Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
|
|
| Author |
Message |
Piers
Joined: 18 Oct 2008
Posts: 3
|
 Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 10:49 am Post subject: Africa calling! |
 |
|
Return to Sender"
Howzit!
On a recent South African Chev "safari" up near the Cullinan mine, where the famous "Star of Africa diamond was discovered in 1905, I found my own "diamond in the rough"- a rare left hand drive, 5/7 seater '61 Chevrolet Suburban. Incredibly, after lying out under the harsh African sun for the last 30 years, the body had only minor rust. Granted it needed a bit of work but the only thing that really concerned me was the badly damaged,(yellow/black) curved shaped windshield. Because this vehicle was specially imported into South Africa, the windshield would have to be sourced in the US. The owner, Monty (83), a sun baked, wily African Boer said he'd sell it to me but only if I accepted his challenge - TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO GM'S HEADQUARTERS! Somewhat amused, I told him I'd think it over and set off to check out another GM classic - a '35 Chevy Pick Up, on the Skeleton Coast, a heavilly restricted diamond mining area in Namibia
Driving through sweltering Namibian desert in my "scout car", a '67 Chevrolet Impala SS coupe, my mind kept returning to that '61 "burb in the bush". I just couldn't leave it there to "RIP" (rust in peace) This old classic had plenty of life left in it. Suddenly, I got an idea. Why not take up Monty's challenge? I'd simply fix it up, ship it to Buenos Aires, drive it West over the Andes into Chile, on up through South / Central America / Mexico, right up to GM's car park! Who knows, maybe the GM marketing lads could use the Chev for a unique publicity campaign or simply exhibit this remarkable "burb in the bush" in their museum! With some serious current losses, these lads needed all the help they could get! '
While enjoying a cold beer in the dusty, coastal Namibian town of Luedreitz, another idea came into my head! Why not make a road trip TV show? Surely viewers and those TV network lads must be fed up with all those reality shows? Here was a real life adventure! Everything was in place - a cool, rugged, weather-beaten vehicle, spectacular scenery, plenty of other Chev classics to track down and interesting characters to interview. I had the time, passion, experience, energy and with all my Cape Town movie contacts, it wouldn't be difficult to round up a motley crew of 3/4. There was only one obstacle - dosh!
Sadly, I wasn't exactly flush having invested in my own '40's -'60's collection of Chevy Pick Ups and other classics. Granted, renting them out as Cape Town movie "prop" vehicles did pay for some of those expensive "hospital" bills but if I was going to restore / ship this old Chevy across the Atlantic and film the whole adventure, I needed some assistance. After all hadn't I succeeded in getting these GM classics featured in international movies, commercials and still photography fashion shoots! I felt confident any investment would be recouped from extensive media coverage and many viewers might be inclined to believe the GM blurb - GM vehicles are rugged, tough long lasting vehicles, resulting in an increase of  sales. So friends, if anyone out there knows who I could contact at GM or keen to invest, please drop me a line. Who knows, maybe the next time you switch on the National Geographic channel, you'll follow this amazing '61 Burb in the bush" adventure! Pics of the "burb in the bush"+ other classics on request.
My recent Chev "safari" discovery is an original '53 Chevy hearse - looks like something you'd see in an early Bond movie or used by the Ton ton Macute, Papa Doc's dreaded secret police to "voodoo" terrorize native Haitians. Plan to get it running and paint it black/cream with tinted windows. May even approach Guinness (my favourite drink) to see if they might like to use it in a marketing campaign. "Dead on Time" would be a cool logo!
Slan! The Celt! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22811
Location: UK
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
47p2
Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 2009
Location: Glasgow
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That top picture is superb
_________________
ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Scotty
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 883
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Beautifully framed photographs - I don't imagine Piers that you're new to this photography lark then.
Scotty. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Piers
Joined: 18 Oct 2008
Posts: 3
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:58 am Post subject: Africa calling! |
|
|
Thank you lads for the compliments. Actually, I'm not a photographer at all but there's something about an old classic and amazing
African scenery that I have to get my camera out! Rick is going to post some more classics. Thanks again. Keep well. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22811
Location: UK
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
php BB powered © php BB Grp.
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
