Hello folks,
Here's a short story about a trip to Croatia to buy an old BMW and a road trip back across Europe in our new car.
After selling my Mk2 Escort at the beginning of last year I was on the look out for something else. In the summer I spotted this restored 1602 for sale on a German website, it really stuck out amongst the others so I contacted the owner, Ivan.
After numerous emails and texts, my girlfriend and I flew out to Budapest in the October break on our way to buy our 1602 and start our trip home through Europe.
We stayed our first night in Budapest where we seen a few sights by the Danube and sampled a few beverages
The next day Ivan picked us up and drove us into Croatia and his home town of Osijek. The car was everything I had hoped it would be. The deal was done and we all went out for dinner and celebrated by having a few drinks and talking cars most of, if not the whole night
Next day we spent the morning going from mot station to police station, post office, bank, insurance co, etc. Quite a lot of red tape and paperwork to get through when exporting a car from over there but it was a pleasant experience chatting away about cars and seeing some city sights that most tourists wouldn't get to see and at the end of it all I got a Croatian registration document in my name and some cool, green export plates that most people had never seen before. The lady in mot station even said that weather was good that day because Croatia was exporting a car
After that we said our goodbyes and headed West to the coast to meet up with Ivan's friends, who had arranged accommodation for us and took us out for a few drinks. We had a such a good time in Croatia and such a great experience buying a car from such nice, friendly people.
From the coast in Novigrad Croatia we drove to Venice for the day then on up to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy to see the Dolomites. Over a snow covered mountain pass in the Alps and into Austria. Through Switzerland and round the South of Lake Konstanz. Up into the Black Forest in Germany to Triberg to buy a Cuckoo clock :lol: Then up Route 500 (one of the top 10 Ultimate driving roads) to Baden Baden. Koblenz for a night out. Then Amsterdam where we got the overnight ferry to Newcastle then home. In total we drove about 2500km, we had a great holiday and the wee 1602 never missed a beat.
Here's a short story about a trip to Croatia to buy an old BMW and a road trip back across Europe in our new car.
After selling my Mk2 Escort at the beginning of last year I was on the look out for something else. In the summer I spotted this restored 1602 for sale on a German website, it really stuck out amongst the others so I contacted the owner, Ivan.
After numerous emails and texts, my girlfriend and I flew out to Budapest in the October break on our way to buy our 1602 and start our trip home through Europe.
We stayed our first night in Budapest where we seen a few sights by the Danube and sampled a few beverages
The next day Ivan picked us up and drove us into Croatia and his home town of Osijek. The car was everything I had hoped it would be. The deal was done and we all went out for dinner and celebrated by having a few drinks and talking cars most of, if not the whole night
Next day we spent the morning going from mot station to police station, post office, bank, insurance co, etc. Quite a lot of red tape and paperwork to get through when exporting a car from over there but it was a pleasant experience chatting away about cars and seeing some city sights that most tourists wouldn't get to see and at the end of it all I got a Croatian registration document in my name and some cool, green export plates that most people had never seen before. The lady in mot station even said that weather was good that day because Croatia was exporting a car
After that we said our goodbyes and headed West to the coast to meet up with Ivan's friends, who had arranged accommodation for us and took us out for a few drinks. We had a such a good time in Croatia and such a great experience buying a car from such nice, friendly people.
From the coast in Novigrad Croatia we drove to Venice for the day then on up to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy to see the Dolomites. Over a snow covered mountain pass in the Alps and into Austria. Through Switzerland and round the South of Lake Konstanz. Up into the Black Forest in Germany to Triberg to buy a Cuckoo clock :lol: Then up Route 500 (one of the top 10 Ultimate driving roads) to Baden Baden. Koblenz for a night out. Then Amsterdam where we got the overnight ferry to Newcastle then home. In total we drove about 2500km, we had a great holiday and the wee 1602 never missed a beat.
