Car history - Earlier 4x4s

Cars played an important part in Paul’s professional life. For his field work he depended on them and many brands were given a try. In the end, Land Rovers prevailed for work and a Toyota Cruiser for private family use. Click on the images to see the enlargement.

During the first part of Paul’s MSc research in Spain in 1969 there was no money for a 4x4 so he used our Fiat 850 (right)!

During the second part of Paul’s MSc research in Mozambique in 1970, the first field work vehicle was an Austrian Steyer-Puch Haflinger. It had excellent terrain capabilities but unfortunately developed the habit of losing one of its front wheels at least once a day! In this instance this caused Paul to almost fall of a local bridge (below, left).

Meta, Rimbaud and Roald on a Zambezi River (Mozambique) fishing trip in the summer of 1971. This was our first company Land Rover Series IIa (above, middle). Sunday morning warthog shoot. Zambezi River Delta Mozambique somewhere in 1972. Our Land Rover Series IIa with in its trail a very well preserved Series I. By the time we reached the camp, the warthog had been in the pickup for almost four hours and smelled to high heaven. The chops we got from it, however, were excellent (above, right).

The type of photograph you almost feel obliged to be embarrassed about nowadays. Our colonial mansion in Luabo, Mozambique with the Series IIa parked in the shade of the old African fig tree. Somewhere in the summer of 1973 (above, left). We were unfaithful to our Land Rovers only once, when we bought a Toyota Land Cruiser 4.5 l petrol for our private use. We loved the car but it certainly revived Paul’s skills as a mechanic! Somewhere on the road to Chinde (Mozambique) in 1973. Paul got it running again (above, right).

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