Buick Electra, 1968 - 2009

In coloana oficiala lui Ceausescu in anii 60, se gaseau mai multe feluri de masini. Bine-inteles, era masina in care calatorea iubitul conducator, de obicei sau un Cadillac decapotabil din 1959, sau celebrul Mercedes 600 Pullman landaulette. In spate, de obicei erau Mercedesuri sau Volgi, ambele de culore neagra. Cateodata, se mai zarea si cate un Opel Admiral negru, o broscuta de militie, un Jaguar 420, tot de militie, sau chiar o limuzina sovietica, ZIL sau Ceaika, desi nu foarte des, dezrusificarea fiind o tema importanta in politica de externa. Dar in una din pozele din fototeca comunismului, se vede un Buick Electra, model 1959. Probabil a fost adusa de noua pentru un inalt demnitar, masinile americane fiind foarte in voga pentru elita politica a anilor 50. (Dej conducea un Cadillac ca masina personala.) Oricum, fara discutie facea furori in perioada respectiva.

Astazi, un exemplar identic, foarte posibil chiar masina din poza, se gaseste in paragina in Mioveni. Fara discutie masina a avut o viata grea dar interesanta. Ma intreb cate alte bijuterii zac in parcari provinciale...

In Ceausescu's motorcade in the 1960s, there were several types of cars. Of course, there was the Dear Leader's own vehicle, either a 1950 Cadillac convertible or his famous Mercedes 600 Pullman landaulette, to be used on the most auspicious occasions. Then there were either black Volgas or black Mercedes 220s, or, more rarely, the odd black Opel Admiral, militia VW Beetles or Jaguar 420s, or even the odd Soviet ZIL or Chaika limousine, though not often given the official policy of de-Russification. And in one of the photos published online by the centre for investigating Commmunism in Romania, we can see a 1959 Buick Electra. It was probably brought new for very a high official, American cars being very fashionable among the Fifties Communist elite. (Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej's private car was a Cadillac.) It must have caused quite a stir on the streets of Bucharest.

Now, an identical model, perhaps even the same car, languishes in a parking lot in Mioveni. It bears the scars of a hard life in Romania, but it must have some fascinating stories to tell. I wonder how many similar jewels lie unloved in provincial side streets...