TV-7 in 1965

Aceste imagini absolut rarisime surprind un autobuz TV-7 in zona Moldovei in 1965. TV-7 a fost fabricat intre 1964 si 1967, ulterior fiind inlocuit de TV-71, o varianta usor modernizata. Autobuzul cu un design de-a dreptul futurist a fost conceput in mod special pentru drumuri interurbane, mai ales la munte. Motorul era un V8 de Bucegi. Bine inteles, nu mai exista asa ceva de mult in Romania. Totusi sa pare ca 2 sau 3 exemplare de TV-71 au supravietuit in Cehia, e drept in stare de epava.

These extremely rare images show a TV-7 bus in the Moldova region in 1965. The TV-7 was made between 1964 and 1967, before being replaced by the slightly modernised TV-71. The bus, with its distinctive space-age design, was designed for inter-urban journeys, especially in mountainous regions. It was powered by the V8 Bucegi engine. Of course, none survive in Romania, but it seems that 2 or 3 TV-71 examples exist in the Czech Republic, albeit in terrible condition.

Poiana Brasov in epoca de aur / Poiana Brasov in the golden era

Dousprazece vederi din Poiana Brasov in perioada de glorie... O impresionananta colectie de masini - bine-inteles, arhiprezenta Dacie 1300 (inclusiv de ACR), dar si masini vestice interesante: Fiat 1600, Volvo, Opel Rekord Coupe, Peugeot 404, Ford Taunus / Cortina, Mercedes coada de randunica, autocar Fiat de ONT, multe minunatii ... Inca o dovada ca parcul auto in Romania anilor 70 era mult mai divers decat se crede astazi.

Twelve postcards from Poiana Brasov in its glory days. A real variety of cars - of course, the ever present Dacia 1300 (including in its Romanian Automobile Club guise), but also other, Western cars: Fiat 1600, Volvo, Opel Rekord Coupe, Peugeot 404, Ford Taunus / Cortina, Mercedes Fintail, Office of National Tourism Fiat coach, and many more ... Yet more proof that Romania's 1970s car pool was far more varied than we give credit for. 

"Swinging Sixties" la Mamaia

Vara, din pacate, s-a dus, si sezonul cald supravietuieste numai in poze sau amintiri. Iar aceasta poza, surprinsa la sfarsitul anilor 60 in Mamaia, aminteste nu numai de vara ci de o perioada in care litorlaul romanesc era poate la apogeul sau. Viata era frumoasa, mai ales pentru cine isi permitea sa se plimbe la mare cu masina sport, lucioasa, americana, poate cu o blonda in scaunul pasagerului...

Sadly the summer is gone, and the warm season lives on only in photos or memories. This photo, taken at the end of the 1960s in Mamaia, brings to mind not only the summer but a period when the Romanian coast was at its height. Life was good - especially if you could take out on a spin your shiny new American sports car, perhaps with a blonde by your side...

Reguli pentru biciclisti, 1967 / Cycling rules in 1967

Aceste frumoase ilustratii, din 1967, sunt de interes prin exectuia artistica. Camioneta Carpati e aproape perfect desenata; pana si masina albastra e clar FIAT (1300 sau 1500). Imi place foarte mult aceasta atentie la detalii care totusi nu dauneaza simplictatii. These pretty illustrations, dating from 1967, impress by their artistic execution. The Carpati truck is almost perfectly depicted; even the blue car is clearly a FIAT 1300 or 1500. This attention to detail (which doesn't detract from the simplicity of the pictures) I find pleasing and a sign of good workmanship.

Rolls Royce in Romania - 1927

O poza absolut exceptionala aratand o coloana oficiala (poate a familiei regale) pe strada Lispcani, in Slatina, in 1927. In fata este un splendid Rolls Royce, o masina care era, ca acum, absolut de elita. Rolls Royce avea o prezenta in Romania antebelica, ambasada britanica dispunand de asa ceva inca din 1921. Mai tarziu, spre sfarsitul anilor 30, regele Carol folosea (chiar in mod oficial) un exemplar decapotabil, cu doua portiere. Sunt sigur ca ar mai fi existat cateva!

A rather exceptional photo showing an official parade (perhaps that of the royal family) on the lipscani street in Slatina in 1927. The column is led by a superb Rolls Royce, then, as now, a car of the elite. It was not a wholly unknown make: the British Embassy was using one in 1921, and a two-door convertible was being driven around, even on official parades, by King Carol, in the late 1930s. And I am sure there would have been a few more!

1970 - Bucuresti, Brasov

Inca un set de poze color, dintr-o colectie americana, aratand Bucuresti si Brasov. Filmul care ruleaza la cinematograful Patria e din 1965 si pozele sunt clar mai noi decat asta. Se vad Dacii 1300; sunt chiar doua Forduri Capri (unul rosu cu numere de ambasada, altul alb in parcarea Casei Sfatului). Totusi  dupa moda e clar ca anii 70 nu patrunsesera inca. In plus, Inter-ul (deschis in 1971) e abia in constructie. Si intr-adevar, pozele suntd in octombrie 1970. Mercedes-ul Ponton (daca vad corect, cu numere 1-B-trei cifre) e pe departe preferata mea, probabil amintidu-mi de doua epave in zona copilariei, pe langa care intotdeauna ma plimbam, fascinat.
Another set of colour photos with Bucharest and Brasov. Dating them is rather interesting: the film shwoing - The Sound of Music - appeared in 1965 and the photos are clearly more recent. You can see two Ford Capris (one red, one white in Brasov) and the odd Dacia 1300. But the fashions are hardly of the 70s, and the Intercontinental Hotel, which opened in 1971, is still shown as under construction. And indeed the images - from an American collection - turn out to be from October 1970. The Mercedes Ponton is by far my favourite of the lot. When young, I used to be fascinated by two derelict examples close to my house, so I still retain a soft spot for them.

Vanatoarea de epave in 2002-3 (II) / Wreck-hunting in 2002/3 (II)

Din arhiva personala, inca niste poze de acum zece ani, surprinse de mine cand am inceput sa fiu interesat de "rable". Pozele isi spun povesta lor, de obicei trista.

From my photo archive, some more images I took ten years ago when I began an interest in wreck-hunting. They tell their own stories - generally not happy ones. 

Ford Capri Mk 1, Buhusi. Acest model era cautat in Romania anilor 70 si destul de multe exemplare au ajuns in tara, cateva zeci supravietuind si astazi.

Mercedes "coada de randunica" in stare precara. Dupa 2003 nu am mai vazut aceasta masina.

Dacia 1100, o prezenta comuna atunci. Rar am vazut o masina atat de terminata.

Opel Rekord B, 1965. Masina - in stare decenta - a fost, spunea proprietarul, masina personala primului secretar de Bacau. Nu stiu daca sa-l cred sau nu! Ultima data am vazut aceasta masina intr-un sat in judetul Neamt cu toate geamurile sparte. Era prin 2008 si nu cred ca ar fi fost restaurata.

Volkswagen Passat Mk 1. Aceste exemplare sunt astaze foarte rare si cautate de fanii "youngtimer". In 2002, abia meritau sa fie fotografiate.

Moskvich 403. Masina pornea la sfert de cheie si era de vanzare la un pret foarte accesibil.

Vauxhall Victor, Piatra Neamt. O masina in stare superba. A disparut dupa 2004.

Renault 10 Major, masina odata omniprezenta pe strazile Romaniei. Aceasta masina - surprinsa la un Peco in orasul Roman - urma sa fie predata la REMAT.