Malta

[Eastway]

Excellent smudges MIAS2

I can hear the echoing "Sell. Sell. Sell" etc from here!

Thanks for posting these.

[martinu]

Malta & Gozo are also in a bit of a time warp for cars. I lost count of how many Morris Marinas, Ford Capris (Mk I), Ford Cortinas (Mks II - IV), Ford Anglias, etc that I saw still driving around in pretty good nick. Without word of a lie, I must have seen about 10 Marinas/Itals being driven in 7 days. I didn't see any Maxis or Allegros, they couldn't have caught on so much over there. It really was, at times, just like Jack Regan would have viewed Malta back in late 1977. It would have been nice to spot a vintage Granada but no such luck.

When I was there in the early 1980s over Christmas (Xmas day on the beach - weird!) the cars that were popular were Morris Minors, Austin A40s and Ford Prefects. Almost all of them were black and every single one had huge dents on the wings which is not surprising given the reckless way that the Maltese drive. So it looks as if there's generally a 30-year-lag between what's current in the UK and what's common in Malta. I wonder how many Maltese cars are UK people's cast-offs that have been exported.

While we were there, we saw a huge oil rig on the horizon which gradually got closer as the day went on, and eventually anchored in Bugibba Bay where we were staying. The reason became apparent that night: there was a very dramatic thunderstorm (vivid purple lightning, deafening ground-vibrating thunder, rainfall like standing under a waterfall and hurricane force winds). The oil rig had evidently come in shore to shelter from the gathering storm.

[Fatmananddummy]

I went to Malta in 2002, and all the buses were pretty much the classic stylish old ones, and I saw many cars as far back as the 60's in daily use, some superb condition. Didn't see any MK1 Granadas, but several MK3 Cortinas, and MK1 Transits, and MK1's and 2 Cortinas, and Hunters, and some unusual stuff never sold in the UK (odd looking old Japanese stuff and 60's Opels). MK1 Escorts are very popular, and there was a late 50's Standard Vanguard near to my hotel.

Also noticed loads of Marinas (some of them diesels) and a few Triumph Heralds, front wheel drive Triumph 1300's, and old Vauxhalls.

[maninasuitcase2]

I went to Malta in 2002, and all the buses were pretty much the classic stylish old ones, and I saw many cars as far back as the 60's in daily use, some superb condition. Didn't see any MK1 Granadas, but several MK3 Cortinas, and MK1 Transits, and MK1's and 2 Cortinas, and Hunters, and some unusual stuff never sold in the UK (odd looking old Japanese stuff and 60's Opels). MK1 Escorts are very popular, and there was a late 50's Standard Vanguard near to my hotel.

Also noticed loads of Marinas (some of them diesels) and a few Triumph Heralds, front wheel drive Triumph 1300's, and old Vauxhalls.

Yes, some 8 years later there were loads of those old Transits, several Triumph Heralds (mostly convertibles), Morris Minors and there are still a lot of Mk 1 Escorts on the island.

Those buses, some of which are 50 years old, are everywhere and mostly all painted in garish colours like my photo below. They just belch out diesel fumes all over the Mediterranean.

[Ringer]

A lot of our buses that are 20-25 years old and life expired here get exported to Malta and do another 30 years service there.

[Bill]

Do they drive on our side of the road over there?

[Fatmananddummy]

Yes they do! Have RHD cars aswell.

[maninasuitcase2]

Strange thing about all the cars on Malta - most must have had faulty indicators because I hardly ever saw any being used. No wonder Malta has the worst vehicle accident rate of any EU country. We came across 2 accidents on our first night there. I am well travelled and I can't recall anywhere seeing so many accidents as I witnessed during that week on Malta. If you are going to Malta - then use the ultra cheap public bus service. I regretted having a hire car because I never felt safe, there were too many nutters on the road!

[Ace5150]

Great pics! Can someone do a 'then and now' with them to save me digging out my video of Sweeney2?

[Tom Daniels]

There is info among the threads somewhere claiming it IS still there, though a little run down these days. It's called the Hotel Ta Cenc.
It has it's own website, complete with pictures

http://www.vjborg.com/tacenc/photos.shtml

Going to Malta next Sunday for 2 weeks. Might check out the hotel. Is it on Malta or Gozo?

[martinu]

There is info among the threads somewhere claiming it IS still there, though a little run down these days. It's called the Hotel Ta Cenc.
It has it's own website, complete with pictures

http://www.vjborg.com/tacenc/photos.shtml

Going to Malta next Sunday for 2 weeks. Might check out the hotel. Is it on Malta or Gozo?

Gozo: http://www.vjborg.com/tacenc/ gives the address.

[maninasuitcase2]

There is info among the threads somewhere claiming it IS still there, though a little run down these days. It's called the Hotel Ta Cenc.
It has it's own website, complete with pictures

http://www.vjborg.com/tacenc/photos.shtml

Going to Malta next Sunday for 2 weeks. Might check out the hotel. Is it on Malta or Gozo?

"Well, we got over to Gozo and visited the 5 star luxury Hotel ta Cenc at Sennat. I thought it would be more isolated from civilisation but it is very much part of Sennat (although that only accounts for one side of the complex). The vast majority of the hotel is surrounded by open countryside."