|
|
|
Jul 16, 2010 20:08:53 GMT
|
|
I am about to leave for the Mongol Rally, and I've had an idea about getting hold of a Trabant at some point on the way home and driving back. It seems a shame to leave my car in Mongolia and I don't want to return to England without a car, particularly as there will be so many interesting ones available. This is however all on the basis that I have any money left and I am not fed up with driving!
I was wondering about the technicalities of whether or not I could get it insured and if I could get it registered once it was back in England. Has anyone ever done anything like this before and in practise is it possible to turn up in an unfamiliar country and find an old car for sale? Also, I presume that Germany would be the best place for a Trabant, but what about Poland or anywhere else?
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 16, 2010 20:41:48 GMT
|
don't know anythin about bringing them back but if you decide its cheaper to buy a uk one this one is still sitting in a garage near me,I'm happy to go and find out more if you wanted ;D  |
| |
1984 Subaru GLF Hatch
1983 Skoda 120LE Super estelle
1977 Subaru DL Wagon
1978 Datsun 120Y Coupe
1995 Skoda favorit estate
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 16, 2010 21:09:00 GMT
|
|
Hungary is a good place to find one, as I am married to an hungarian we go there at least twice a year. The thing to remember is that to former eastern block countries Trabis are there equivalent to are mines, so they tend to keep hold of them and as a foreigner in there country they will see you as a good way to make lot of money for a cheep car.
|
| |
1955 Austin A30
1981 Jawa Mustang
1990 Trabant 601 (Tommy)
1989 Trabant 601
2009 Jaguar XF
2012 Toyota AYGO
2018 Scomadi TL
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 16, 2010 21:18:06 GMT
|
The fantasy: "I'm going to Mongolia, and I will have time and money to lavish on a car hunt, and I will discover all manner of exotic rare minters to spend my First World money on." The reality: "I'm going to Mongolia, and I will be hot, tired, unkempt, and stinky, and I will lose all my cash trying to bodge the car and scrounge for places to sleep and eat, and the rising tigers in Eastern Europe will laugh at my notion that they are desperate for cash from the declining nations of the former-First-World." 6350 miles, over one-quarter the way around the world in miles. Number of Trabants seen in Poland, Germany, Ukraine, and Russia = One. A convertible on display in Potsdam, at a very Western collector car price.  Good luck! BTDT, have the T-shirt! ;D |
| |
 Team Blitz Ford Capri parts worldwide: Restoration, Road, or Race. Used, Repro, and NOS, ranging from scabby to perfect. Itching your Capri jones since 1979! Buy, sell, trade. www.teamblitz.com blitz@teamblitz.com |
|
|
|
|
Jul 16, 2010 22:24:34 GMT
|
|
Thanks for the replies, I agree it is probably totally unrealistic and I am sure I will have had enough of small rubbish cars by the time I get to Mongolia! The idea was that they would be worth more in England than where they came from, so I could have a bit of fun driving something back and then sell it on if I didn't want to keep it. I have quite a few friends throughout Europe who I could probably ask to keep an eye out for something. I have no commitments after the rally, so I can spend time looking for stuff.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 16, 2010 22:29:23 GMT
|
....by the time I get to Mongolia.... Don't bank on that either, Rupert! ;D I saw twice as many Hillman Imps on the roads between London and Mongolia as I did Trabants. And that's the truth! Good luck, mate. Hope you got a tetanus immunization booster! |
| |
Team Blitz Ford Capri parts worldwide: Restoration, Road, or Race. Used, Repro, and NOS, ranging from scabby to perfect. Itching your Capri jones since 1979! Buy, sell, trade. www.teamblitz.com blitz@teamblitz.com |
|
|
|
|
Jul 16, 2010 22:38:22 GMT
|
|
Only one jab thank God! I am pretty confident that we will get to Mongolia as we have three totally identical Suzuki Swifts, so we would have to be pretty unlucky for them all to break down, and we can always cannibalise one or two of them for parts if the worst happens! Last time I went to France I saw over five old minis and no 2CVs. Most odd.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 16, 2010 23:03:09 GMT
|
^^Won't require them breaking down for them to get swept away in a river flash flood, or stolen by a gang, or impounded because you look "funny".  And I know of three roads across Central Asia that WILL break all 3 like matchsticks. Study up on the route you're planning! You have researched into the costs to "abandon" a vehicle in Mongolia, I trust? Make sure you have a donee agreement before you cross the border. All this said, somehow all the girlie teams (ones with actual girls) make the passage! ;D |
| |
Team Blitz Ford Capri parts worldwide: Restoration, Road, or Race. Used, Repro, and NOS, ranging from scabby to perfect. Itching your Capri jones since 1979! Buy, sell, trade. www.teamblitz.com blitz@teamblitz.com |
|
|
|
|
Jul 16, 2010 23:03:47 GMT
|
|
|
| |
1993 Fiat Panda Selecta
2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van
2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
don't know anythin about bringing them back but if you decide its cheaper to buy a uk one this one is still sitting in a garage near me,I'm happy to go and find out more if you wanted ;D I really really want that car ! ;D |
| |
You've been telling me you were a genius since you were seventeen ... in all the time I've known you I still don't know what you mean !
|
|
|
|
uncle silvia
Posted a lot
Datsun Club UK - Devon & Cornwall Rep
Posts: 1,483
|
|
|
|
There seems to be a fair few in the Czech Repubulic too! Heres one from my last trip to Prague............ ;D  And yes its a Merc SLR parked behind it.......... same bloke owns the Limo LOL |
| |
1981 KE70 Corolla - 1978 B310 Sunny Coupe - 1977 Pink Clubman Mini Shorty |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I used to import these, 5 a fortniight- back in the day.
4 were driven,1 a-framed every other weekend.
So I'm kinda responsible for a good percentage of the Uk ones...
Running gear rarely an issue - as long as you put enough 2stroke in. If you do knacker the engine -it takes (me) 20mins to swop out. Weighs the same as a small suitcase, needs 2 spanners.
Brakes, however, are a different issue-and if its sat- they'll be siezed. You can't get to them without the correct puller- even a strong universal ones wont touch it.
Thats why you now see so many Ebay ones -''needing minor brake attention''. Get the right tools-or don't try.
Insurance is on chassis number - agreed (in principle) in advance. Phoned thru-faxed cover over. Simples.
Early P50's (deeper rounded bonnet), Tramps,(the army softtop) or late Polo engine ones command the highest prices.
55mph -all day every day (Tramp 50- much heavier-its all metal!).
Good luck
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 17, 2010 22:30:34 GMT
|
|
Thanks, just the sort of answer I was looking for. I will get some of my friends to look out for something sutable, I am becoming quite drawn to them now!
|
| |
|
|
uncle silvia
Posted a lot
Datsun Club UK - Devon & Cornwall Rep
Posts: 1,483
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
1981 KE70 Corolla - 1978 B310 Sunny Coupe - 1977 Pink Clubman Mini Shorty
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 16, 2010 23:39:15 GMT
|
|
Okay, so I never brought one back. It was not due to my smell (which admittedly was very, very bad), but due to my financial situation. Had I had the money I would have carried on round the world.
We saw a fair few Trabants and I'm still sort of planning to get one. However, in Romania we saw so many old Dacia's. It took the biscuit how many we saw, literally, about a quarter of the cars we saw weren't Dacia's. It was simply ridiculous how many there were and I sort of want one, along side a Trabant!
|
| |
|
|
