Classic and Vintage Vehicles. Part-One.

Keeping history Alive?

So far we have done just fine in preserving both steam and Diesel/petrol powered vehicles, but this is running out with all the new technologies that are to come? This is because they will be  built from bespoke parts perhaps unique to each individual manufacturer and thus the restorer will hit a road block in say twenty-years time!

Most vehicles have now been saved in one form or another luxury and sports cars are the most popular, followed by interesting construction and military equipment. But some have not, either for lack of parts or because their design remains classified!

This is because many designs follow on from the one before, being improved as they proceed through time and this is true of the Swedish manufactures Saab and Volvo! There may be many others around the world former Soviet and Communist Chinese to the present?

Even the British and U.S have many similar vehicles such as the Abraham's/Challenger MBT that no one will get the chance to pry upon along with the Israeli Merkeva, not anytime too soon!

The Land Rover Defender Returns. Part-Two.

Very much still Loved.

So many countries around the world have bought into this most successful vehicle type that none of them want it die? Technology has to progress and their are as many successful new type of the Range Rover and other types that are just as good claimed by the company?

But the series 90 and 110 has captured a market that was lost for year to Mercedes-Benz and remained much cheaper? This new venture takes on the many spare parts that remain in circulation and in the developing world there remains a demand. But at the same time many countries may adapt what they have to last for a longer time in both military and para-military police roles.

What has the Land Rover got that the newer type do not have. The build is with metal, rather than plastics, reliability and optional fuels is another key factor to their success! The other is that they can be converted to every known configuration in both civil and military use and changed at short notice?

Road Trains. Part-Four.

Africa.

The Continent of Africa today cannot do without the truck, because it has given up much on its one time colonisers railways. Expense to maintain and get parts was one problem for many of the lesser developed nations, while on the other they just did not have the ability to maintain tracks and signals.

So the truck has become the new transport and in many parts there are seasonal convoys, which get bogged down by mud. But the Africans have on great advantage over many other nations, in that no problem cannot be solved. They are extremely resourceful in finding away out of a problem. 

This is because they have to keep those vital links open and keep the goods that are essential moving back and forth. The Iveco truck is one of the most favoured for the variety of roles, there are also many Soviet and Chinese vehicles. Nearly every other vehicle is a Toyota and perhaps the odd civil Landrovers.