Malta Motors

**Oddball** · 5-5-06, 21:46

Finally got around to sorting out some of the photo's of cars i came across in Malta.. as some will no doubt know, malta was a haven for old motors left over from the war and when the servicemen left leaving their motors on the island.. the climate helped keep these motors running for years ... unfortunately a combination of the introduction of MOT's, boy racer world and chav styling has reached this poor island, with virtually any type of car warranting alloys, dustbin sized back boxes, rear spoilers, poor body kits and neons ! the introduction of the MOT's being the most devastating and the dissapearance of many oldies... still i did spot many a marina, viva, and mk1 escorts...
Below is my pic's of the bunch .. its includes classics such as an opel rekord ( c model i think ) in outstanding condition, the light was fading when i took the picture and i never got to see it again, shame because the car was mint as was the chrome beading.. then i came a cross a Fiat 850 (?), again in outstanding condition ... i've included an example of the sort 'sadness' you get .. like the 206 HDI with twin DTM turn-ups, i think the bores of the turn-ups probably equal the engine capacity ! ..... oh and of course. a number plate that would sell for thousands ... enjoy ..

**Einstein** · 5-6-06, 4:59

Yes Paul.. Rekord C series.. Late 1966 - 1971..
up until the mid to late 70's, Opel's were different to Vauxhalls..
The later Rekord E became the Carlton

We used to have a Morris 1300, same body as the white Austin 1100 above..
Weirdest thing was the speedo... like a thermometer on it's side, with the red bar moving across to indicate MPH..

Fiat 850 Saloon.. 1964 - 1972... I remember loads of these running about, very popular car..

The Toyota Corolla, I reckon is a 3rd generation, 1974 - 81 but could be earlier.... this one is throwing me a bit

John

**Oddball** · 5-6-06, 5:12

hehe .. i thought they might bring back memories for some ..

The Toyota i forgot to mention, is a scarlet ..

I had hoped to see and photo many more, and trying to take a photo whilst moving, on a maltese road, is near imposible.. sorry did i say road .. I ment dirt track.. theres only one decent properly tarmac'd road on the island, oh and the nice clean bit at the airport terminal.. after that you need daaamn good springs and shocks ...

Oddy.

**Einstein** · 5-6-06, 5:56

Yep.... memories indeed...

Oh, and I think you mean Starlet... a shortened corolla... that's why it threw me

That is a 74 -79 model....

John

**Oddball** · 5-6-06, 12:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Einstein

Oh, and I think you mean Starlet... John

ah yes .. sorry.. typo .. was a long night at work

... and now i'm awake and off to do it all again ..

...

**Ian F Chequer** · 5-6-06, 16:24

Looking at the typeface used for Toyota on the Starlet, I would say that is pre 1978, as they went over to using a much smaller typeface at about that time.

IIRC Starlets were imported (into the UK) from 1978 to 1983, but were not very successful.

The lettering on the front door of the Austin is not standard - and neither, I think are those rectangular vents on the rear of the Fiat.

ifc

**Oddball** · 5-6-06, 16:42

As you mentioned the lettering on the front door Ian, i noticed quite a few motors with similar lettering, some old some quite new.. i think it may be a Malta thing..

Paul.

**Einstein** · 5-6-06, 17:18

Lettering is probably a bit like J-Spec models... the Japs like words and abbreviations all over their cars..

Like 4WS, DOHC, 4WD, etc

As for the vents on the boot of the Fiat... yeah, I think they are std... seen a few of them..

John

5-5-06, 21:46	#1 (permalink)
Oddball Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: kent, UK Age: 40 iTrader: (3)	Malta Motors Finally got around to sorting out some of the photo's of cars i came across in Malta.. as some will no doubt know, malta was a haven for old motors left over from the war and when the servicemen left leaving their motors on the island.. the climate helped keep these motors running for years ... unfortunately a combination of the introduction of MOT's, boy racer world and chav styling has reached this poor island, with virtually any type of car warranting alloys, dustbin sized back boxes, rear spoilers, poor body kits and neons ! the introduction of the MOT's being the most devastating and the dissapearance of many oldies... still i did spot many a marina, viva, and mk1 escorts... Below is my pic's of the bunch .. its includes classics such as an opel rekord ( c model i think ) in outstanding condition, the light was fading when i took the picture and i never got to see it again, shame because the car was mint as was the chrome beading.. then i came a cross a Fiat 850 (?), again in outstanding condition ... i've included an example of the sort 'sadness' you get .. like the 206 HDI with twin DTM turn-ups, i think the bores of the turn-ups probably equal the engine capacity ! ..... oh and of course. a number plate that would sell for thousands ... enjoy ..
	Current Ride and new project- 93 Cavalier Turbo, running approx 260 at 12psi on phase one chips. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ R.I.P 92 2nd gen HYBRID - ZE cams, ZE inlet manifold, Mag leads, 65mm TB, CAI, Tokico shocks springs, SS headers, SS DE-cat, SS Scorpion cat back, 17in Wolfrace Osaka alloys - pics ==>My Album

5-6-06, 5:12	#3 (permalink)
Oddball Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: kent, UK Age: 40 iTrader: (3)	hehe .. i thought they might bring back memories for some .. The Toyota i forgot to mention, is a scarlet .. I had hoped to see and photo many more, and trying to take a photo whilst moving, on a maltese road, is near imposible.. sorry did i say road .. I ment dirt track.. theres only one decent properly tarmac'd road on the island, oh and the nice clean bit at the airport terminal.. after that you need daaamn good springs and shocks ... Oddy.
	Current Ride and new project- 93 Cavalier Turbo, running approx 260 at 12psi on phase one chips. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ R.I.P 92 2nd gen HYBRID - ZE cams, ZE inlet manifold, Mag leads, 65mm TB, CAI, Tokico shocks springs, SS headers, SS DE-cat, SS Scorpion cat back, 17in Wolfrace Osaka alloys - pics ==>My Album

5-6-06, 16:24	#6 (permalink)
Ian F Chequer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow, UK Age: 35 iTrader: (0)	Looking at the typeface used for Toyota on the Starlet, I would say that is pre 1978, as they went over to using a much smaller typeface at about that time. IIRC Starlets were imported (into the UK) from 1978 to 1983, but were not very successful. The lettering on the front door of the Austin is not standard - and neither, I think are those rectangular vents on the rear of the Fiat. ifc Last edited by Ian F Chequer : 5-6-06 at 16:27.
	Four Triple Two - 198901 miles on original powertrain. Last seen standing in line for the crusher. Forgiven - maybe Forgotten - not likely

5-6-06, 16:42	#7 (permalink)
Oddball Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: kent, UK Age: 40 iTrader: (3)	As you mentioned the lettering on the front door Ian, i noticed quite a few motors with similar lettering, some old some quite new.. i think it may be a Malta thing.. Paul.
	Current Ride and new project- 93 Cavalier Turbo, running approx 260 at 12psi on phase one chips. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ R.I.P 92 2nd gen HYBRID - ZE cams, ZE inlet manifold, Mag leads, 65mm TB, CAI, Tokico shocks springs, SS headers, SS DE-cat, SS Scorpion cat back, 17in Wolfrace Osaka alloys - pics ==>My Album