I don’t drive. I can drive, however my wife and I sold our car before we moved to Kazakhstan in 2015 and neither of us have felt the need to get one since then. Mostly I get around by bicycle, public transit or walking. It works great. As a person who doesn’t drive, I often lament the place in transportation hierarchy that cars hold. They seem to get the most space, they are dangerous to people who (try) to share the roads with them, and quite importantly, they are one of the biggest problems to our earth.
All that said, I love cars in the way I love all good design, and there is still a part of me that feels the excitement that spotting a Porsche 911 at night only by headlights brought to me and my brother. From childhood, too, exotic cars have been a real fascination. But not just the Italian V-12 variety. The cars that never graced my childhood hometown because they weren’t imported to the States. Those are the cars that on a daily basis are most fascinating because outside the US they are fairly common, and I am getting to see so many interesting examples of these intriguing contraptions.
Up first we have a late 70’s or early 80’s Mercedes sedan in a classic faded tan/yellow color. To me, this is a classic look, and next to a Volvo 240, there is something quintessentially car shaped about it. Perhaps its most interesting feature, is the expired Morroco registration plate beside it’s current Spanish one.
Saab was not an unknown name in the States growing up, but this particular model is a lovely example of one older than I can remember seeing in my childhood. Someone loves this machine.
I don’t know much about this old Renault, but it sure has been lovingly restored and looks pretty aggressive in its wee racing stripe!
I’m not sure if there is anything as classic to see on brick/cobble roads as a brightly colored Vespa. This one is really lovely.
The Mini is always a gorgeous little car. When I see one that has been clearly well loved (either by careful restoration, or prolonged use) I have to stop and have a look.