Spotted in Kefalonia, Greece

[vacuman]

Just spent a week on this beautiful island. Considering the nature of the roads, the difficulty in sourcing parts and the winter weather (wet) we spotted a number of older cars in regular use.

The old Datsun admittedly was showing signs of wear and the Taunus and Fiat had been restored. But also spotted at least five Mk3 Escorts, one Mk1 Capri GT, numerous 90's Fiestas, Mk5/6 Escorts and Mondeos and other 90's motors.

One thing with Greece is that no-one wears a seat belt, they are all talking on their phones and bikers never bother with crash helmets. 

[Maxxxer]

I recognise that Fiat - is it parked on the main street in Lassi by any chance...?

[vacuman]

Yup, parked in the CBR car rental when we returned our car. To be fair, a very high quality restoration from what I could see.

Also spotted a new model Aston Martin with Greek plates over at Sami. Given the perilous state of their economy I think it's a little insensitive flashing wealth.

[Maxxxer]

Thought so - when i visited last year there was this at the very end of the main road (before the road either goes left down to the shore or up to the right, by the supermarket;


This was just along from where the Fiat was sat;


Plus these were languishing in a field on a back road to Argostoli;




I didn't really take any car related stuff this year sadly - although this seemed to be quite a common mode of transport in a few places;

[brc76]

I honestly don't think I have ever seen a mondeo without gaffer tape bumpers.

[Mercdan68]

I love holiday pics,Turkey in particular has some great old stuff,that taunus looks lovely

[HoTWire]

I work with a Greek guy who pointed out that a lot of classic stuff in Greece is going for bargain prices as people are trying to offload stuff because of the economic situation. ... Dunno how true that is though..

[strikey]

my abiding memory of the cars on kefalonia (from 15ish years ago so pre crash) was the amount of the higher end cars on such a small island...including an escort cosworth. stunning island though.

[composimmonite]

Unless things have changed it's difficult, if not impossible, to legally export a car from Greece.

[njw]

I went to a less touristy (is that a word?) bit of Corfu many years ago and there were old cars in various states everywhere, I would see a mk5 Cortina everday running up and down the main road with no number plates and there an old Toyota (I think) parked next to a bar with no windows or lights that I assumed was abandoned as for the first days I was there it didn't move, until one day it came cruising past! I can also remember the guy that ran the hotel running around in an old Nissan Sunny that had had all the paint on the roof and bonnet baked off by the sun.

[vacuman]

Is that a late model Taunus hiding behind that black Merc? We say that car but didn't venture close enough to spot anything behind it. The MK1 Capri was in the 'industrial area' one street really) behind main Argostoli and I felt certain if I nosed around I'd find some more old cars stashed away.

Even if you could buy that Capri for say £500, how much would it cost to get it back to the UK? Then it would need money spent to get it DVLA registered, converted to RHD etc. Mind you, there were a number of UK registered motors out there and a former UK white transit, RHD, but now spotting Greek plates. Could be money to be made perhaps by filling up a box van with parts perhaps and driving it back???

[MkX]

Sept 15, 2016 19:33:35 GMT vacuman said:

Is that a late model Taunus hiding behind that black Merc? We say that car but didn't venture close enough to spot anything behind it. The MK1 Capri was in the 'industrial area' one street really) behind main Argostoli and I felt certain if I nosed around I'd find some more old cars stashed away.

Even if you could buy that Capri for say £500, how much would it cost to get it back to the UK? Then it would need money spent to get it DVLA registered, converted to RHD etc. Mind you, there were a number of UK registered motors out there and a former UK white transit, RHD, but now spotting Greek plates. Could be money to be made perhaps by filling up a box van with parts perhaps and driving it back???

Loooong drive!

[RA40tony]

Driven the other way when I brought my Karmann over. It is a long trip and kinda expensive.
Regarding prices, most Greeks are dreamers when it comes to classic car values and very few bargains are available (at least on the main ad sites).

Not sure if its so difficult to export a car though.