Ubb178 Mowag on Dodge W200 chassis 1967

[mekubb]

What this truck and from when ?

[fyreline]

1967 Mowag/Dodge W-200 from the Netherlands. Looks to be some sort of Emergency Services van, police or fire. Mowag built a lot of these types of units and seemed to prefer the rugged Dodge chassis.

[mekubb]

Yes, that's it. Thought it would last a little bit longer, well found though. Point awarded.

[fyreline]

Just as an aside here, it should be mentioned that this vehicle is a good example of the difference between a quality specialist bodybuilder such as Mowag, and those countless others who basically hammered their bodies out on an anvil. Please notice the continuation of the body line on the rear edge of the hood, and how Mowag carried it into the door. Not necessary, but a nice detail that makes the vehicle look more finished. Also the slightly curved windscreen, when a plain piece of flat glass would have done the job. Small details, to be sure . . . But representative of a firm that took pride in its work. Just dropping a square box on the Dodge chassis would have worked, but this one has a bit more style and a lot more of an air of quality about it. Just thought it was worth mentioning.

[Bill Murray]

Just curious, you say a MOWAG from the Netherlands in your answer.
MOWAG is a Swiss company so is this vehicle registered in the Netherlands?

Bill

[mekubb]

Yes, Mowag is Swiss of course and this car has a Dutch plate. It's from April 1967 and has a 5,2 litre 8 cil. engine according to official papers

[Bill Murray]

Thanks, Tobias.
You could not see the registration plate on your photo so I was guessing.

Bill

[mekubb]

Bill, here it is with the plate visible

[Bill Murray]

Thanks Tobias:

This one does bring back old memories of cheap petrol and relatively large V8 engines that could still be found used all over the world, even in Europe where fuel was rather expensive even in the mid 1960's.

Not today............  We still have them here in pickup trucks but not passenger cars.  Americans would like to never give up their large displacement V8's in pickups but I see even now twin turbo V6 engines such as I have in my 2010 Taurus SHO replacing those motors in Ford trucks.  Ford in 2015 is going to using a huge amount of aluminium in their pickups, saving 800 lbs./365 kilos in weight but the funny part is that the truck will cost so much more that any savings in fuel costs will be cancelled by the extra cost of the vehicle because aluminium is so much more expensive than steel.

I am personally a huge fan of turbo diesels but there are almost none on offer here as diesel still has a reputation for being noisy and smelly which we "Internationalists" know is no longer true.

Oh well, I can always remember my 7 liter 1965 Cadillac Brougham that I exported to Sweden when I moved there in 1974.
I could only afford to drive it on Sunday maybe once a month and my neighbours used to laugh as they drove their Renaults and Beetles and so forth every day.

A different world we have today for sure.

Bill

[4popoid]

Ah yes, Bill, we "old guys" still have our memories, even if we don't have our wheels.  I still remember, with great fondness, my '71 Olds Toronado with its big 454 cu. in. (about 7.5 liter) and 4 barrel carb.  Pulling my boat trailer (with 18' ski boat) she would get about 8 or 9 mpg.  When I would get home from a day on the lake, I would fill up the car (about 30 gal.) and boat (about 20 gal.) and be horrified when the price of gasoline reached $1 per gallon.  Those days (along with the car, boat and my youth) are gone forever (Sigh).   

[fyreline]

I'm right there with you, guys. I sometimes got a little down about the cost of fuel, especially in my Corvette C6. Then I would wake up and realize how truly fortunate I am to have it . . . And after a little more thought, I did the only proper thing to do . . . Go out and get another one!



1962 62,000 original miles, matching-numbers 327/300hp 4-speed. Vroooooooooooom!

[Bill Murray]

Some other big motor vehicles I once owned.

[Bill Murray]

1956 ford 300 cubic inch with triple side draft weber carbs, headers, camshaft, pistons etc.
350 plus horsepower.

Bill

[mekubb]

Good stories and pics guys, thanks ! Here in Holland we don't have a lot of these big cars because we can't park them anyware 

[Bill Murray]

Hi Tobias:

Sorry we hijacked your thread.  Still, a fun trip down memory lane and we all need that once in a while.
Bill