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Africar. The Car for Africa
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Peter_L



Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.

PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 6:23 pm    Post subject: Africar. The Car for Africa Reply with quote

One probably has to be of a certain age to have witnessed the fall and failure of this project.

http://www.difflock.com/diffmag/issue6/Africar/index.shtml

I watched the TV show, and at the time, quite a lot of it made sense.

The failure of he project has been put down to the failings of one man, but then so much of the rhetoric would appear to be created by those who have made nothing. I am sure I am not alone in knowing that the one who never made a mistake never made anything in the first place.

So was it all just a really bad idea run by a really bad business man, or was it too far in the future, arriving at a time when we all thought that oil and everything else would last for ever. It was also at a time when the only chips we knew came wrapped in newspaper and it was possible to mend most cars with a little bit of wire and a huge piece of ingenuity

...... or was it torpedoed... ?

I was in that country for a while, I would have liked one.

.. Crying or Very sad
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poodge



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 687

PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 3:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There were quite a few attempts to build a car suitable for the purpose this car was to fulfill.
They all fell by the wayside,probably the cost vs profit equation didn't stack up.
now most of the countries that needed a car like this have japanese imports,or local assembly vehicles.
In fact,the original 2cv was quite suitable for this purpose.It was about as simple as a car could get,yet performed very well in dubious conditions.
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7113
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 9:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I remember the publicity at the time and remember thinking that this was just a nutty notion. Plywood manufacture requires just as much technology as GRP and GRP has a much better chance of survival given the voracious appetite of some of Africa's insect life that can turn wooden items to dust in a matter of weeks.

The Citroën Méhari was/is a much more sensible vehicle.

Africar just seems like another Delorean to me.

Peter
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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 9:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

At the Lakeland Motor Museum a few years ago...



RJ
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Peter_L



Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.

PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 2:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

peter scott wrote:

Africar just seems like another Delorean to me.
Peter


Which model Africar had the doors hinged on the top ?? Rolling Eyes
... I must have missed that episode...... Laughing Laughing Laughing
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7113
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 10:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I refuse to be drawn on that.

Peter (You can't always get me into rant mode Wink )
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traction39



Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 399
Location: South Wales

PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 11:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Citroen were building all-terrain vehicles since the 20's/30's, some still doing it eighty years later!!

[/img]

Quote:
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7113
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That second shot is scarey! I'll bet they got wet feet. Did the ignition survive?

Peter
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Riley Blue



Joined: 18 Jun 2008
Posts: 1750
Location: Derbyshire

PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 4:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wasn't the Peugeot 404 pickup the ultimate car for Africa? It was still being made into the 1990s I believe.
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traction39



Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 399
Location: South Wales

PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 8:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Those Tractions keep going and going...some admittedly have DS blocks and 4 speed boxes with external oil filters...!

I remember seeing plenty of 504's in Africa in the nineties as taxis. All conditions, even driving along on their hubs!! Nothing was ever thrown away..I was amazed at the mechanical ability of the guys there. Could show the west a thing or two about recycling!!
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poodge



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 687

PostPosted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 4:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's funny Peugeots should be mentioned.
I distinctly remember an article in a Swedish car magazine in the sixties,naming the ten best cars in the world.You'd think being a Swedish magazine,the Volvo would have come out on top.Wrong!
The best car according to this article was the Peugeot 404.The Volvo came 7th,and Saab 9th.
No 10 was the Mercedes 220SE.
Somewhere towards the top was the lowly aircooled Wartburg two-stroke.They were extremely beloved by doctors,since they had no water to freeze.
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