It's Always Sweet Ride Season in Macedonia
Continuing our journey through Balkan vehicular spectacle, one sometimes encounters a big box on wheels - the van. You ain't no kind of man unless you run a van. And here to prove the point we bring you a couple examples right from my own area, Gevgelija. Vans are somewhat less common, but can still be found parked inexplicably along a roadside awaiting the time when vans will again be considered cool. In that unlikely event, their tires will be re-inflated, their doors wired shut and down the road they will ride! Here, representing this month is:
MS FEBRUARY
Zastava used military frames to create general service vehicles. These were made from about 1960 to the late 1970s. Again, Fiat was the partner (in crime) in manufacturing these boxy long track beauties. The very early versions were rounded and smaller. They are uncommon, probably because they were cute, and now belong to the idle rich in Slovakia and elsewhere. The two shown here grace the rural roadsides, and the blue one does not move. The red one appears to have some get up and go still left.
We have also seen these serving as animal shelters, and they seem to do a good job at this. They have plenty of cargo space, have high ground clearance, and except for the paint jobs look like they could-do-what-a-van's-gotta-do when they ran. This one, apart from being a storage container has carefully tended-to tires just waiting for the day to run the roads. Some body work may be needed to reclaim its sweet lines. I am very impressed by the sliding window on the sliding door. Double cool!Finally, the last van apparently is a Ford. Ford was made under license by Zastava, but I am not sure if this is one. It does appear to be running as it is parked on a street, and also appears to have quite a story to tell. Many thanks for this trip back in history, vans, we still think you're cool!
For all that you have given us, Peace Out,
MS FEBRUARY!
