Progress on the 1920's Merryweather fire engine restoration in Peshawar Pakistan

For the way it looked when found see: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/08/when-you-think-about-barn-find-fire.html

The only known pre 1940 Studebaker in Pakistan, a Dictator

Thanks Romano! He tells me that it would be a crime to export it to a seller out of country, and deprive the Pakistan fans the rare Stude, but he is trying to pry it from the current owner due to the heresy of putting a japanese diesel in it when the Stude flathead died.

The Dictator was made from 1927-37.

this is what happens when a VW motor gets replaced and there are no VW replacement motors, no VW parts of any kind

Ugly ain't it? But it keeps them on the road

Photos showing the added radiator cooling case are the first I've ever seen or learned of... via: http://picasaweb.google.com/vwclubpk/VWCOPShutterbug#

With appreciation to Romano for giving me a quick education on VW's and how rare and appreciated they are in Pakistan, that even in this condition (see the missing tire? ) they are still sought out to be restored!

Not too far gone to save, because in Pakistan, there are only about a dozen VW Kombis / microbus remaining in the 6th largest country in the world.

From what I recall of my talk to Romano, the VW's were never built in Pakistan, and never imported as a car dealership item for sale, they only came into the country when Churches brought them in to use as kids school buses. So very very few ever came into the country. When there is no dealerships with parts to use for repairs, they don't last long, and never as long as you'd expect. Once a motor has a major problem, that's it, and the motors get replaced with modern easy to find diesel engines. If I have any of my info wrong, please correct me so no one gets misinformed!

images via: http://picasaweb.google.com/vwclubpk/VWCOPShutterbug#

The Vintage & Classic Car Club (VCCCP) of Pakistan barn finds, looks like a few were an old collection that was neglected

Above is the back of an Amilcar

I'd love to know what the above is

I don't know, but it looks pretty unusual and cool!

1927 Fiat

Above Armstrong Siddley

Above is a Renault

Above and below are Cadillacs

Above and below are Rolls Royces

Found at http://www.vcccp.com/discoveries.html

When you think about barn find fire trucks, do you ever think they'd be in a 1912 fire station in Pakistan? Two were! Stored since the late 60's

The short person in white is Maureen Lines, http://www.hindukushconservation.com/maureen_lines.html and she is quite possibly the person most to thank for the fire trucks coming into the light for the first time in over 4 decades. She made the right contacts in the Pakistani government to see that the 2 fire trucks were made available to restorers like Romano!

I believe she concieved the idea to have the fire engines added to the National Heritage Trust, and she asked the Highway patrol to bring in heavy moving equipment to persude the fire engines to roll out of their long hibernation

the two are 1919 and 1921 models, one is red the other was painted black http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Pakistan/West/North-West_Frontier/Peshawar/photo37422.htm

In the above and below photos you'll notice that this fire truck is painted black, and the other photos are of the red fire truck

If you like these, and ever find yourself in Pakistan, you'l want to take a look at the working one that is in Karachi. For a gallery of these fire engines:
http://picasaweb.google.com/romanokarim/FireEngines#

The only (and lonely) split window Beetle in Pakistan (if you ever learn of another let me know!)

This is how and where it was discovered after being pushed out of a mechanics shop and left for 8 years on the street as it was desired by the VW Club of Pakistan but the mechanics wouldn't sell.... it had been inside their shop for 20 years before that... some people have a hard time letting go! Finally a club member just took charge of the matter and it's now being restored!

Thanks to Romano for reaching out and keeping track of the Beetles and Microbusses that have been abandoned and neglected! Thanks for lettig me know so I could post these photos! http://picasaweb.google.com/romanokarim/1950Beetle02# for more photos of it