O descoperire... / A discovery...

... la introducerea lor in 1956, numerele ovale de ambasada aveau si anul pe ele. Nu stiu cat timp a durat acest sistem; era inca in existent in 1959 (poza 3); cert e ca in poze de la mijlocul anilor 60 (precum poza 4), anul nu mai apare.

...at their introduction in 1956, Romanian diplomatic plates had the year on them too. I'm not sure how long this system lasted for; it certainly existed in 1939 (photo 3); and in photos from the mid 60s (photo 4), the year is no longer shown.

Foaie de circulatie, 1949 / Circulation permit, 1949

Din 1949, o perioada turbulenta in istoria Romaniei, o foaie de circulatie pentru o bicicleta Peugeot. Interesant, foaia a fost conceputa original pentru carute si birje (tractiune animala).

Dupa numarul de cadru, aproape sigur e vorba de o bicicleta cu anul de fabricatie 1940 (martie-aprilie) - cealalta posibilitate e 1932 sau 1921.

Proprietarul a disparut in ceata istoriei...

From 1949 - a turbulent time in Romania's history - a circulation permit for a Peugeot bicycle. Interestingly, this document was conceived for animal-drawn vehicles - carts and carriages.

From the chassis number, this is almost definitely a bicycle produced in 1940 (March or April). The other possibilities are 1932 or 1921.

The owner has disappeared into the mists of history.

Peugeot-ul 404 de la Biserica Rusa / The Peugeot 404 at the Russian Church

Timp de ani de zile, un locatar din zona Bisericii Ruse, de pe strada Ion Ghica din centrul Capitalei, se deplasa cu un Peugeot 404 alb. Era un punct de reper in marea de Dacii din zona (plus Skodele de la ambasada cehoslovaca). In 2006 l-am surprins in poza nr 5; circula, desi rar. A mai stat in acelasi loc cativa ani si dupa 2008 a disparut. Credeam ca masina era REMATizata de mult tip, dar se pare ca inca exista, dovada fiind ultimele doua poze, luate in aprilie, aratand masina intr-o curte pe soseaua Pipera. Se tine destul de bine batrana, mai ales tinand cont ca a fost abandonata de cel putin 6 ani: 404 era bine-cuonscut pentru robustete. Cine stie ... poatea va avea un viitor mai stralucitor. Ar merita!

For many years, a resident of the area around the Russian Church in Bucharest drove around in a white Peugeot 404. It was a familiar sight in the sea of Dacias (and Czechoslovakian Embassy Skodas). In 2006 I photographed it (picture 5) - it was still being driven then, albeit rarely. It stayed in the same place for a few more years and disappeared after 2008. I assumed it had long been crushed, but - according to photos taken in April - it still exists, in a courtyard in Pipera. It's not in bad condition considering how long it's been abandoned for - but then the 404 was a notably resistent vehicle. Perhaps it might have a brighter future. It deserves it!

In 1985

In 2003

In 2004

In 2005

In 2006

Circa 2007

In 2008

In 2015

Masinile din "Cantecele Marii" (1970) / The cars from "The Songs of the Sea" (1970)

O gramada de imagini interesante, desi de slaba calitate, preluate din comedia muzicala romano-sovietica "Cantecele Marii", filmat in 1970. Au fost doua versiuni - in limba rusa si in limba romana - cu scene diferite. Inaginile sunt din ambele variante. "Antebelica", care urma a fi accidentata in "Asta seara dansam in familie" (1972), pare a fi home-made utilizand fel de fel de parti. Se vede o foarte rara Dacie 1100 de Militie - ni stiu titusi daca e voba de un 1100S cu patru faruri. Cadillacul 1969 argintiu e o masina destul de celebra in cinematografie romaneasca din anii 70 si 80. Iar cea mai uimitoare masina e Mercedesul SL190. Cu siguranta una din cele mai spectaculoase masini din acei ani, si o raritate absoluta in spatea cortinei de fier.

A heap of interesting though rather poor-quality images taken from the Romanian / USSR musical "The songs of the sea", filmed in 1970. There were two versions, one in Russian and one in Romanian, using different scenes; here, both are combined. The pre-war looking car, which would later be crashed in the film "Tonight our family dances" (1972), is probably home-made and a mix of different parts. Also visibile is a very rare militia Dacia 1100; you can't tell, however, whether it's a twin-headlamped 1100S. The 1969 silver Cadillac is a staple of Romanian films of the period. The most spectacular car is of course the Merecedes SL190, an absolute rarity behind the Iron Curtain.

SL 190




Heckflosse


SL la aeroport


Ce e masina argintie? Poate ceva exotic si italian?


DS in distanta


Luxul in 1970: Mercedes, R16, Chevrolet 67...


Peugeot 404 si o broscuta


DS Safari


VW x3


Wartburg, Dacia 1100 de militie


Volga M22 - masina astazi foarte rara in Romania


La Universitate


BMW, VW si una din primele "sutici"


Inca o imagine cu antebelica


TV-uri




Cadillac




Dacia 1100, 1-B-trei cifre


Trafic cotidian. Cam tot ce se vede aici a devenit rara avis...

Poze vechi cu Peugeot 404 in Romania / Old photos with Peugeot 404 in Romania / Anciennes photos avec des Peugeot 404 en Roumanie

Pentru amatorii de Peugeot 404:
1) Biserica rusa in 1985, colectia Cristian Malide. Peugeotul, proprietatea unui localnic, a ramas acolo in stare decenta pana prin 2008.
2) Dina Papana, pilot de curse, in Peugeot 404 Coupe
3) Moteulul Malu in anii 70
4) Bucuresti, strada Episcopiei, circa 1972
5) Bucuresti 1977
6) Brasov, carte postala circulata 1966, poza e probabil un pic mai veche
7) Bucuresti, 1971 cu numere de ambasada, langa propaspatul construit Intercontintenal.
Peugoetul 404 nu a fost importat in Romania oficial; totusi, in anii 60 si 70, destule exemplare si-au gasit drumul peste granita. Peformanta dar si solida, era comparabila cu Renault 16 sau Fiat 1800. Nu era masina de "mare stab" sau nomenclaturist, dar, fara discutie, proprietarii erau oameni profesionisti cu posibilitati financiare. Majoritatea au fost in Bucuresti, ardelenii preferand, per total, masinile nemtesti. Si astazi au supravietuit, inca nu extrem de multe, probabil 20 sau 25.

Pour les amateurs de Peugeot 404:
1) L'eglise russe a Bucarest en 1985, collection Cristian Malide. Le 404, voiture d'un riverain, est reste la jusqu'au 2008.
2) Dina Papana dans sa 404 coupe
3) Le motel Malu dans les annees 70
4) Bucarest, rue Episcopiei (pres de l'Athenee), circa 1972
5) Bucarest 1977
6) Brasov, carte postale circulee en 1966. Le photo est probablement un peu plus vieille
7) Bucarest 1971, avec des plaques diplomatiques, pres de l'hotel Intercontinental qui venet d'etre bati.
Le 404 n'etait pas importe officiellement en Romanie, mais beaucoup des examples y ont venu dans les annees 60 et 70. C'etait consideree une voiture performante et fiable, comparable au Renault 16 ou Fiat 1800. Les propreietaies n'etaient pas vraiment le nomenklatura mais ils etaient sans doute aises. La pluplart des 404 etaient a Bucarest; les gens dans les villes de Transylvanie prefereraient importer des voitures allemandes. Maintenant les 404 existent meme en Roumanie, mais je doubte que numero des exemplaires soit plus de 20 ou 25.

For fans of the Peugeot 404:
1) At the Russian Church in Bucharest in 1985, photo c/o Cristian Malide. The Peugeot belonged to a local resident and was there until around 2008.
2) Racer Dina Papana in her 404 Coupe
3) Malu motel, 1970s,
4) Episcopei Street in Bucharest, next to the Athenaeum, c. 1972
5) Bucharest 1977
6) Brasov, from a 1966 postcard so the photo is probably a bit older
7) Diplomatic car in Bucharest, 1971, next to the newly built Hotel Interncontinental.
The Peugeot 404 was never officially imported into Romania, but a decent number found their way there in the 1960s and 70s. It was considered a good, solid, reliable car, similar to the Renault 16 or Fiat 1800. Owners were not really Communist elite but certianly propserous professionals. Most 404s were in Bucharest; cities in Transylvania tended to prefer importing German cars. Today the 404 survives in Romania but in smallish numbers, probably no more than 20 or 25.