Motivational article....

[Will]

This is from the LA Times. I lived in Sierra Leone, a little north of Ghana and there was a shop just like this with guys putting ancient Puegots and such back into service. It's amazing what these guys can do with almost no tools.

 

[CopyKat]

For sure. Recycling at it's best.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Maybe I can send them rusty?

later,
Dustin

 

[mn_smokeater]

Maybe I can send them rusty?

later,
Dustin

hmmm bet they could buff er right out

 

[Louisville86]

Sounds about right for the third world. Our standards of safety/comfort are much higher in the developed world. Much of the third world gets around on small motorcycles loaded with more people and goods than you'd believe (of course in congested urban areas top speed for everyone is about 30 mph and traffic rules are much more "creative"). So a rebuilt car is a step up!

 

[odie1969]

"but the Western habit of writing off damaged cars is even more mystifying to Africans. It has to be explained to Foley a couple of times."

I thought this was kinda funny.
Has Anybody ever wondered why you can pick up a low mileage JDM motor off ebay any time. well I did a little research and found that in Japan the first year you buy a car the Taxes are very little, But every year there after the Taxes cont. to Increase. So after five years it is more logical to buy a new car than to keep the old car. So the old cars are scraped and stripped with the motor and ECU sent to countrys that alow older cars.

So I thought it was funny when the easterners flip cars faster than most Americans.

 

[Jason]

"but the Western habit of writing off damaged cars is even more mystifying to Africans. It has to be explained to Foley a couple of times."

I thought this was kinda funny.
Has Anybody ever wondered why you can pick up a low mileage JDM motor off ebay any time. well I did a little research and found that in Japan the first year you buy a car the Taxes are very little, But every year there after the Taxes cont. to Increase. So after five years it is more logical to buy a new car than to keep the old car. So the old cars are scraped and stripped with the motor and ECU sent to countrys that alow older cars.

So I thought it was funny when the easterners flip cars faster than most Americans.

Untrue. Although I have heard it before. When I was in Japan, I learned it was false.

http://www.jama.org/AutoTrends/detail1d69.html?id=224
http://www.gotjapan.com/living/owning_a_car.php

 

[LEVE]

For several years I've watched the guys in the Islamabama Jeep Club take vehicles and hand craft new bodies for them. They'll take a photo out of a magazine, say of a new JEEP Unlimited and in a couple of months have a metal body sitting on almost any type of 4X4 they can find. These guys are amazing. What they can do with metal is beyond belief. I'm amazed at their skills.