Oldsmobile Parade
It's shocking how time flies and I never get to do things the way I want. Organizing my photos and going through the folders I have on my external drive I came across some photos I took last year in October. I knew I have them, I knew I've never posted them and was always planning to do it, but somehow there has never been time. Till now.
It was a nice day, the 13th of October and we went to visit the pumpkin festival, which is a very nice festival organized each year, full of creativity and occasions to taste local goodies and not only. I've posted about the pumpkins and maybe there are more photos I'm going to post soon, but today I'd like to talk about a unique and unexpected surprise I got while there.
There were many activities going on and one was an Oldsmobile exhibition and parade. I'm not a huge fan of cars, but these cars are not just cars, but these mean history as well. There are several clubs in my country and the number of members are growing and growing. These exhibitions are organized several times per year in different location so everyone can have the chance to participate with their cars, or just as visitors.
We didn't see the exhibition as we were busy admiring the pumpkins and having lunch in a very nice restaurant, but when we left the venue, the Oldsmobiles were doing a tour of the place, Imagine my surprise when such an occasion fall into my hands. All I had to do is stand in one place and take photos as the cars were passing by me one by one, one after the other.
When you participate at the exhibition, you have the chance to see the cars for as long as you want. Inspect them from top to bottom, go round and see the front and the back, some even allow you to get inside and see the interior as well.
This is a Trabant, that once was very popular and widely used. Don't ask me what model this is as I have no clue.
Trabant is a series of small cars produced from 1957 until 1991 by former East German car manufacturer VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau. Four models were made: the Trabant 500, Trabant 600, Trabant 601, and the Trabant 1.1. The first model, the 500, was a relatively modern car when it was introduced. source
(Look at the professional photographers, with the appropriate gear, taking photos we can only dream of.)
As you can see, each car has a number. In order to participate, you have to be a member of the club, you have to have your car (or cars, as there are members who enter with multiple cars) in good condition, required by the rules.
Another well known make in Eastern Europe, the Lada.
Lada (Russian: Лада, Russian pronunciation: [ˈladə], marketed as LADA) is a brand of small cars manufactured by AvtoVAZ (originally VAZ), a Russian state-owned company.
The first cars manufactured by AvtoVAZ were produced with technical assistance from Fiat and marketed under the Zhiguli designation. The Lada brand appeared in 1973, initially being overseas-focused before becoming AvtoVAZ's main brand for all markets in the 1990s. Renault took control of the brand in 2016. Technical assistance from the French company started in 2008, after it acquired a minority AvtoVAZ stake. Lada was re-acquired by the Russian government in 2022. source
And here it is. There's no exhibition without at least 10 Dacia, which is a Romanian car.
S.C. Automobile Dacia S.A., commonly known as Dacia, is a Romanian car manufacturer that takes its name from the historical region that constitutes present-day Romania. The company was established in 1966. In 1999, after 33 years, the Romanian government sold Dacia to the French car manufacturer Groupe Renault. It is Romania's largest company by revenue and the largest exporter, constituting 8% of the country's total exports in 2018. In 2024, the Dacia marque sold 676,340 passenger and commercial vehicles.
The first Dacia 1300 left the assembly line ready for the 23 August parade in 1969, and was exhibited at the Paris and Bucharest shows of that year. Romanians were delighted with the modernity and reliability of the car, and waiting lists were always lengthy. By 1970, there were two variants: the standard 1300 and the 1300L (for Lux); in 1974 the 1301 Lux Super was introduced, which had novelties such as a heated rear screen, a radio, wing mirrors on both sides and a more luxurious trim. This was reserved for the Communist Party nomenklatura. source
Most of the participants know each other and meet each other at various events. You can say it's a club, a closed group of people, like a family.
While I was watching the parade, was thinking how different things are, depending on where you live. Not long ago I exchanged some comments with a friend of mine, a Venezuelan photographer, who posted some photos of old cars. I asked him if those old cars are part of the exception or it is what you mostly see on the roads. He said it is the latter.
To explain what I mean, these cars you see on the photos are not for everyday use. The owners are keeping these cars garaged, in good condition and have another car, or two, for every day use. In Venezuela and Cuba as well, they use these because there's no other option, they can't afford to buy a new one.
In western countries you pay a high price for this hobby. If your car has an Oldsmobile certificate, then you have lower taxes, but otherwise it's cost an arm and a leg to use such a car on a daily bases. This is how every government wants to make sure to reduce pollution and fuel consumption as well.
Maintaining such a car is a financial burden, so it's not for everyone. It's an elite club for those who can afford it and are really passionate about it.
Let's see who likes these and if you have a favorite.
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Wow, a lot of oldsmobile there! Here in my city there are something similar around 3 times at here, included a parade of just old Fiat 500, that here in Italy is a very known little (very very little ^_^ ) car. ❤️
I know the Fiat 500, we have it here at times at exhibitions, but not on the road.
I know you also have the Mille Miglia in Italy 🇮🇹 😉 I have seen a movie about it. 🤗💚
It always happens to me that I leave the photos on the PC or phone and it takes me a long time to make a publication. Things that only happen to us, ha, ha, ha, ha. But it's fun to reminisce and write about it.
Something peculiar is the gasoline cars. In Venezuela they have always been used, it is cheaper now, than having an electric car. This is because we have the largest oil reserves. Ironically, it also happens that there are very few mechanics for electric cars, people who buy them must go to specialized workshops.
Here the vehicle fleet is very old and people are used to this type of vehicle. However, the custom here is to buy Toyota, Ford and Chevrolet cars. Most people want pickup trucks, we call them dragons: they consume a lot of fuel. Governments seek to reduce the use of fossil fuels, but that is not the problem. The ideal is to have a fully circular economy. It is still very difficult.
PS: My grandfather had a Volkswagen Brasilia similar to the Lada.
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My country used to be in somewhat similar situation, but things have changed. There are a lot of incentives to encourage buyers to opt for electric or hybrid cars and taxes are high for diesel cars.
Electric is the future, like it or not and they are making possible to have chargers in optimal locations.
Oldies will always have a special place, but it's limited to hobby. The truth is, using an old car like these can eat you out of your budget, not to mention the performance differences.
It often happens to me that I find photos I wanted to publish at some point, but then for one reason or another, I forgot about them. A while ago, I made a post about an antique car museum here in Havana, but as you rightly say in your post, here, for example, to see these cars you don’t need a fair — it’s the most normal thing in the world. In fact, it’s the most basic means of public transportation, at least in Havana. More out of necessity than choice, but that’s how it is.
This is a random photo I took with my phone a few days ago.
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Most people when hearing about Cuba, think about these cars, cigars and Havana rum. I know it must be a lot of fun as a tourist, as they then go back to their life, driving fast and performant cars. Cubans remain where they were before, with all the problems, like lack of everything, driving an old car that is close to dying every day and safety is just a dream.
It's very sad and what is more sad is, I don't know when things are going to change. It's the 21st century and time to catch up with normal standards was ages ago.
Wow there a lot of old model car there, now it hard to maintain.. more of the I watch only in tv some history about old car, or see in car garage that preserve old car.. it's nice see that some it's maintening such an old car...
If you don't maintain it, there's no reason to keep it.
Awwww 😍.... My father had a Mercedes Benz very similar to this one (but on white color) in the mid 70's!... It's the first family car I can remember!... Beautiful record of classic cars @erikah friend!... Thanks for sharing!
😂... Yes!... We can only dream about it! 😂
!PIZZA
Wow, that Mercedes Benz is really old.
Stay tuned as there's more, coming soon 😎😆
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It’s a good thing they cost a fortune to use or else a lot of persons would want to use them all the time because they are quite cool, lol. But they have too many disadvantages in our today’s world.
!PIMP
I don't think so many would use them on a daily bases, even if it would be cheaper. You'd probably have to deal with huge safety concerns, not to mention speed limitations and so on.
Lovely. I learned to drive on a VAZ 2106 (the model that is red in the photo). In the past, AvtoVAZ knew how to make good cars, albeit with some shortcomings. Now they make absolute crap... And sell them for a high price.
Wow, I'm sure it was difficult to drive such a car.
You know how it is. It's the same as with everything in life. Back in our grandparent's life, they bought things for life. Now you buy clothes, cars and what not, use it for a year or two and then buy a new one. Plus these items are made to last less, so you pay for repair more often.
I'm not so into cars either, but it is fun occasionally to see some of the vintage ones that have been kept in great condition. To me, their body styles were way more fun and interesting than most of the more modern cars today.
Those were different times indeed, characterized by different styles and fashion. There are many that look better than some you can buy today.
we got exactly the same here, at some festival they bring old or sport cars, exactly what you say in the post, they are just used for expositions, it's a expensive hobby... they go there just to show off, have chats and such, they don't really earn anything except maybe more folloers on instagram 😅
Exactly, it's a closed and expensive club for a handful. Here for example, if you have the oldtimer certificate, the car's value is double. But to get the certificate, the car has to be maintained and up to some standards, so it's really an expensive hobby.
Wow! I love the old cars, they have more charm, nicer designs, in short, I like everything better haha.
I had never heard of the Romanian car brand, how cool!
My favorite:
Thanks for sharing! ❤️
This is why I posted details and history about these eastern European cars. Some were exported in the world but not the Dacia.
I find it strange that cars are deemed old, but see some of these regularly on SA roads and it is what the locals can afford and many look like they shouldn't even be road worthy. Cars have changed so much over the years and so many today look exactly the same.
Underdeveloped countries still have these as people can't afford better ones, plus legislation is not so strict. This is not good at all for many reasons, but I think there's no other option.
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