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Lotus Europa Forums => Off Topic Subjects => Topic started by: dakazman on Wednesday,January 30, 2019, 06:34:01 PM

Title: The Blue Wonder Donkey, Remember this?
Post by: dakazman on Wednesday,January 30, 2019, 06:34:01 PM

The Blue Wonder Donkey!
 I ran across this transporter.Kinda of a interesting design.
Dakazman

Title: Re: The Blue Wonder Donkey, Remember this?
Post by: Bainford on Thursday,January 31, 2019, 09:43:12 AM

Yeah, I love this thing. I've been gearing up to build a model of it. I have a laptop at my model bench which shows a slideshow of cool car images (when not displaying my reference photos) and there are several shots of this hauler, some in period, that make the rounds. It's a very intriguing machine.

I believe it inspired this US based hauler. It's built using a '59 El Camino cab on a Mercedes chassis, with lots of custom fab and body work. Apparently it was a  bear to drive, and without a load on back could be made to grind its front bumper on the road when hard on the brakes.

Title: Re: The Blue Wonder Donkey, Remember this?
Post by: BDA on Thursday,January 31, 2019, 09:56:26 AM

And then there's Pete Lovely's VW transporter. No word (that I'm aware of) on how it handled.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/555068722802746020/visual-search/?x=14&y=23&w=540&h=278

Title: Re: The Blue Wonder Donkey, Remember this?
Post by: dakazman on Thursday,January 31, 2019, 04:07:48 PM

BDA, board not found .🙁 however I found some interesting things....

Bainford . I couldn’t imagine driving that 170 km/h . It’s was tricky taxing around a L1011 with the steering nose gear way behind you.
Dakazman

Title: Re: The Blue Wonder Donkey, Remember this?
Post by: BDA on Thursday,January 31, 2019, 04:20:06 PM

Sorry, I guess you have to sign up for pinterest first. Here it is. While looking for it, I found a picture of a model of Lovely's transporter!

Title: Re: The Blue Wonder Donkey, Remember this?
Post by: dakazman on Thursday,January 31, 2019, 04:37:34 PM

My neighbor lent me his be van back in the 70’s to haul two dirt bikes around . I could hardly do the 55mph speed limit . Blew the engine on the way home and had to fix it for free. Never again used someone else’s vehicle.
Dakazman

Title: Re: The Blue Wonder Donkey, Remember this?
Post by: BDA on Thursday,January 31, 2019, 04:46:29 PM

Sad story, Dman.  :(

More VW race car transporter fun: https://classicmotorsports.com/forum/classic-cars/a-picture-perfect-vw-pairing/137884/page1/

Title: Re: The Blue Wonder Donkey, Remember this?
Post by: dakazman on Thursday,January 31, 2019, 05:24:36 PM

Nice , you could have a fleet of them back then  I was given several free when people found out I wanted some parts for the rebuild. I routinely talked to people as a salesman . People would notice a little dirt under my fingernails and strike up conversations. That’s how I also got my 67 Jaguar xke convertible with a 4.2 6cyl. And a 58 Mga coupe.
Dakazman

Title: Re: The Blue Wonder Donkey, Remember this?
Post by: BDA on Thursday,January 31, 2019, 05:50:54 PM

You apparently have a knack for getting nice cars!