stele o fi luat frumosul microbuz TV sau daca, undeva in ultima tara cu adevarat comunista, inca isi mai taraie rotile...
I've not had the dubious honour of visiting north Korea but I'm reliably infromed that quite a popular taxi model is still the 190s Dacia 1310. But it seems as if the Dcia was not the only model that made it over. This postcard show a rare TV-41M made between 1967 and 1972. It was the first TV model to be exported although a brcure does exist o the earler TV-4M (1964-67) model. Today the 41/51 series (51 denotes 4x4) is very rare, the number in Romania not exceeding 10-15. Some also exist abroad, notably in Germany or the Czech republic where they look after these things somewhat better. Former models are completely extinct.
Cars and trucks in Pyongyang have an extremely had life. Local custom says that lorries carry a proud star on the side signifying 50,000 accident-free kilometres. It's not unusual to see 10, 15 or even 20 stars. I wonder how many this TV had the chance to ratchet up or indeed if, somewhere in North Korea, it's still plying its trade...
In Pyongyang multe masini si mai ales camioane au o viata extrem de lunga. E un obicei local sa pui o stea pe cabina unui camion care semnifica 50,000 km fara accidente. Nu e rar sa vezi modele vechi sovietice cu 10, 15 sau in unele cazuri 20 de stele. Ma intreb cate stele o fi luat frumosul microbuz TV sau daca, undeva in ultima tara cu adevarat comunista, inca isi mai taraie rotile...
I've not had the dubious honour of visiting north Korea but I'm reliably infromed that quite a popular taxi model is still the 190s Dacia 1310. But it seems as if the Dcia was not the only model that made it over. This postcard show a rare TV-41M made between 1967 and 1972. It was the first TV model to be exported although a brcure does exist o the earler TV-4M (1964-67) model. Today the 41/51 series (51 denotes 4x4) is very rare, the number in Romania not exceeding 10-15. Some also exist abroad, notably in Germany or the Czech republic where they look after these things somewhat better. Former models are completely extinct.
Cars and trucks in Pyongyang have an extremely had life. Local custom says that lorries carry a proud star on the side signifying 50,000 accident-free kilometres. It's not unusual to see 10, 15 or even 20 stars. I wonder how many this TV had the chance to ratchet up or indeed if, somewhere in North Korea, it's still plying its trade...
La mer.... (1935)
Autobuz de vacanta pe litoral (probabil Constanta sau Mamaia), circa 1935. E vorba despre un Ford BB din 1934 carosat special. Oare cine o fi facut caorieria?
Holiday charabanc, circa 1935, on the Black Sea coast, probably Constanta or Mamaia. It is a 1934 Ford BB truck with special coachwork - or wickerwork! But who was the coachbuilder?
Holiday charabanc, circa 1935, on the Black Sea coast, probably Constanta or Mamaia. It is a 1934 Ford BB truck with special coachwork - or wickerwork! But who was the coachbuilder?
Bonjour Bucarest (1968)
Niste imagini foarte interesante, din pacate nu extrordinar de clare, preluate din filmul "Impuscaturi pe portativ", din 1968. Toti cunoastem sau am vazut poze cu anumite parade din o anumita perioada, pline de Mercedesuri si Volgi negre, si cu un enorm Cadillac sau Mercedes landaulet in fata. Aici, totusi, vorbim de o parada complet diferita, cu multe modele ravnite in strainatate.
Secventa se gaseste aici! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OybvbEcSCwQ
Clar Caravelle e inmatriculata in Romania, cu niste numere destul de tari. La fel KG-ul. Ma intreb daca Caravelle-ul e exact acel visiniu care a supravietuit pana astazi in judetul Gorj? In rest, secventa se remarca prin cele doua antebelice. Inclin sa cred ca e vorba de doua BMW-uri 327, model foarte cautat inainte de razboi si astazI extrem de pretuit. Au existat (si inca exista!) mai multe exemplare in tara. Iar FIATul 850 Spider face toti banii....
Nu e Woodstock, dar totusi e ceva iesit din comun in Romania comunista....
Secventa se gaseste aici! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OybvbEcSCwQ
Clar Caravelle e inmatriculata in Romania, cu niste numere destul de tari. La fel KG-ul. Ma intreb daca Caravelle-ul e exact acel visiniu care a supravietuit pana astazi in judetul Gorj? In rest, secventa se remarca prin cele doua antebelice. Inclin sa cred ca e vorba de doua BMW-uri 327, model foarte cautat inainte de razboi si astazI extrem de pretuit. Au existat (si inca exista!) mai multe exemplare in tara. Iar FIATul 850 Spider face toti banii....
Nu e Woodstock, dar totusi e ceva iesit din comun in Romania comunista....
20 March 2010
Importurile oficiale din anii 60 / Official imports in the 1960s
Am dat de niste date fascinante despre importuriel oficiale de maisni in anii 60 pentru vanzare publica. Bine inteles, au fost multe masini importate sau particular, sau pentru institutii. Dar aici e vorba despre ce se putea cumpara atunci. O sa incerc sa caut si preturi...
NB unele modele au fost importate si inainte de 1963, deci probabil au existat mai multe Moskviciuri vechi, Skode Octavia si Felicia (desi nu Octavia Super care a fost produsa numai in perioada 63-64.) Siguar erau mai multe Wartburguri, Mihai de pe fiat.3xforum.ro a gasit niste statistice interesante despre importurile Wartburg 1956 - 64.
In 1963 au fost importate oficial 2,306 exemplare, iar in 1969 peste 18,000.
Unele masini (Volga, Fiat 1800) se pare ca au avut o rata decenta de supravietuire. Altele au disparut total. Nu tin minte sa fi vazut de mult timp un Trabant 601 din anii 60, majoritatea modelelor existente in tara fiind din anii 80. Probabil ce era mai scump a supravietuit mai mult. 2% din Fiaturile 100 Familiale au supravietuit, posibil e ca rata de supravietuire la mai multe masini din aceasta era e pe la 2%.
Masina Numere Pondere (%)
Dacia 1100 13600 17.6
Fiat 1100 D 1630 2.1
Fiat 124 250 0.3
Fiat 125 250 0.3
Fiat 1100 Fam 100 0.1
Fiat 1300 2567 3.3
Fiat 1500 113 0.1
Fiat 1800 792 1
Fiat 2300 2 0
Fiat 600 2200 2.8
Fiat 850 8405 10.9
Moskvich 403 1084 1.4
Moskvich 407 1442 1.9
Moskvich 408 8674 11.2
Renault 10 5500 7.1
Renault 16 2600 3.4
Renault Gordini 3000 3.9
Skoda 1000MB 9401 12.1
Skoda Felicia 10 0
Skoda Octavia 300 0.4
Skoda Octavia Super 63 0.1
Trabi 600 Lim. 808 1
Trabi 601 Lim. 5750 7.4
Trabi Kombi 857 1.1
Volga 977 1.3
Warszawa 129 0.2
Wartburg Lux 312/1 3200 4.1
Wartburg Lux 2500 3
Wartburg Std. 312/1 800 1
Wartburg Standard 500 0.7
Total 77504 99.8
Total 77504 100
-
Some figures about official imports in the 1960s... Of course, some were imported by the State for its own use, and many other makes and models were imported privately. These were just "official"...
NB unele modele au fost importate si inainte de 1963, deci probabil au existat mai multe Moskviciuri vechi, Skode Octavia si Felicia (desi nu Octavia Super care a fost produsa numai in perioada 63-64.) Siguar erau mai multe Wartburguri, Mihai de pe fiat.3xforum.ro a gasit niste statistice interesante despre importurile Wartburg 1956 - 64.
In 1963 au fost importate oficial 2,306 exemplare, iar in 1969 peste 18,000.
Unele masini (Volga, Fiat 1800) se pare ca au avut o rata decenta de supravietuire. Altele au disparut total. Nu tin minte sa fi vazut de mult timp un Trabant 601 din anii 60, majoritatea modelelor existente in tara fiind din anii 80. Probabil ce era mai scump a supravietuit mai mult. 2% din Fiaturile 100 Familiale au supravietuit, posibil e ca rata de supravietuire la mai multe masini din aceasta era e pe la 2%.
Masina Numere Pondere (%)
Dacia 1100 13600 17.6
Fiat 1100 D 1630 2.1
Fiat 124 250 0.3
Fiat 125 250 0.3
Fiat 1100 Fam 100 0.1
Fiat 1300 2567 3.3
Fiat 1500 113 0.1
Fiat 1800 792 1
Fiat 2300 2 0
Fiat 600 2200 2.8
Fiat 850 8405 10.9
Moskvich 403 1084 1.4
Moskvich 407 1442 1.9
Moskvich 408 8674 11.2
Renault 10 5500 7.1
Renault 16 2600 3.4
Renault Gordini 3000 3.9
Skoda 1000MB 9401 12.1
Skoda Felicia 10 0
Skoda Octavia 300 0.4
Skoda Octavia Super 63 0.1
Trabi 600 Lim. 808 1
Trabi 601 Lim. 5750 7.4
Trabi Kombi 857 1.1
Volga 977 1.3
Warszawa 129 0.2
Wartburg Lux 312/1 3200 4.1
Wartburg Lux 2500 3
Wartburg Std. 312/1 800 1
Wartburg Standard 500 0.7
Total 77504 99.8
Total 77504 100
-
Some figures about official imports in the 1960s... Of course, some were imported by the State for its own use, and many other makes and models were imported privately. These were just "official"...
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