Farmobil 700

SIVA member Mark unveiled the completion of his 12 year Farmobil restoration project at a recent meeting. The Farmobil was a farm utility vehicle designed by the Fahr tractor company in the late 1950s. Engines and drive trains were supplied by BMW and the vehicles themselves were assembled by the Greek Farco company. The Farmobil's were sold in Greece, Austria, Germany (as the BMW Farmobil) and in France, where they were relatively successful. Unfortunately only 900 Farmobil's were ever manufactured and are quite rare nowadays.
Mark's Farmobil was bought in Lyon, France in 1990 and imported to Australia. It was running at the time and had its original BMW Farco engine.

Over the past 12 years Mark has undertaken an epic complete nut and bolt restoration that included the re-manufacture of floor plans and body panels.

The result is simply amazing. Every single element has been exquisitely restored to pristine condition. The engine bay is spotless!

Mark takes it for a test drive.

Mark's recently completed Renault

A few interesting machines invariably show up at SIVA meetings. Two Renaults and a Messerschmitt.

Peter's Renault 4CV

Zig's Messerschmitt

Berkeley sports car. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Cars

An Aussie legend - the Leyland P76. Wheel's Magazine's 1973 car of the year. It would become the great Australian lemon. http://www.webtrade.com.au/p76/

Wheels Magazine's DKW reviews

DKW cars and motorcycles enjoyed a good reputation in Australia in the inter-war period and many motoring enthusiasts hoped DKW would make a return to the Australian market after the war. In January 1958 Australia's premier motoring magazine, Wheels, sent their reporter to Germany to test the new DKW 3=6. It received a very positive review but sales never eventuated and less than ten cars were ever imported into Australia.




The following year, in January 1959 Wheels had a four page feature on the DKW 3=6. The article even questioned Mercedes-Benz' failure to promote the DKW in the Australian market.





By 1962 DKW had still not returned to the Australian market but in their August issue Wheels Magazine again sent a writer to Germany to review the new Junior model.




In 1965 Wheels reviewed the DKW F102. Once again it was a positive review and it was forecast that the larger DKW would receive a positive welcome back in Australia. Later the same year the F102 was replaced by the new Audi F103. It would be several more years before Audi's reached Australian shores.