19 March 2012

Chevroletul pompierilor din Lipova / The Lipova firemen's Chevrolet

Am aflat cu bucurie ca inca exista destule autospeciale pentru pompieri in tara, unele de-a dreptul interesante. La Recas e un Ford AA; se spune ca exista pe undeva si un Henschel din anii 40; au supravietuit si doua camioane Praga de la inceputul anilor 50, si o pereche de SR-101 cu cabina originala, pe langa destule exemplare pe sasiu de SR-101. Cel mai vechi totusi se afla la Lipova, jud Arad - e vorba despre un Chevrolet din 1927. Articulul spune totul! E fantastic ca asa ceva a fost pastrat atati ani.

I recently was pleased to find out there are still a fair few old fire trucks in Romania, some of which are rather interesting. There is a Ford AA at Recas, and, rumour has it, a 40s Henschel somewhere else in the country; two early 1950s Pragas stil survive, and two SR-101 modesl exist with the original bodywork, as well as a few other ones on a SR-101 chassis. The oldst, however, is in Lipova, Arad, and it's this 1927 Chevrolet. Details in the article! Wonderful that it has survived all these years.


12 March 2012

Vechi si nou in 1996 / Old and new in 1996

Amintiri mai recente, mai exact pozele unui calator britanic din 1996. Romania era intr-o ciudata perioada de tranzitie. Poate contrastul dintre est si vest, comunism si capitalism, alb-negru si color era cel mai pronuntat. Pe sosele era un adevarat amestec: modele din anii 60 care, cu chiu cu vai, inca mai mergeau, epave in stare oribila (Opel Rekord si Ascona, Mercedesuri vechi, cate un Renault 18) proaspat aduse din REMATuri occidentale si vandute cu mii de marci, Dacii si Oltcituri in fel de fel de conditii, si masini lucioase, nou-noute, occidentale. 1995 a fost primul an pentru Daewoo, masina care devine simbol a starei sociale ridicate exact cum erau FIATurile mari in anii 60. Numai cei cu adevarat tare isi permiteau Mercedes, Audi sau Jeep... Iar tinerii cu tendinte sportive iubeau Renaultul Fuego...

More recent memories, more precisely snaps made by a British tourist in 1996. Romania was in a real period of flux. It wa the time when the contrast between east and west, Communist and capitalist, black-and-white and colour was perhaps at its most pronounced. On the streets a curious mixture of vehicles rubbed flanks: 1960s models somehow still going strong, wrecks (Opel Rekord, Ascona, old Mercs, the odd Renault 18) brought fresh from Western scrapyards and sold for thousands of marks, Dacias and Oltcits in varying conditions, and shiny brand-new Western models. 1995 was the frist year when Daewoos became available; quickly, they became a symbol of social status just like the big FIATs were in the 60s. Real bigwigs had new Mercedes, Audis, or 4x4s... While the young dreamed of the Renault Fuego...











4 March 2012

Certificat Ford Romana SAR, 1936



Pe eBay a aparut acest certificat Ford Romana datat 1936. Design-ul neoromanesc e extrem de placut, iar certificatul ne aminteste ca Ford are o istorie bogata in Romania. Certificatul se afla in Croatia - ar fi frumos sa revina in tara natala.

Recently, on eBay, this 1936 Ford Romania certificate was put on sale. The neo-Romanian design is extremely pleasant, and the certificate reminds us that Ford has a rich history in Romania. The document is for sale in Croatia; it would be nice to see it return to its home country.