v o l g a n e a g r a: March 2016

23 March 2016

Craiova 1987

Cartile foto aratand orase in Romania au fost extrem de rapsandite in perioada 1957- 75, si multe din imaginile surprinse de marii fotografi ai vremii sunt destul de bine cunoscute. O raritate, totusi, e aceasta carte, aratand Craiova in 1987. Imagini "oficiale" din anii 80 sunt putine. Imaginile arata un oras pustiu, lipsit de viata: daca nu ar fi edificiile splendide din perioda antebelica, am fi putut fi la Pyongyang... Nici masinile nu sunt prea interesante. Dacii peste tot - din care remarcam o Dacie Sport galbena si cateva modele canadience; cateva Oltcituri, produse local; un Wartburg 353; un Fiat 124 Coupe; si un Citroen 2CV... Ani grei.

Photo books showing Romanian towns and cities were very common from around 1957 to around 1975, and many of the images, taken by the major Romanian photographers of the era, are well known. This book, however, is a rarity - it was published in 1987 and shows the city of Craiova. "Official" images from the 1980s are few and far between. These show a fairly empty and desolate city; if it weren't for the superb pre-war buildings, it could almost be Pyongyang... The cars are relatively mundane too: Dacias everywhere, including a yellow Sport and a couple of Canadian export models; a few Oltcits produced locally; a Wartburg 353; a Fiat 124 Coupe; and a Citroen 2CV ... Hard times.

5 March 2016

Masinile filmului "Pisica de mare" (1963) / Cars of the film "Stingray" (1963)

O dovada ca parcul automobilistic in Republica Populara Romania era surprinzator de divers. Era destul de raspandit vorba ca "domnii merg cu tramvaiul, tovarasii merg cu masini americane"; si in aveasta comedie, masinile americane sunt foarte in evidenta. O parte fac parte din perioada 1945-47, cand Romania era inca monarhie, si inca se mai facea comert cu Statele Unite; remarcam, totusi, masini din perioada 1947-1955. Cu toata rusificarea perioadei, cine putea, inca putea! Piesa de rezistenta e probabil un splendid Buick decapotabil din 1949 - ironic, fiind identic cu cel comandat de regele Mihai in exil, de la Bruxelles.

Proof that in the Popular Republic period, Romanian vehicles were surpringly diverse. A saying in vogue at the time said "gentlemen travel by tram; comrades travel in American cars"; and here, American cars feature heavily. Some are from the 1945-47 period, when Romania was still a monarchy, and trade with the United States still existed; but there are also vehicles from the heavily Russified period of 1947-1955. Proof that some fortunate individuals could still do themselves rather well. The star exhibit is probably a superb 1949 Buick convertible - ironically enough, identical to the one King Michael ordered from Brussels during his exile.