Like Land Rover but not a Land Rover?
Discussion
I like a nice Series I or II as much as the next man, but there's somthing appealing about rare old 4wd vehicles, especially in the UK where the LR is so ubiquitous. This popped onto my Ebay screen today:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steyr-Puch-Haflinger-/17...
Sale is nothing to do with me, obviously. I have no idea whether £4k is anywhere near a fair price but
a) How nice is that? Really original and patinated
b) You'll probably never see another, especially in RHD. Or am I wrong? Are there stashes of these things near you?
So the Austin Gypsy is the obvious one, but it's years since I saw one of them on the road either. Even those 70's Daihatsu things seem to have rusted away by now. Any other forgotten 4wd beauties you've spotted lately?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steyr-Puch-Haflinger-/17...
Sale is nothing to do with me, obviously. I have no idea whether £4k is anywhere near a fair price but
a) How nice is that? Really original and patinated
b) You'll probably never see another, especially in RHD. Or am I wrong? Are there stashes of these things near you?
So the Austin Gypsy is the obvious one, but it's years since I saw one of them on the road either. Even those 70's Daihatsu things seem to have rusted away by now. Any other forgotten 4wd beauties you've spotted lately?
I'm old enough to remember when Haflingers were sold by tractor dealers in the UK. I am occasionally in the Alps or Switzerland and you still see them - plus loads of MB Unimogs.
You see quite a few UMMs in this part of France. I saw one back along belonging to the Dordogne Fire Brigade. I think they are built in Romania, with Peugeot diesels, but to a French design by a bloke called Cournil.
I also see the odd Santana, which is a cheapened licence-built Land Rover from Spain.
When I was a muttering rotter years ago I had the misfortune of testing a Mahindra Indian Brave - the Indian take on a Jeep but with a Peugeot diesel engine. It was pretty horrific. Imagine my surprise when I saw one beside the road near here a couple of years ago with a 'for sale' sign on it. It's gone now...
And, of course, in this part of the world you can STILL buy a new Lada Niva! I was at a Lada dealer in Limoges a couple of years ago (don't ask) and chatting to the saleswoman about them. She said they are difficult to sell in France (although there's lots of old ones round here) because, after all these years, there is still no diesel option.
She said - and this is absolutely true - they are pretty basic but you can always identify the 'sport' model. It's the one with the tennis ball on the tow hitch!
You see quite a few UMMs in this part of France. I saw one back along belonging to the Dordogne Fire Brigade. I think they are built in Romania, with Peugeot diesels, but to a French design by a bloke called Cournil.
I also see the odd Santana, which is a cheapened licence-built Land Rover from Spain.
When I was a muttering rotter years ago I had the misfortune of testing a Mahindra Indian Brave - the Indian take on a Jeep but with a Peugeot diesel engine. It was pretty horrific. Imagine my surprise when I saw one beside the road near here a couple of years ago with a 'for sale' sign on it. It's gone now...
And, of course, in this part of the world you can STILL buy a new Lada Niva! I was at a Lada dealer in Limoges a couple of years ago (don't ask) and chatting to the saleswoman about them. She said they are difficult to sell in France (although there's lots of old ones round here) because, after all these years, there is still no diesel option.
She said - and this is absolutely true - they are pretty basic but you can always identify the 'sport' model. It's the one with the tennis ball on the tow hitch!
N Dentressangle said:
b) You'll probably never see another, especially in RHD. Or am I wrong? Are there stashes of these things near you?
There was one of these (or very similar, definitely a Steyer-Puch, but had an enclosed back) at the Aston Clinton show today.Wow, they have switchable front/rear diff locks. Fairly serious bit of kit then?
varsas said:
Wow, they have switchable front/rear diff locks. Fairly serious bit of kit then?
I think they are. I seem to remember them as a fairly common sight when I lived in Germany 20 odd years ago, both with the military and with the council roads / highways departments, IIRC.I can't remember the last time I saw a UK RHD one though.
Whilst researching the history of the " Most underated 4x4 by far " The Austin Gipsy ( 1958-1968 ) and BMCs globe trotting Gipsy expert and most likely the best off road driver of his generation, the Late, lamented Dudley White, I heard an amusing story.
Dudley would regularly demonstrate a Series 1V leaf spring Gipsy all over the world And no other 4x4 could match him.... Including the Land Cruiser, Dodge Power Waggon, Jeep and Land Rover.....Exept the tiny Haflinger. Throughout the 1960s, the Factory Haflinger demo driver was a Lady who was also a superb driver, she and Dudley would often pull each others leg over just who had the best 4 x 4 !
Dudley would regularly demonstrate a Series 1V leaf spring Gipsy all over the world And no other 4x4 could match him.... Including the Land Cruiser, Dodge Power Waggon, Jeep and Land Rover.....Exept the tiny Haflinger. Throughout the 1960s, the Factory Haflinger demo driver was a Lady who was also a superb driver, she and Dudley would often pull each others leg over just who had the best 4 x 4 !
te again?Breadvan72 said:
I can put anyone interested in touch with the owner of this splendid machine, available for hundreds, not thousands. 1996 Lada Niva Hussar 1.7 petrol with 5 speed manual, diff lock, and hi/lo box.
Lada still manufacture then Niva and you can buy a brand new one in the uk for less than £12K with LPG conversion. plasticpig said:
Breadvan72 said:
I can put anyone interested in touch with the owner of this splendid machine, available for hundreds, not thousands. 1996 Lada Niva Hussar 1.7 petrol with 5 speed manual, diff lock, and hi/lo box.
Lada still manufacture then Niva and you can buy a brand new one in the uk for less than £12K with LPG conversion. I have had a go in the one pictured above. It started first time after standing for two months in the rain, and all the important bits are working.
I love it, but if I buy it my wife will have me killed by the KGB.
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