Morocco Bound

[Harleyboygaz3]

It's heartening to see old taxis and vans with derivations of your engine around though
isn't it. I'm assuming you've got a 410d/412d, I've managed to get a local blacksmith/foundry
in Taghazoute to make a sandmould casting of a failed waterpump for a vanner
once, crude but did the job. It's the electronic controlled stuff that induces migraines,
when the only outfit with the correct equipment happens to be a main dealer in Casablanca,
and you happen to be crippled in Zagora or ad Dakla! I think risk of breakdown and what to do
should it occur, is what puts a lot of M/homers going to Morocco per se, let alone
going on the piste so to speak.

Yes it’s absolutely amazing to see here so many vintage cars and vans running around still. I am really into classic vehicles and love seeing them still in circulation especially Fords. It puts a smile on my face when we drive through almost every town as you can guarantee to see an old Mk2 Ford Transit parked up! My favourite is the Mk1 Escort but yet to see one over here yet, unbelievable the amount of old Renault 12’s ive seen too. Yes our motorhome has the 410d engine, it’s covered just 130k km’s Now so just about run in..Like I say it’s a bit slow but can pretty much guarantee to get you where you want to go.

 

[Harleyboygaz3]

It's heartening to see old taxis and vans with derivations of your engine around though
isn't it. I'm assuming you've got a 410d/412d, I've managed to get a local blacksmith/foundry
in Taghazoute to make a sandmould casting of a failed waterpump for a vanner
once, crude but did the job. It's the electronic controlled stuff that induces migraines,
when the only outfit with the correct equipment happens to be a main dealer in Casablanca,
and you happen to be crippled in Zagora or ad Dakla! I think risk of breakdown and what to do
should it occur, is what puts a lot of M/homers going to Morocco per se, let alone
going on the piste so to speak.

This one was in Tafraoute.

 

[daygoboy]

You don't know what slow is until you've experienced a 709d!
A lot of those oldies in Morocco have many non original parts,
of necessity of course, the Moroccans have to make the best of.
what they can afford even for a Ford (pun intended). Few bangers are
worth bringing back for restoration I'd say, bodies can be rustfree
but bashed around due to the rough roads. The Renault 12s were/are
the usual Petit Taxis used for shorter trips and the Merc. 250ds 300ds are/were
used as the Grande Taxis longer journeys. Your own engine a derivation.
Annually in Feb. the Renault R4 Club France go to Maroc for a rally, literally
hundreds of them.

 

[saxonborg]

This one was in Tafraoute.

If you travel through any farmland you may see some of the old single cylinder Lister diesel pumping engines still popping away merrily.

 

[Harleyboygaz3]

Big day today, ventured into Marrakesh town centre, it would be rude not too seeing’s we are here. Quite a pleasant surprise as was expecting a big full on experience of being bombarded from all angles but not at all. I think because we are probably out of season things seemed a bit quieter which suited us fine. Had a good walk round souks then in afternoon ventured up onto the terrace of a popular cafe overlooking the main” place jamaa el fna “ where we sat and watched for a couple of hours till dusk.

 

[mark61]

Another oldie spotted in Morocco. Rare over there too. Can't remember what town, had to get a pic though. Mercedes N1000

 

[Harleyboygaz3]

Another oldie spotted in Morocco. Rare over there too. Can't remember what town, had to get a pic though. Mercedes N1000

View attachment 74373

Nice one Mark, never seen one before I don’t think. At first glance it’s a VW camper.. Wonder what that would be worth back in UK?

 

[mark61]

Nice one Mark, never seen one before I don’t think. At first glance it’s a VW camper.. Wonder what that would be worth back in UK?

Don't think I have ever seen one in the UK and pretty sure they were never sold here. Not a true Merc though, badge engineering. First it was a DKW, then Auto-Union F1000 (diesel ones had Mercedes engine) and when Mercedes sold Auto Union to VW, they kept the Auto Union/ DKW Spanish production plant in Vitoria, then it became the Mercedes N1000, which was replaced with the MB100 and eventually the Vito.

Most of Europe would have been sold the "Harburger Transporter" at the time I guess. Which was similar in some ways. Initially the Hanomag F25/F35 and then the Mercedes 206D/306D.
Sorry, just had a nerdy moment,

 

[daygoboy]

Those Hanomags perhaps surprisingly were FWD, a bit ahead of their
time in that, because Mercedes T1s were carried on with RWD, even now with
the Sprinter. The van in the pic always reminds me of the Commer van 1725cc petrol.

HBgaz are they still permitting wild camping at the Koutabia, great spot being almost
on the Jemaa el-Fnaa. For a first timer you're lucky not to have had hustler pests.
You're probably correct in assuming it's because your out of season, the hustlers are away
spending their summer tourist Dirhams in the brothels of Tangier or Marseille!

 

[Harleyboygaz3]

Those Hanomags perhaps surprisingly were FWD, a bit ahead of their
time in that, because Mercedes T1s were carried on with RWD, even now with
the Sprinter. The van in the pic always reminds me of the Commer van 1725cc petrol.

HBgaz are they still permitting wild camping at the Koutabia, great spot being almost
on the Jemaa el-Fnaa. For a first timer you're lucky not to have had hustler pests.
You're probably correct in assuming it's because your out of season, the hustlers are away
spending their summer tourist Dirhams in the brothels of Tangier or Marseille!

Not sure about the wildcamping in that area tbh we have been on sites most of the time as they are so cheap and more secure especially with all gear on board, laptop etc. As I said earlier on,I think the police over here are in with the sites working together shifting wilders on to them as haven’t hardly seen any vans wilding. Would have done some in Tafraoute in the valley but were not there long enough. As regards to the pestering, the ones that did I just replied in Portuguese and they mostly smiled replying Ahh Cristiano Renaldo!!

 

[daygoboy]

It's very likely the cops have been coming down hard on the hustlers recently.
Security? Some r sole nicked my flip flops in Marrakesh campsite ! Outside van overnite
I wasn't wearing them at the time!
Generally 'wilding' in Maroc really means you give Dirhams to a guardien he looks after
your interests, similar to 'stick boys' in Spain, as was. Can be better security than a campsite.
Police in with the campsite owner is something I know happens in Spain and Portugal,
not necessarily brown envelopes, more the campsite owner has a word with the mayor,
and he has a word with the Policia Local, and to be fair the ones I've spoken to get pissed
off having to shift of what is often a bunch of foreign pensioners!

 

[spigot]

Another oldie spotted in Morocco. Rare over there too. Can't remember what town, had to get a pic though. Mercedes N1000

View attachment 74373

That looks like an old Commer van.

 

[spigot]

I had my flip flops nicked whilst wilding in Agadir, I’d left them on the back step.
Amazing thing is, they were in such a revolting state, I was about to bin them anyway.

 

[daygoboy]

That looks like an old Commer van.

Great minds think alike, see Post 129.

 

[daygoboy]

I had my flip flops nicked whilst wilding in Agadir, I’d left them on the back step.
Amazing thing is, they were in such a revolting state, I was about to bin them anyway.

Maybe a non too fussy passing billy goat, or camel.

 

[spigot]

I met a Moroccan guy in Spain who said 20 years ago the hustling was far, far worse.
Apparently the reason is the new king values the tourist trade & the police have directives to crack down on the poncing.
I’d hate to have been there 20 years ago!

 

[Harleyboygaz3]

So we’re now I’n Meknès parked up in a guarded car park right in town next to the Médina. After a short walk yesterday afternoon we were right in amongst the hustle and bustle of a huge street market which was just off the lovely square. Masses of people, it seemed even buisier than Marrakesh but no pressure whatsoever. We eventually came out of the streets full of vendors into what looked like the individual part but in very narrow streets! There were all sorts of trades , carpentry, iron mongers, plumbers etc. We went and had a look in a tiny shop where an old man welcomed us in, he spoke broken English where he hand made things from metal, very interesting. Some Photos of these.

 

[Harleyboygaz3]

Wasn’t expecting it to be such a nice place as this ,the narrow streets in the medina are the cleanest and prettiest we’ve seen all lit up with lovely old fashioned street lights. If any of you ever come here I can highly recommend Aisha restaurant in the Medina the food was to die for. Pics of 17th Century mosque, Aisha restaurant.

 

[trevskoda]

When i was there about 13 years back the streets were full of beggers,bit like dublin.

 

[Harleyboygaz3]

Really excellent thread, thanks for sharing

Thanks Graham, as was yours.Hope you’re crossing and return went well.

Gary