I’m thinking I should have a bit of free time in a couple of weeks, after my grades are in, and I might go and have a look at those tanks. Havn’t been there for a year or two.
I couldn’t, of course, do anything mechanical but a bit of primitive rust inhibition might be practical, and shouldn’t cost me that much time, effort or money.
(Unless I get myself arrested, of course. You never know with abandoned military hardware.)
[quote=“shiadoa”]Yes I agree, some beautiful old cars…i miss them here. lucky my Father rallied a lot in the 60s and i grew up with some great cars in the garage 
Austin Healey 3000 DD300 he owned and rallied
and he used this Jaguar XK140 (still in a museum near my home)
Reliant Sabre 6 he rallied
Aston Martin DB2/4
when i found this picture the following is written with it (never read this about my Father before!)
UWL 333 was purchased new by G.F Parkes a British Gentleman racer best known for leading Jaguar to victory in the 1959 Monte Carlo Rally. The Aston was first registered in October 1953 and spent the remainder of 1953 and indeed 1954 as a road car. By day Bobby Parkes would drive the Aston to Preston Railway station where he would catch the train into Manchester to be met in Manchester by his driver who would complete the journey to the office. However in 1955 Bobby decided to race UWL 333. The car completed 10 events through the 1955 season finishing on every occasion. The most notable result came in May when the car was placed first overall in the gruelling L.A.C Morcambe Rally. Autocar remarked in 1955 that “G.H.F Parkes and his Aston Martin stood in the lead with only 105.5 marks lost.” He claimed victory by some margin. In total 1955 would bring Bobby no less than five victor’s trophies. It has also been claimed that UWL 333 took part in the 1955 Acropolis Rally and that the car was driven to and from Athens![/quote]
Wow amazing cars!! Beautiful!
Meanwhile, back in Tainan, I understand this is for rent, though I’d bet they have trouble starting it.
Better be quick though. It’ll soon be too hot to wear a black roll-neck sweater
For rent? It says for sale on top. How much? Luv it.
However, wonder if it is legal riding that thing around.
Just going by what the GF told me. This sometimes gives me a rather skewed view of the local scene.
Possibly she was concerned that I might spend money that could be otherwise devoted to more IKEA KRAP
I would be tempted, BUT I bet they want a ludicrous amount of money for it, and spares are going to have to be sourced by direction générale de la sécurité extérieure agents and come in via the diplomatic bag, where they might give my morning croissant delivery an oily taint.
Ok, this can probably only be answered by the pro’s, like Mr S (though I think I can have a pretty good guess).
Just suppose you were rich/daft enough to consider buying this. (I don’t think I am, but I’m starting to worry myself a bit.)
Leaving aside the vexed question of spares, (which, if available at all, would presumably have to be shipped from overseas at great expense), how about special tools?
I know this doesn’t have the chronic Citroen hydraulic-everything syndrome, but its still a Citroen, so it probably needs special tools for quite routine jobs. Is there going to be anyone in Taiwan that has those special tools?
main dealer? independant “specialist”?
A Taiwanese suggested to me that the most likely customer for something like this wouldn’t want it as a car, but as furniture for a French stylee restaurant or similar. Sad but sensible.
Actually, I do not think anything before 2000 is even legally allowed to roll on the streets… so sad, sensible and law-abiding.
Legal Smeagol.
Austin Minis? VW Beetles? They all illegal?
Well if they are, it rather obviously doesn’t matter.
But hang about, I can cite an example closer to home.
MY car: 1986 Skywing. Forgot about that. Seems to have its papers and it gets taxed.
I suppose, though, that there might be a problem with renewing registration if it had lapsed, which seems rather likely in this case.
I know, the legal part is laughable. But truth be told, I’ve been here 15 years and I have seen things moving that are obviously some kind of “vehicle” but legal my foot. Yet, I have yet to see a 50s classic beauty on the street any given day.
I think someone had quoted a law regarding how it was 2000 or up beacuse of emissions tests. I remember because they were asking about an 80s model. I think a 70s would not make it legally on the street. And to be honest, I have not seen a true clasic Austin Mini, most are new models, as well as the VW beetles. Not a “carried flower power in the 60s” models, like in the ol country. We had a similar discussion about jeeps, I remember asking about wartime Willys, which are popular where I come from, but I haven’t seen one moving here. I saw one parked down South, probably from an Army base.
Um…not to be picky, but…did you read my post above?
As stated, I have a registered, legal 1986 car which passes the 6 monthly inspection, and on which I pay taxes. Not exactly a classic, but way older than 2000.
DSC00296 by ed_lithgow, on Flickr
That’s as direct a refutation of your statement above as I can think of.
So it’s NOT TRUE.
Any questions?
Let me explain a bit better. Maybe your 86 is in great condition, but when I have time I will link to previous discussions as to why most cars before 2000, especially 70s or before that, would have great problems passing emissions tests and hence getting all their leagl is dotted. At that time, the center of discussion was also an 80s model, and the person asking if I recall wanted to know if it was OK to buy. One point made was that a Taiwanese wouldn’t buy it, as older car hassle is not their cup of tea plus the hassle of strict tests. I do know a foreigner with a late 80s model -88, 89, maybe 90- and his mechanic has to literally jump through fire to get the thing through tests. Barelly legal. So my point is that most cars after 2000 are Okish in terms of legallity, it is before that when things start getting complicated and if you had to buy it, you would have to be very careful in terms of how legal it would be to ride around.
I especifically said I haven’t seen 50s stuff, and that probably it was for this reason. I did not say anything about 80s stuff, though I do not see them crowding the streets, either. Most cars here are beaten and scratched but rather newish, and collectors prefer flashy racing car types like Ferrari or Alfa Romeo -of which many are illegally down the streets because of engine issues, if I recall the news correctly from a famous crash. That is, because we were talking about classic cars, and how we cannot find them here, and why.
OK, I’ll take that as an acknowledgement that your original statement
" I do not think anything before 2000 is even legally allowed to roll on the streets"
was incorrect. That was what I was refuting, and I think I have.
Re passing emissions, I’m on less sure ground. I’m pretty sure that the standards for older cars are less strict, but I don’t know what they are.
I THINK I’ve heard that they have to meet whatever the standards were at the time of construction. That’d be pretty liberal for a 50’s/60"s car, perhaps no EGA at all, just no visible smoke.
I havn’t had any trouble passing emmissions with ny 80’s car, but I’ve never had to take it to a govt test station, which might well be a different story. I got the impression last time that the tester would probably have failed it if I could speak Chinese (he had some query, possibly “has it been warmed up?”) but I’d just unwisely fitted a home made pertex-aluminium-sandwich exhaust gasket which was probably still burning off, and it may not be so bad in “normal” operation.
I don’t think the lack of '50’s cars tells us anything at all about the legal requirements. There’d be very few cars here in the '50’s, and Taiwanese don’t value old cars which would severely limit thier survival.
There aren’t many '50’s cars anywhere, except possibly Cuba, where there are special circumstances.
LOL, OK, but the way I phrased it was that I was not really even sure, give the difficulties of people I know for getting stuff pass the tests here in Taipei -you are down South. And pal, if you can’t speak Chinese -or read it, I gather- I don’t want to be there in converstions between you and your mechanic. I don’t want to know and that is better for all parties involved referring test emissions or so! LOL. That is a case where, like paying taxes, you let them do the talking and play the “I do not understand” as far as it may go!
I don’t know who told you about those lax “standards at the time of construction” but as an old hand here in Taiwan well, I know laws here are flexible and maybe it could be different in the South but it does seem fishy. Yet, as I have no documentation/link to present you yet, I’ll leave it at that and be back later when I have more concrete evidence to support this awful feeling in my gut.
Going back to the classic car issue, well, in Panama, Venezuela, and other parts of South America they also have huge fans, big clubs, parades and such with 50s, 60s and 70s stuff, even 30s. Of course, the older stuff -30s I think- has plates for decoration purposes only, but you can see 60s and 70s stuff rolling around, yes, even 50s and not only in Cuba -though yes, they used to have teh most and more beautiful- on special ocassions. My point is that if there is such a thing here in Taiwan, it is not huge and average Joe may not see a classic one day rolling down the street when the owner just feels like taking a drive and leaving his neighbors speechless.
My dream of owning something like this is Taiwan,sadly,is just not possible.If you follow the letter of stupid Laws,many things,not just Car related, are not available to the Taiwanese. Black or White is the Law makers way here, with no Common Sense. I have to accept that is the way things are here and move on to different aspirations. Shame though,
I can understand that.
It can be quite embarrasing listening to someone talk to themselves.
(Especially when it gets abusive, as in my case it often does, with good cause.)
[quote=“shiadoa”]My dream of owning something like this is Taiwan,sadly,is just not possible.If you follow the letter of stupid Laws,many things,not just Car related, are not available to the Taiwanese. Black or White is the Law makers way here, with no Common Sense. I have to accept that is the way things are here and move on to different aspirations. Shame though,
[/quote]
But possible…saw this on my facebook a few weeks ago. i know nothing about it apart from its obviously in Taiwan somewhere.
I saw this 1965 Beetle in Cyonglin today. They seem to have replaced the petrol engine with clockwork to get it past the emissions test though…
[/url]
[quote=“Jonny Crisp”][quote=“shiadoa”]My dream of owning something like this is Taiwan,sadly,is just not possible.If you follow the letter of stupid Laws,many things,not just Car related, are not available to the Taiwanese. Black or White is the Law makers way here, with no Common Sense. I have to accept that is the way things are here and move on to different aspirations. Shame though,
[/quote]
But possible…saw this on my facebook a few weeks ago. I know nothing about it apart from its obviously in Taiwan somewhere.
tw.myblog.yahoo.com/ytseng3ford/ … 89311&sc=1[/quote]
Interesting ! Where there is a will…
Beautiful design.
It looks like its on trade plates. If only you knew someone selling cars…!
I think you are right…our Trade plates ,which cost I think 5000 USD each!, do not allow use on the Motorways/Freeways,unfortunately.