Do you remember Brum – the little kind car from Children's TV?
Road trip in England this summer? Then I can recommend the Cotswolds with its beautiful villages in the middle of England. One place worth a stop is Bourton-on-the-Water. There is a small museum here where you can study antique toys, vehicles and memorabilia from different eras.
Nostalgia is packed into every room with cars, motorbikes, caravans and toys surrounded by advertising posters. The oldest objects are from before the war, but you can also find much from the 1960s and 70s when Britain still had a great influence in design, fashion and culture.
The TV episodes about the little car "Brum" also gained popularity in Norway when they were broadcast as Children's TV on NRK in the 1990s. Brum is a small version of Austin Seven which could drive itself and communicate by moving its lights and suspension like a dog. All of Brum's adventures began and ended in the garage of Cotswold Motoring Museum where it stands to this day. Here we also find his friends, such as the Austin Bantam, Jaguar XK140, MG TD, Hillman Imp and more.
1959 Triumph Herald, Cotswold UK.
1956 Jaguar XK140
1954 Sunbeam Alpine
1952 Jaguar MKV
1951 MG Y
1950 MG TD
1938 Standard 81934 Austin Bantam1923 MG J21938 Fiat 500 Topolino
Some of the toy cars
Photo: Madelaine Bjørnstad.
London Classic Car ShowPlanes and cars at Brooklands Museum
In London's old districts, few have "off-street parking." Almost everyone has to park on the streets. This makes them nice places for carspotting.
I just got home after 2 weeks in Broxbourne, half an hour from central London, where I have been renovating my daughter and son-in-law's house. City trips on my own are a nice break from work. I walk around and take pictures of special cars and enjoy the city's food and drink offerings.
Notting Hill is best known for its market, Portobello Road Market. It is a lively market, despite being a tourist attraction. There are stalls selling tourist junk there, but that is not what keeps the market going. When I was there a couple of days ago, the focus was on vegetable sales. If you walk around the streets around the market, you can find special cars. I walked around the streets around Ladbroke GroveThen you can go towards Holland Park or Shepherd's Bush.
Mayfair is a wealthy area where it is crowded with Rolls-Royces. But many of these cars are chauffeured company cars, and not really that interesting. Supercars are often parked by the hotels along Park Lane. The Mini in the main photo was parked between two Rolls-Royces, without looking out of place.
Can you see anything special about it?
This Mini is built by David Brown AutomotiveThey are converting Minis to electric operation under the brand eMastered, but the car pictured has not been converted to electric operation. But notice the bodywork. It is what the English call “deseamed”. The characteristic joints between the bodywork parts have been removed. I think there are mixed feelings in the Mini community about this. If you do it properly – and expensively, new bodywork parts have to be built.
"Deseamed" Mini Classic without visible body seams.1972 Morris Mini 1000
The car in the top photo is “deseamed.” Note that the body joints are not visible – such as the joint between the rear part of the front fender against the triangular body piece and the torpedo wall inside, as well as the joints that connect the rear section to the rest of the car.
Other English classics
1985 Reliant Scimitar SS1 1600
The Scimitar was Reliant's sports car model that stood out from the brand's simpler models. Scimitar SS1 (and SST) were special variants of the Scimitar – pure sports cars with 2 seats. The car pictured is a 1985 model with a Ford 1,6 liter engine. Over a period of 10 years, 1500 cars were produced. According to howmanyleft.co.uk There are now only 95 of these left on British roads. The number is increasing every year, so there are probably more projects underway.
Reliant Scimitar SS1Morris Minor TravelerRover P4 95Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit mk1
The car above is a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit I from the 1980s. All Rolls-Royces become classics, but at the moment the Silver Spirit is probably the least desirable. The successor, Rolls Royce Silver Seraph (pictured below), are still in service in many places despite being more than 20 years old. It may look as if the Silver Seraph will be more attractive in the classic market than the Silver Spirit.
2001 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
The new face of Rolls-Royce
Latest model of Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge (left) and Rolls-Royce Spectre (right)
The car on the left is Rolls Royce Cullinan Black Badge. I like the new face of the model. It helps make the Cullinan less like London's characteristic Hackney Cabs than Cullinan 1. But once the similarity is noted, it is unfortunately impossible to ignore afterwards.
The car on the right is a Rolls-Royce Specter – an electric Rolls-Royce with a range of 520 km – and expensive.
Air-cooled Volkswagen
Near Notting Hill Methodist Church There are always a noticeable number of classic Volkswagens parked in the streets. Right next to the railway underpass is Jack's Garage. They specialize in classic and air-cooled Volkswagens.
Volkswagen 1300
Volkswagen 1300Volkswagen Golf 1 ConvertibleVolkswagen Beetle manufactured before 1967Volkswagen T2 Camper Van
1962 Volkswagen T1 Camper
Other cars
1960 Fiat 500 Electric Conversion
A 1960 Fiat "Nuevo 500" is worth a closer look in itself. But the olive green Fiat near P is no ordinary Fiat. It has been converted to electric operation with a 15 kWh battery divided into 3 battery banks. The car has undergone a full “nut-and-bolt” restoration in 2018, and was exhibited at the London Classic Car Show in 2020. Unfortunately, it looks like the car has now been left untouched outdoors for quite some time. Has something broken, do you think?
2011 Saab 9-5 NG (New Generation)
Porsche 911 997 parked on the street in a nice area of LondonNissan Cube mk1
Ferrari Roma at Berkeley Square, Mayfair.
Berkely Square is a park in the middle of Mayfair, slightly recessed from the surrounding street life. There is always a free bench there where you can enjoy a coffee, check your phone and watch the nice cars that pass by, perhaps on their way to one of the exclusive car dealerships nearby. A Ferrari Roma – in the foreground – does not spoil the view.
The mission
Old dresserFlooring
English homes have different technical solutions and a different style. I had been commissioned by my daughter to fix the master bedroom which makes up the 3rd floor of the house. Deep wall-to-wall carpets were replaced with parquet and new colors on the walls. It is nice to be able to contribute to creating a Scandinavian atmosphere in an English home.
See
Cars in ChelseaShopping and SpottingChristmas spotting in London
No ordinary Defender. This BEDEO Land Rover has been converted to run on batteries (75 kWh) with one motor in each wheel. Cost new: £100.000.
Chelsea is known for being a wealthy area of London, and for most people best known for the football club at Stamford Bridge. Perhaps the snobbish touch means that the streets are not flooded with tourists? Here you will at least find pleasant shops, cozy bars and eateries - and beautiful street-parked cars.
When car and house go together
I associate Chelsea with red "town houses" with white painted fixtures and beautiful chimney tops. The rich man's character is visible - in some places more clearly than others. The street-parked cars reveal not only wealth, but also good taste. A 10-year-old Bentley doesn't cost an awful lot of money in England, but parked in front of a beautiful "town house", it creates a good impression.
Aston Martin DB12
Aston Martin DB12
Finer English cars
In London's snobby areas, it is not uncommon to find classic cars in front of posh residences. The cars are rarely used, which is natural for old, nice cars. I think that the cars are parked to create a beautiful eye-catcher in front of the house and to prevent craftsmen from leaving ugly vans there. The beautiful Aston Martin cars in the pictures are of course not just for decoration, but also attract "car-spotters" like myself. If the car is over a year old, you can probably find the cars pictured in the same place Google Maps Streetview.
Aston Martin DBS Super Light Steering WheelBentley Arnage Red LabelRolls Royce Silver Spur Limousine
The car in the picture above is one 1996 Rolls Royce Silver Spur. At the time, Rolls Royce and Bentley were subordinate to the aircraft manufacturer Vickers. According to information from an auction company, the car was rebuilt and extended to a limousine as late as 2019 at the coachbuilder McAllister Cars. The car was previously owned by a funeral home and today has a mileage of only 60-70.000 miles. It sold last year for £7.777 before fees and charges.
Big and small car1996 Rolls Royce Silver Spur
The auction company that sold the stretched Rolls Royce also sold this great Mini. There is one 1972 Morris Mini 1000 with automatic transmission and just over 30.000 miles on the odometer when it was sold last year. The asking price was £8.400 before fees and charges.
1972 Morris Mini 1000In several places in London there is allocated parking in the middle of the street. The photo shows a 2014 Bentley Continental GT V8 S
How to travel to Chelsea
Chelsea is not well served by underground stations. If the destination is the main street Kings Road, you can take the Circle or District Line to Sloane Square station. If you find yourself along the Thames I recommend taking an Uber ferry. You pay in the same way as on the underground. The ferry will take you to Battersea Power Station. Then you can walk over the bridge straight into Chelsea. It takes longer, but is a nice experience.
Mercedes R107 SL
The main photo of the BEDEO Land Rover was taken by my wife at Cadogan Place where she visited a shop. The other photos were taken while my adult son and I were walking residential streets Elm Gardens, Evelyn Gardens, Cranley Gardens og Onslow Gardens - approximately 30 minutes' walk from Sloane Square. Afterwards we had a joint lunch with quality time under the umbrellas at the restaurant Asylum of Duke of York Square.
Only since last autumn, several new charging stations have appeared along the main routes down through Europe. Driving an electric car is easier than ever. But it pays to plan your trip in advance instead of traveling on luck and piety.
Choose a good route
If you are going to drive through Germany, there are not that many route options to choose from. Autobahn 7 takes you from Denmark through almost all of Germany to Italy and Austria. Those going to France and Spain can either take Autobahn 1 towards Luxembourg after Hamburg, or follow Autobahn 7 down and take Autobahn 5 towards Frankfurt, Mulhouse and Basel. Both options take about the same amount of time, but the Autobahn 1 to Luxembourg does not have the same coverage of charging stations. If you choose that route with an electric car to Europe, you should plot the charging stations in advance. Along the Autobahn 7 and 5, on the other hand, the charging stations are close all the way. Several new charging stations have appeared since we drove there last autumn.
With an electric car to Europe, it is an advantage to have many charging stations along the way. One less problem. Where there are long distances between the charging stations, queues can easily form during the holiday season.
Ferry or Sweden?
It is not only about what is most effective, but also what one prefers. Last year we traveled with a dog, and chose to drive through Sweden. Now we took the Colorline from Larvik to Hirtshals, with an overnight stay in a hotel before we went on early the next morning. In low season, the crossing takes 3 hours and 55 minutes, with arrival no later than 1 hour before departure. On the trip you can enjoy a good buffet with food and drink - and a view of the fjord, or snooze in good recliners.
All roads meet in Kolding - whether you choose to drive via Sweden, or take the ferry from Larvik. If you look at the time consumption between Oslo and Kolding, the two alternatives can be compared in the following way:
Both options make up a one-day stage and with an electric car they are also roughly the same price. Remember that you get a discount over the Øresund Bridge and the Storebælt Bridge with a toll tag from Fremtind.
We had a great trip over to Hirtshals - with our own table at the very front of the bow. A fantastic buffet with good food, snacks and all types of beverages for only NOK 299 per person (every day outside the season) - and greeted by friendly crew during the entire crossing.
Sailing from Larvik with Colorline SuperSpeed 2
Charging preparations
You should have all the charging apps installed in connection with a valid bank card before you set off. Also check that the apps have not logged you out, so you don't have to mess with passwords at the charging station. Many people experience problems registering on a charging app abroad. When I recently tried to install an app from a French charging company, I couldn't register because I didn't have a French mobile number. Nor are all solutions that accept Norwegian bank cards when you are abroad.
Charging companies and intermediaries
No good! Unusable outside of Scandinavia.From our trip last fall, I boasted that I could use the charging app and charging chip from Fortum Charge & Drive at my local French charging stations. Today, Fortum Charge & Drive no longer works outside of Scandinavia. On the continent their app is worthless. The same applies to Elton's app.
Of course, you don't travel abroad with an app from just one charging agent. I also recently tested an app from plug surfing – the first time at a French charging post from Eng. It didn't work well. The map in the app showed that I was at the correct charging post, but when I was going to charge, I received a message that I was not at the charging post after all. The IDs in the app also did not match what was written on the bars. plug surfing showed data for charging posts that were previously some distance away at the same rest area - but which had now been removed!
A common mistake
A reviewer claims that half of the charging points on the map in plug surfing is wrong. This probably also applies to other intermediaries. I have experienced the same type of problem with Fortum Charge and Drive at a popular Norwegian charging station. In both Germany and France, new chargers have recently arrived from charging companies I have never heard of before. It must be a challenge for the companies that provide charging contacts to keep up to date. We still need the intermediaries, because some charging stations do not have their own app offer. I also like moderator apps that allow for comments - for example electromaps og plugshare.
Atmospheric lighting at Ionity.Charging in tropical rain and storm surge - Narbonne
Need both
If you are on the move a lot, you should ensure that you have access to apps from international charging companies - not just intermediaries - both because the charging companies' own apps provide increased security (fewer errors) and because charging there can be cheaper. It may still be worth paying a little extra to be able to use an unknown charging station there er, instead of having to drive to another location just to charge from a well-known charging company.
Pay by bank card?
Although there is an EU requirement that it should be possible to pay for charging with a bank card, it is probably a long time before such solutions can be trusted. I have tried with normal cards at new charging stations in France, without success. The card is registered, but the authorization fails (time-out). My French bank card doesn't work either. I think it will take a long time before we can pay by bank card. *)
First charging customer?
Based on reviews from users, you should therefore not trust the app from plug surfing. But today I found a new charging station nearby that only existed on the map plug surfing. I went there - and sure enough - outside a local hotel two brand new 300kW charging posts were ready. They were set up last week. I chatted with the owner who was delighted to see that "his" charging station was listed on the map in a general app.
Testing a new charging station at the Hotel Neolus along the A9 at Le Boulou.
Book a hotel
I recommend booking a hotel room before you travel. We have experienced that good hotels along the road are filled up regardless of the season - either by tourists or business travelers. Finding suitable hotels requires a lot of research in advance. You can use Google Maps to find out the driving time based on the desired date and time. It is important to arrive at the hotel in good time before the reception closes for the evening. Use the booking apps to check reviews from previous guests. There are hotels that you should just drive past.
After a long day on the road, it's good to arrive at a pre-booked room
Live near the road or go into the nearest village?
It may be easier to get a place at hotels located a few kilometers off the motorway. Moreover, hotels in the villages offer more charm than the road hotels. We still prefer to stay close to the road in hotels for road users - often with chargers and parking facilities right outside. It is an indescribable feeling of happiness to see the lights of the hotel in the distance after a long day on the road in pouring rain and know that we have a room there waiting for us.
Customs and use on motorways
Germans don't like someone "occupying" a field. It doesn't matter how fast you drive, there is always someone who drives faster. If you are being overtaken by other cars, you are expected to pull over to the right if possible. It is perhaps more about custom and courtesy than about rules. It also increases the capacity of the road.
Remember "Rettungsgasse" in queues, where the cars in the left lane keep to the left and the cars in the middle lane stay to the right in their lane before stopping so that the emergency vehicles can pass freely.
On French motorways around Lyon, motorists are encouraged to regard the middle lane as a safety zone which is used to overtake or let other cars pass.
French motorways have a speed limit of 130 km/h and speed cameras have been set up along all motorways. They are small and hard to spot - and flash for the slightest infringement. If you drive a Norwegian car, it is not certain that you will receive any reminders in the post. I myself have been waiting for months - and still haven't received a letter 😉
- And while you are in Germany, you can enjoy fine classics like these.
Parked above this nice Volkswagen in Soltau, Germany.Classic Audi in Herbolzheim
*) Update 08.06.2024
Q8 has recently installed fast chargers in Sweden and Denmark with bank card payment - and they work! Just look for Q8 with charging symbol. When will other gas stations follow, think?
See
The petrol stations take charge of the chargingScammed via QR codeTo Europe with an electric car in 2023
If you are going to drive through Europe, motorways apply. I have rolled the dice over motorways through 6 different countries - and have chosen a winner!
A freeway, is a freeway, is a…
We had a nice trip this time too. Three days on the motorway went like a dream, thanks to the motorways, the service offers along the road and the other road users. The motorways do not only consist of vei, but is also an international "community" that supplies everything that road travelers from all corners of Europe need on their journey. That's why I think that if you've seen one motorway, you've seen them all.
But are all roads equally good?
We have driven the AP7 in Spain from Barcelona to France. Then A9, A7, A6 and A36 via Lyon to Alsace, Bundesautobahn 5 and 7 through Germany via Hanover to Denmark, then E45 and E20 over the Øresund Bridge and E6 through Sweden to Oslo.
Road standard
The roads in Spain and France are part of Vinci Autoroutes. In Spain the motorways are tolled and free, while it cost €80 to drive through France. The road standard in Spain is good, but some sections of the road seem undersized in relation to the speed limit of 120 km/h. In France, the road standard is excellent and can easily withstand 130 km/h.
In Germany, on the other hand, the maintenance of the roads seems to have been neglected for many years. They are simply so bad that I was afraid that the tires would be destroyed. Road works are taking place "all over the place" and they are unlikely to be finished for several decades. Dilapidated 4-lane roads with tight on-ramps and exits bear little resemblance to what one would expect from class A motorways.
The roads in Sweden receive top scores - not only for the road standard, but also for how they are laid out in the landscape. The roads in Denmark are surrounded by vegetation and earth embankments. Although the standard is good, it is boring that you cannot follow the surrounding landscape.
The Great Belt Bridge. Photo: hansenn/Depositphotos.com
Service offer
You should not need to leave the motorway system to refuel, charge, top up air, eat or visit a toilet. In Germany, you are continuously notified of how far it is both to the next and subsequent service station. In France we paid tolls, but in return could use very good and safe service points along the road, including good toilets. Since Spain no longer charges tolls, we are unsure whether the service offer in Spain will be maintained. We experience that Circle K charges to use the toilets in Denmark and Sweden. The rest areas are centered around Circle K and Q8 stations. In Sweden, the Swedish Transport Administration has established nice rest areas with free toilets.
Charging options
Had we made the same journey 4 months ago, we would have argued that France was not suitable for electric cars. Today the situation is completely different. All the charging stations we have visited - Tesla and others - have been established during the last 4 months - several with the option to pay by bank card. The Tesla chargers are located outside the motorway system. Although they are cheaper, we preferred fast chargers located within the toll booths.
We had expected that the development of charging stations in Germany would have progressed further. We found older chargers that could barely cover the demand on a normal weekday in October. In both France and Germany, service points with charging stations were marked from the road with their own charging symbols. Signage of charging stations was not as well implemented in the Nordic countries. It is important that there are signs for the charging stations along the road, so you don't have to search on a screen while driving. In Sweden, it was possible to observe the charging stations from the motorway in several places.
French toll booth. Photo: spec/Depositphotos.com
Driving culture
On the continent, you are expected to keep to the right on motorways and use the lanes on the left for overtaking. In Germany, you are expected to pull over to the right - if possible - if you are overtaken by another vehicle. That way you undoubtedly get more cars through the motorway at the same time - especially on sections with free speed.
In France, many people drive in "jerks and nibbles". They give full throttle when they "throw" the car out to drive past - and reduce speed just as suddenly after they have pulled in to the right. Both parts create unrest in the traffic picture, and inhibit the flow of traffic.
In the Nordic countries, the principle of lining up on the right is not followed as strictly. In Norway, many people choose to drive in the left lane over long distances, despite the fact that the traffic behind wants to pass. Seen from Norwegian eyes, this is normal - "the road is free for all". Seen with continental eyes, on the other hand, it seems arrogant that one motorist chooses to block other road users from passing, and I can clearly see how this inhibits the capacity of the motorway. Danes and Swedes are generally better at changing lanes without disrupting the flow of traffic.
On German motorways we saw several times grown men in expensive fast cars driving at "free speed", closely followed by young people in older cars. It was clear they were racing. Shouldn't adults show responsibility towards the youngest road users?
Country
ES
FR
DE
DK
SE
DO NOT
Road standard
Service offer
Charging options
Driving culture
Total
17
21
13
18
22
18
Sweden wins on good roads and skilled drivers. France ends up in 2nd place. We love the motorways and the new charging stations, but many French drivers have trouble keeping the flow. Norway and Denmark end up in shared 3rd place. The Danes have a better driving culture than the Norwegians, but lose something at hidden and poorly signposted service stations and the charging options along the road are not quite on par with Norway. Spain comes in second last place due to few charging options. Germany is beautiful, especially to the south, but the roads are worn and some Germans drive recklessly fast. All the accidents we saw on the road happened in Germany.
A couple of tips
Rescue alley
I don't think anyone can drive through Germany without experiencing a traffic jam. You are then obliged to ensure that emergency vehicles have clear passage. That passage is created between the two lanes furthest to the left, which means that the cars in the left lane lay well to the left before stopping, and that the cars on the right squeeze together towards the right. This worked fine. If there is a queue on the motorway, an emergency vehicle will often pass by.
The bypass north of Gothenburg
As is well known, part of E6 disappeared in the quick clay landslide in Stenungssund north of Gothenburg. If you are coming from the south, traffic will be signposted onto E45 towards Karlstad, with exit at Lilla Edet to E6 at Ljungskile south of Hogstorp. The detour steals neither time nor kilometres, but if you drive an electric car, you should be on your guard as there are no charging options until you get back down to the E6. You can choose to drive north as normal with a local detour around the slide.
Accommodation no. 1. Highway Hotel, Herbolzheim. Source: Google MapsAccommodation no. 2. Hotel Kryb i ly Kro, Fredricia. Source: Google Maps
A well-deserved beer after finding accommodation along the highway.
Charging in France.940 classic Volvo.
See
Charging complications in SwedenTo Europe with an electric car in 2023At a workshop abroad
I have great respect for the electric car pioneers who went down to Europe ten years ago. It must have been exciting to arrive at the town's only charging station and find that it was out of order. That makes good stories. Many of the stories are still out there online and can scare people away. A lot has happened in the last year alone. Everyone can travel with an electric car in Europe, although not entirely without challenges. It may be a good idea to prepare in advance.
Convenient with large charging stations
We are a husband and wife with a dog who recently went by electric car to our little house not far from Perpignan in France. Although we drive a Tesla, the post is not only about Tesla. Large parts of Tesla's charging network can now also serve other car brands. If you have the opportunity, you should register your car in the Tesla app. Not because it is necessary, but because it is convenient to know that you can arrive at charging stations with over 20 terminals. You rarely have to wait - and if so, hardly more than 5-10 minutes. Other players, such as IONITY, have a good spread, but there are fewer terminals at each location.
Preparations
Apps are an important part of the preparations. It is not as easy to arrange such things when you are standing in front of a charging terminal in a foreign country. If you have the "right" charging chip, you can get through the whole of Europe with one chip or one app. The Electric Vehicle Association and NAF have such chips. I have a chip from Recharge (Fortum Charge & Go) which also covers IONITY and many - to me - completely unknown charging operators in Germany, France and Spain. Not only are the main roads covered, but I can charge locally in our little town too. But just to be safe, you should have multiple options in case the payment solution for one app is down. IONITY and E.ON are good alternatives for the whole of Europe.
Fortum Charge & Drive (Recharge) provides access to almost all local chargers in our French city
If you depend on a well-developed charging network, it is also important to have mapped the travel routes – not just one route, but also be prepared for alternative routes. Our main route went through Hamburg, Hannover and Frankfurt. If we had chosen to drive via Luxembourg to France, the distance between the charging stations would have been greater. No problem for today's electric cars, but I fear that large distances between charging stations create charging queues during the holiday season. By checking the charging map for various operators, you can quickly find the driving routes with the best coverage.
Ferry or Sweden?
Part of the planning is finding out which ferry to take, or whether to drive through Sweden. With the Kielfergen, you start in Germany and can drive across the country in one day, provided you have the time and money to spend almost a day on the boat. DFDS from Oslo arrives in Fredrikshavn around midnight and then you either have to take in an accommodation or bet that the driver has had enough sleep during the voyage. The Larvik-Fredrikshavn ferry departs at 08.00 and 12.00 and arrives after approx. 4 hours. The advantage of ferries is that you don't have to spend as many hours in the car.
Sweden
We chose to drive through Sweden. Do you live in Oslo and start at 8, you can arrive in Southern Denmark at approximately the same time as you would have arrived with the boat that leaves Larvik at 12. Our reason for driving was that we would feel bound by having a "mammadalt" dog on the boat. Also, it feels liberating not to be bound by departure times either. The trip through Sweden went well. We loaded up in Kungälv, but took the lunch break in Falkenberg. Our next stop was Löddeköpinge in Scania. It was very busy at the Tesla station there and you could only charge up to 80%. To make sure we got to the last stop of the day, we chose to top up at E.On right next door while eating ice cream.
Sweden has good charging networks near service centers with easy access from the E6. The charging terminals were clearly visible.
Denmark
Did you know that AutoPass tags also work on the Øresund Bridge and the Storebælt Bridge? We have a toll subscription without a tag, but on the occasion of the trip over the Danish bridges we had found an old AutoPass tag. I optimistically held it up to the windscreen in front of the barrier in the "Biz field" to the Øresund Bridge - but the barrier would not budge. A nice guard came to our rescue and scanned the code on the chip - and found that it was blocked. Fortunately, we were able to pay on the spot and didn't have to back up to choose another hatch - which the cars behind us probably appreciated.
My wife revealed that crossing the Øresund Bridge had been on her "bucket list" for a long time. The bridge is a fantastic piece of construction, but the main road through Zealand and Funen is, in return, terribly boring. The only thing we saw was the road. What the world looked like behind the bushes, we could only guess by studying the map on the screen.
In many places, there is little to see from the motorways
Germany
After spending the night at Comwell Middelfart, we entered Germany. We hadn't booked a hotel in advance, but I had set my sights on a hotel in Herbolzheim just before Freiburg. When we arrived there in the evening, the hotel was unfortunately full. In the last week of the holiday season in Germany, many were out on the same errand. What were we supposed to do? Drive on, or try to find another hotel?
The main roads in Germany are well developed with rest areas and service points, where you can also charge from local - and unknown to me - charging stations, but the large Tesla charging stations are located in places without service facilities. This meant that we stopped more times than we strictly needed - once to charge and once to eat, drink and stretch our legs. If I had wanted, I could have charged at almost all the stations that were located at the service points with the code tag from Recharge, but I noticed that these chargers were widely used by other car brands, so I thought to myself that "you who have a Tesla, can well charge in a quieter place”. What's more, the electricity is cheapest at Tesla. Back home, we will probably make more use of local electricity companies.
Driving at night
With holiday time and full hotels in the border area between Switzerland, Germany and France, we found that we might as well drive on into nocturnal France. Driving at night has several advantages. There are fewer cars - and a greater proportion of steady drivers, so that you can drive efficiently on cruise control. Driving on French motorways costs money. The trip from Mulhouse to the exit just before the border with Spain cost us €80 (NOK 925) but is worth every penny. Not just offers Vinci Autoroutes the best roads, but also good night-time service offers where you can relax before driving on. At night, I think it is important to take breaks at least once an hour to feel the body whether it is safe to continue driving.
Not always as easy to find the charging stations. Here at the end of a hotel car park with a gate
In France, as in Germany, you rarely find Tesla chargers at the 24-hour rest areas. In France, we experienced finding brand new chargers in rather secluded places. In the darkness of the night, they became even more secluded, because in many places the street lights are switched off after midnight. A couple of times we had to take detours, and soon found out that when maneuvering in tight urban areas, you have to drive at a snail's pace so that the navigation system has time to update itself. It's an advantage to have two - one to drive and one to scout for hidden charging stations. It's almost like a game - Find the charging station!
toilets
Toilets are important welfare when you are on the road. We were disappointed by the McDonalds along the main thoroughfare. Bad food and wretched sanitary conditions throughout Europe. When we chose a McDonalds restaurant a couple of km outside the motorway system, the quality increased considerably. We are also left with the impression that organized rest areas with joint service offers (Serways and Vinci) generally have good sanitary conditions.
Beware of heat wave
In Europe, there is now a heat wave. This can result in shorter ranges, although we didn't notice anything about that since we had the ventilation system on right from the start in Denmark - also for the dog when he had to be alone in the car. A negative experience was that the windscreen cracked a few hours after we arrived. Perhaps it was not very smart to park a car with a cooled compartment in the scorching sun when the thermometer approached 40 degrees.
A positive experience is that the charging chip from Recharge (Fortum Charge & Go) works at the local charging stations here.
Nice to have charging options nearby.Power Dot is available in Spain, France and Belgium, but can be used with a charging chip from Recharge
See
Charging complications in SwedenRechargeable roads with inductionNIO changes batteries in 3 minutes
Travel tips. One of England's first racetracks was built here in 1907, the first runway for airplanes in 1908, the first flying machine built in 1909 - the last in the 1980s. Later, smaller car manufacturers appeared. Today, everything is history.
When the Bentleys ruled
Brooklands Museum, Surrey, is on the remains of the long-disused Brooklands Racecourse. Several buildings and halls at the museum belonged to the facility. The track surface was laid in 1907 and in the 1920s no one could beat the big Bentleys that roared around the heavily dosed curves. Today, only a small remnant of the outer race remains. It was the highest point of the track, called The Member's Banking. The concrete is now partially covered with moss. Last Sunday it was arranged Summer Classic Gathering and Auto Jumble for members and visitors. Inside among the old passenger planes were the most prestigious cars – Bentley and Rolls Royce. The company Vickers owned Bentley before it was sold to Volkswagen. One of Bentley's models is actually called Brooklands.
The Vickers VC10 was manufactured here at Weybridge, UK.
Bentley Continental S1 Flying Spur in front of the nose of a Vickers VC10 aircraft.Ford Zodiac mk3
Aircraft production
Vickers is better known as an aircraft manufacturer. Vickers-Armstrong assembled airliners in Weybridge – just off Brooklands. VC10 is one of my favorites. It is a long and narrow four-engine aircraft about the size of the Boeing 707 and DC-8. The placement of the four engines is very special – two on each side, at the rear of the fuselage. The aircraft that is displayed in the museum grounds is actually assembled here in Weybridge. The VC10 aircraft is open to the public. The lights in the instruments and the voice of air traffic controllers at Heathrow create a very special atmosphere. It's not live - only an audio tape, although Heathrow is not far away. The interior of the plane is unfortunately a composition of "bad taste" after having served as a private plane for the Sultan of Oman.
Not my cup of tea.
While we're on the subject of airplanes, the Concord plane from British Airways is a big crowd favorite. Here, the queues to get in are often long. The engineers at Weybridge played an important role during the development of the aircraft type. Also worth mentioning is a BAC 1-11 (One-Eleven) which was built after Vickers-Armstrong was merged with other aircraft manufacturers into British Aerospace. The aircraft is similar to the DC-9, but slightly smaller. The BAC 1-11 was a workhorse for short distances, although not so common in Scandinavia. One aircraft is said to have been leased to SAS and some machines were chartered, among other things for the Norwegian Armed Forces.
BAC 1-11
Lineup of Rolls Royce and Bentley at the Concorde.
For the rich
In the 1920s, racing cars were a rich man's sport. The racing car drivers often owned the cars themselves, and often also a plane. Brooklands got its own runway in 1908, where now only a remaining part is protected. Some of the aircraft on display made their final landing there.
The combination of airplanes and cars has fascinated many from early times, and advertising posters often show stately cars parked in front of an airplane. On Sunday, the finest cars were lined up at the Concord. Imagine being transported in a Rolls Royce to a waiting Concord flight heading across the Atlantic! I also liked the stylish Ford Zodiac parked by the flight stairs of VC10. They formed a nice 60s time frame.
Perhaps one of the old engineers from Vickers-Armstrong stopped by? 🙂
The Member's Banking is located in the outer loop. Picture today and from the 1920s inset.
Chevrolet Impala and Range Rover with the old track tire in the background.
Bentley T1 Drophead.
How to get there
I have been here several times and recommend trains from Vauxhall station, London to Weybridge station - possibly with a change at Wimbledon. Follow the road up to the main road system and keep right until you have passed the railway bridge. Then turn right across a car park and continue on the footpath that runs parallel to the train tracks - with the train on your right. Follow the road system in the same direction (about 10 minutes) all the way to the first bridge where you can turn right over the railway. 50 meters after passing the bridge, take a footpath down to the left through the forest. Follow the road until you have passed the river. Then take the first walkway on the left under the railway. The road is signposted. The trip takes 15-20 minutes and is shorter and more pleasant than other roads the map systems might recommend.
Also worth a visit
Brooklands Museum also contains a bus museum. Admission £22 for adults and £8 extra to see the Concord from inside. I recommend combining the visit with special events advertised on brooklandsmuseum.com
Mercedes Benz World is right next to the museum. They have a nice display of historic and new models. Free entry. Kid friendly. Simple and good cafeteria with plenty of seating. mercedes-benzworld.co.uk
See
Brooklands Summer Classic GatheringMercedes Benz WorldPanther
Céret is one of many villages in the Catalan part of France where cobbled streets with picturesque stone houses still exist. At the beginning of the 1900th century, the city was a meeting place for artists. From our shepherd's hut, we can see into the old garden where Pablo Picasso and George Braque held merry parties 100 years ago - where Salvador Dali was also present.
Céret is located in a very rural setting at the foot of the Pyrenees - very close to the border with Spain. The nearest big city is Barcelona. The city is very far from Paris and the Côte d'Azur - in a positive way. It is not expensive to visit the restaurants, everyone speaks French and there are cars here that you cannot find in the Côte d'Azur. Now there is no longer a 2CV or Renault 4 on it each street corner in Céret. But since we are in an area where cars do not rust, there are still many cars such as Renault 5, Express, Citroen C15, Renault Twingo mk 1 and Peugeot 205 on the roads. These are cars that are almost extinct in other parts of Europe, but here they are common. In 5 years they may be gone for good.
Citroen
Citroen BX Millesime TD
The car in the main picture above belongs in Céret. It is a Millesime edition that appeared in recent years in production with a nice equipment package. The equipment level with, among other things, a rear spoiler is supplemented by yellow lights, integrated fog lights, black signs and a sunroof. The sunroof gives the car character. According to the owner, the panoramic roof is taken from a Twingo. The car has recently been fixed up after an injury and is often on the move in the city with the owner behind the wheel. If you are on Instagram, you can follow him under his username pali_kao.
Citroen Ami 9A and 2CV
I don't think the new electric Ami is sold in Norway. It is also not a big sales hit in our part of France. The car pictured is actually the only one I've seen in town. I think it's a shame that it is only made as moped car. If it had been built as a 4-wheel motorcycle (quadricycle lourd), it could be registered in vehicle class L7e. If the car could go faster than 45 km/h, you could follow normal traffic flow. Then I think it would be better received in the market. The reason I took a picture of it is because of the nice 2CV patina it has - just like the great 2CV on the right.
Lemon Xantia
I forgot to mention that the Citroen Xantia is one of the car models that is still current and drivable here. The car in the picture above belongs to the first series of Xantia. I have passed it several times and have noticed how great it is. For being BX's successor, Xantia seems less distinctive - more "mainstream". But if you get hold of a Xantia with Active Suspension, you have a wolf in sheep's clothing on the road.
Many Citroen 2CVs have been in continuous operation since they were new.Renault 4 GTL
Renault
Renault Espace
Let's forget the 2CV and the R4s for a while. Although there are fewer of them, they still exist. I am particularly impressed by the 2CV and R4 that are still in daily use, like the one parked in front of us at one of the city's supermarkets. I would rather focus on the image of Espace from the first series. This is a model that was designed by Matra – a name that arouses enthusiasm in many. The straight, square lines with large glass surfaces were typical of 80s models. The Espace was not just a minibus, but an MPV with the possibility of converting the compartment into a saloon. I don't know the technology in the Espace 1, but I think the design is really tough - something that belongs among 80s icons like the Aston Martin Lagonda and the DeLorean DMC-12.
Renault 5 Express with the passenger car's frontRenault 5 on the loading platform of a Saviem Renault SG2 (3,5 ton truck from around 1980). I hope the Super 5 is headed for renovation and not the car scrap.
Renault 5 and Express
At the moment there are far too many Renault Expresses for me to take pictures of them all. I liked this one because it is clean (renovated) in the bodywork, got nice rims and equipped with the passenger car front from "Supercinq". Most Renault Express in the city are pure used cars with signs of use all over. À propos Super 5, I thought the motif of the Renault 5 on the loading platform of a Saviem Renault SG2 (3,5 tonnes) was really French and nostalgic. I hope the Super 5 is on its way renovation and not the scrap car.
Peugeot
Peugeot 304
I have the impression that few people take the time to restore a Peugeot 304 Berline. The ones I have seen have been in original good condition - probably also the car in the pictures. I have not seen it in the city before, but discovered it on a Sunday visit to the city close to where we live. I had time to admire the stylish Italian lines. They give associations to the Alfa Romeo Super Giulia. I wish Peugeot would find a way back to previous alignments instead of today's crisscrossing lines.
Peugeot 304 Sedan.Peugeot 504 Pickup
Peugeot 504 Pickup
The pickup model was put into production a few years before the production of the passenger car was phased out, and continued until the early 90s. If you see a 504 pickup, it doesn't have to be very old. I think most pick-up cars you see on the road today have undergone some form of renovation - like the car in the picture. I have seen it in several places in the city, including recently at the city's Peugeot workshop. Considering how solid the 504 Break was, there is reason to believe that this pickup will be able to serve for many years to come.
See
Join us for a short tour of the city on the undersigned's bicycle. Céret is surrounded by fine cycle paths, whether you cycle to the beach or in the mountains. My road bike is only suitable on the road, but there are also off-road trails for those who dare.
On the first Sunday of every month, car enthusiasts gather in a deserted shopping center outside Perpignan. Then the area is suddenly filled with hundreds of people and cars. After about an hour, everyone has disappeared one by one.
It's not just about French cars, but cars that have been popular on French roads - as well as cars that the French have taken to heart. Today, the French import vintage cars from all over the world. US cars and English sports cars get French passion plates. One factor that makes it interesting to view car collections here is the dry climate, which means that the cars do not rust. Then you can still study cars that have long since been turned into soil at home. Many of the cars are still driven by owners who are unaware that the old cars have become valuable, but fortunately many are starting to take care of them. Several of them can be found in the pictures in this post.
Sports cars
Alpine A110 – new model
Alpine A110
reappeared in 2017 in the same form as the legendary A110 model that was produced between 1963 to 1977. The new model follows the same basic concept as its predecessor. It is a light car with a relatively small engine with high performance. The predecessor had a fiberglass body on a steel frame and stern engine. The new model is constructed in aluminum and has the engine centrally located at the rear. It is a 1,8 liter turbo engine that produces from 249 to 300 HP depending on the model. A very beautiful car - one of the few cars you could buy just for its looks. The pictured car has a special decoration which is the same as Alpine's Formula 1 team uses in the Formula 1 model A521.
Aston Martin GT8
This model was produced from 2017 as a special model in only 150 copies. A 4,7 liter V8 that produces 446 HP. Despite a lot of "trim", the weight has been reduced by 100 kg. Here you really have to take care to take it easy over the speed bumps and keep a good distance to the concrete edges of the car park.
Ferrari 308 GTS
Ferrari 308 GTS
Few cars look as good in photos as the Ferrari 308. It has clean, marked and straight lines - a design that has stood the test of time very well. The model was in production from 1975 to 1985. "308" stands for 3 liters and 8 cylinders. When the 308 was launched, many hardcore Ferrari fans believed that 8 cylinders were not suitable for any Ferrari. There were supposed to be 12 cylinders. Today, Ferrari has been very successful with its 8-cylinder cars - all full-fledged Ferraris.
De Tomaso Pantera, Perpignan, France.Power by Ford
DeTomaso Pantera
It's not often you get to see a DeTomaso Pantera, and even more rarely a yellow one. The DeTomaso 874 Pantera was equipped with a Ford 351 Cleveland V8 engine, mid-rear. It both sounds and runs really well! But Ford was not just a subcontractor to De Tomaso. They bought into the company and sold the cars in the US through their Lincoln-Mercury dealer network. The collaboration with Ford lasted from 1971 to 1975. The car pictured was probably produced during this period. Incidentally, I have never noticed the plaque with "Power by Ford" before.
Porsche Boxster
The Porsche 986 Boxster was the first Boxster model to hit the market. It was produced from 1996 to 2003 with water-cooled boxer engines. Technically, the Boxster is a more pure sports car than its big brother the 911, in that the engine is centrally located behind, that is, it sits in front of the rear axle. The 911, by comparison, has a pure stern engine. The special thing about the pictured car is the colour. It suits the car, although it takes courage to choose such a colour.
Simca Rallye2Rallye2 – the top model in the Simca 1000 series
Simca Rally 2
The Simca 1000 was cheap, especially in France. Well, the cars were cheap and small, but they were tough and got an image for going really well. What contributed to the raised image was the Rallye edition. 4 different engines have been delivered in the Rallye edition over the years. The pictured model is the Rallye 2 – a street racer at an affordable price. I don't know exactly how much the car in the picture produces, but in the standard version it produced something like 80 horses. It can create a lot of fun in a car that only weighs 800 kg. This car must be like driving a go-cart on the road.
Do you remember these?
Lancia Beta in very good conditionLancia Beta Type 828
Lancia beta
I've seen the Lancia Beta in a 5-door version before, but can't remember when. I marveled at the condition of the car in the photos. It seemed brand new without being newly refurbished. The model was produced between 1975 and 1984. It received a significant facelift in 1980 which, in my opinion, did not make the car any more beautiful. The car in the picture is from before 1980. It was equipped with a 1600 engine.
Fiat 600 Multipla
Fiat 600 Multipla
This must have been the most popular car at the meeting. It was almost impossible to take a picture of it. I think the kids especially thought this was a fun vehicle. And the Multipla really was a phenomenal vehicle in the 60s. Just over 3,5 metres, 700 kg heavy and still room for up to 5 people with 2 rows of seats and 6 (!) people with 3 rows of seats. The platform of the model originates from the Fiat 600 and one can find several common design elements. The Multipla received reinforcements in the undercarriage based on components taken from the Fiat 1100.
Volkswagen T2 Westfalia Camper and Ford Taunus Transit
Ford Taunus Transit
These cars were probably just as often referred to as Taunus van than the Taunus Transit. The model was produced until 1965 and equipped with engines from the Taunus 17M series. The cars were built at Ford's plant in Cologne. British Ford built another model, Fort Thames. Both models were represented in Norway. It has been a long time since I have seen a Taunus Transit in Norway. The two cars belong to different generations. It was Volkswagen's T2's predecessor, the T1, which was produced at the same time as the Taunus Transit.
Simca Aronde 60 – French top seller in the 60sPorsche 356 Super 90 – 90 horsesPeugeot 204. 4 meters long with one wheel in each corner.Austin Mni 1000. There are always more great Minis at the collections.
There will be more photos from the car collection in new posts, including the Renault 5 which celebrates 50 years this year - and the Renault Turbo 2.
