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Peter_L
Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 2680 Location: New Brunswick. Canada.
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Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 6:23 pm Post subject: Africar. The Car for Africa |
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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.
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poodge
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 687
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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 3:15 am Post subject: |
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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: 7117 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 9:53 am Post subject: |
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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 _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22438 Location: UK
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Peter_L
Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 2680 Location: New Brunswick. Canada.
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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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peter scott wrote: |
Africar just seems like another Delorean to me.
Peter |
Which model Africar had the doors hinged on the top ??
... I must have missed that episode...... |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7117 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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I refuse to be drawn on that.
Peter (You can't always get me into rant mode ) _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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traction39
Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 399 Location: South Wales
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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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Citroen were building all-terrain vehicles since the 20's/30's, some still doing it eighty years later!!
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7117 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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That second shot is scarey! I'll bet they got wet feet. Did the ignition survive?
Peter _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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Riley Blue
Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1750 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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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
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Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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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
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Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 4:39 am Post subject: |
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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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