ojays

Hi. Yes The Tree of idelness at Belapais, Very nice up there, we were there yesterday.

A lot of the building work has stopped now mainly due to rouge builders. Lots of british have paid the money but the builders haven't finished. It's quite big news here. We are renting, much safer. Lots of Land Rovers now with the Turkish Army.

The T54 (I think) is still there, saw it only 18months ago. Not easily found as it is situated part of the way down an embankment amongst some trees, up in the mountains. Substantially intact it has a memorial plaque telling the story of how it got there. I must admit it is in a very strange place.

Gregg

Hi Ojays.

 

I too lived in Cyprus for one year, back in 1999. I was stationed at Nicosia International Airport better known as Blue Berret Camp when I was detatched to the United Nations for a year. I was lucky enough to have free reign in the De Mil zones and saw lots of sights that no one else gets to see. I spent 6 months as the SQMS driver and then 6 months as the Postie driver and cover for the HQ Brit Con Commander and the UN High Commissioner drivers.

 

Cyprus back then was still a closed country in the North for most people, but we were free to cross the border and explore the sights. It's a lovely country and I loved every minute of it. Back then it was still the Cypriot pound and fuel was VERY, VERY cheap at 11 pence a litre (you could fill up a LWB Shogun from empty for a fiver!!!)

 

What is the situation like now, is it still an independent country (If your in the North it's still going to be as it was) in the South or has the dreaded EU jackboot made it's mark? Do they still have those cash payment boxes in the fuel stations?

 

Welcome aboard!

Unfortunately the Euro has just about killed everything off. All basics are so expensive yet salaries are the same or even being reduced due to the economic climate.

It is very easy to go over to the north side now with very few restirictions other than buying stuff over there. The Cypriots search and remove anything they deem contra-band. You can still buy petrol at the automatic cash machines when the garages are closed.

We have now returned to the UK as for various reasons we could no longer afford to live there any more.

We will miss Cyprus but it has changed so much over the last 6 years, most of it not good!

I thought about bring my Abbott over when I came over - wanted to open a bar and park it outside, now in Hine sight don't think it would be allowed, there are a few ex - service land rovers, and a few ex - UN trucks running around or parked up these include Laplander, Kras, Volvo, Hino and Bedford's trucks to name but a few.

Unfortunately a definite no-no. Only military vehicles allowed are cypriot/UN (British as in RAF/Army):-(

Hi the names Gregg (ojays) I Now live and work in Cyprus.

Had my own Garage/Paint/Bodyshop in the UK. Got fed up with all the H/S and EE legislation making it unprofitable, (as a one man band) and no longer willing to put up with all that went with it.

I was involved in building kit cars/customising/restoring/race chassis/trick painting + much more and loved my work, unfortunately desk bound pen pushers in another country dictate what we can and can't do. (rant over)

My interests are many, and my photo collection goes back to the 60's mainly aviation, but most things with noisy oily forms of propulsion interest me. Since coming out to Cyprus 4 years ago I have been wandering around cataloguing all the old abandoned vehicles laying around.

From 40's cars/tractors/buses to some of the ex military vehicles I have been posting on this forum. Unfortunately there are few opportunities to photograph my faves (aircraft) although I have found a few relics here and there. For some reason:shocked: LOL people seem to get quite agitated when They see a camera near these.!!!!!

I hope you enjoy the pics I will be putting on this site.

Ojays:)

Ojays I think this is the place ??????, long time ago since I was there september 1970-73 and may june july 1974 ---- have I got the right location ?

there were virtually no hotels in Larnac then !! There were NONE in Paphos . Famagusta was the main holiday resort. I used to travel the route from Akrotiri via Dhekelia as an armed escort on convoys from the Docks. The best 3 years of my life !

TED

As you will no doubt know, Famagusta (The Mediterrainean Riviera) is now a ghost city in the Turkish occupied zone. Sealed since 1974 there are reputedely many old vehicles as they were left during the mass evacuation.

I regularly travel to (the dark side LOL) and there are as many old vehicles as on this side laying around.

Up in the mountains is a T54 tank left where it slipped off the narrow winding road during the invasion.

Try and get that in a container if you can. :undecided: There are many military vehicles laid about but the occupying force takes a very strong dislike to you taking photo's.

Cheers

Hi Ojays what a collection , do you know of a shipping agent there ?

I would love the Pioneer not sure of dimensions though ?

 

would it fit into a container height and width? perhaps one or two others

 

Perhaps if everyone nabs one ot two they can be rescued , like many things transporting big toys can be expensive .

what tim eframe is there? could they be moved and stored somewhere else whilst shipping organised particularly for me who lives on the otherside of the world?

a truly fascinating collection

The problem over here trying to purchase old/abandoned vehicles is the documentation (if it still exists)

and the asking price:shocked: As in my opening post, I tried to purchase a Rover 3.3 V8 a while ago. This was in a compound about to be leveled, and needing a fair amount of work. The owner wanted 10,000 Euro.

This with many other collectables were bulldozed into a skip. Several other old vehicles I have tried to purchase in the last 4 years I have been here, have been 'Valued' by the owners at a similar price.

I'm not sure if it's greed or a lack of common sense.:undecided:

Example: Two years ago I helped a friend restore a '73' Mexico on one of the bases. Took it it to Akrotiri to fly to the UK, Cypriot customs/antiqities decided it was part of Cypriot heritage and wouldn't release it.

It's now in the UK but that is another story altogether :-X:angel:

It isn't easy to export from here, and as I don't speak Greek it can make it difficult. However maybe some of the forums Cypriot members can help in this direction. I originally worked in a Cypriot garage and he sent several old vehicles to the UK while I was there, so it can be done. Just need the right contacts

Ojays I think this is the place ??????, long time ago since I was there september 1970-73 and may june july 1974 ---- have I got the right location ?

there were virtually no hotels in Larnac then !! There were NONE in Paphos . Famagusta was the main holiday resort. I used to travel the route from Akrotiri via Dhekelia as an armed escort on convoys from the Docks. The best 3 years of my life !

TED

One and the same place, It's all built up now and there is a tech College right opposite it. Oil tanks and a fuel depot along side of it.

I'm hoping to get back into the site to photograph the ones I didn't get the first time + the generator & pump trailers + trolley accs

Which scrap yard are these in? I've just left Cyprus and I've had a look around the scrappy's at Kolossi and Ypsonas (I have a few pics in an album on here from there). I saw a load of wagons at a scrap yard in Larnaca but didn't get chance to have a closer look, come to think of it there were quite a bit of road works going on opposite the yard so maybe these pics are from Larnaca.

Missing Cyprus already, can't believe I'm saying that.:undecided:

Yes it's Dhekelia road, It's not a scrap yard though. The compound belongs to Lekaritis and the vehicles are apparantely 'In Store':undecided:

Unfortunately the land has just gone up for sale, so theres no telling what will happen to them when it's sold.:-(

Brilliant Ojays ! Thanks for posting and I hope someone can save em ! :-D[/quote

Seems like I have had some success, but can someone explain how to get these photo's into my album please. Have tried twice with no success:red:

I have approx another 20 to post yet, hopefully diverse enough to get somone interested.:-D

If this has been successfull, I will attempt to upload the rest over the weekend. Watch this space (I hope):-)

Can someone run through what I have to do (in simple terms) to put my photo's on here. Have had three attempts but none successful so far:red:

over to you guys:-D

Hi everyone, nubie to this forum but you were recommended by one of your members 'climber'

I will upload the photo's he was describing, later in the week when I have worked out how to do it.:laugh:

My concern about these vehicles has escalated as 2 weeks ago a notice has gone up on the fence offering the land for sale.:shocked:

Just down the road last year 14 old british and american vehicles from the 50's/60's were bulldozed into several skips when a similar compound was sold. I had enquired about purchasing one of them but was quoted the ridiculous figure of €10.000 for a Rover 3.5 V8:shocked:

My interest in all old vehicles is varied, Cars/trucks/planes etc and I have many photo's I would like to share taken over the years, it seems a shame to leave them in the box in my wardrobe.

Will be back soon

Best Regards

Ojays