I managed to borrow several different cars in Aden by testing them for a friend who, as a mechanic, mends officer's cars off duty. He lets me do the testing which usually means I take a trip to Steamer Point (7 miles). I tried an M.G. Magnette saloon the other day, it's a lovely car to drive, I got up to 84 mph along a 600 yard straight, it had plenty more power under the bonnet but the bad road was unsafe for anything faster !
Fred Caroe
"Our 1961 Volvo B18 bought new in Aden (no tax!) and shipped back to the U.K. when we left. As you will see it is bearing its' Aden registration plate. The car is still going strong in the U.K. although no longer owned by our family." Nigel Brennan
Jehangir Patel loved his Studebakers - he had two in succession but for some reason they became unavailable in Aden and in the 1950's he bought a dark blue Opel Kapitan; one with a round roof, rather like a much larger version of the Volkswagen Beetle. In the 60's he had a smaller Opel Kadett (the German version of the Vauxhall Viva) in which his son, Noshir, learnt to drive when he was 16.
The Pickering's Austin A35 'jalopy', previously owned, I think, by someone working at the hospital at Steamer Point. This car was originally a sandy-beige colour but was hand-painted green by Roland Pickering. One day it was left unattended in Crater whilst the family were shopping. Upon their return the car was full of goats who had eaten the seats! With that lesson learned the car, when unattended, was henceforth guarded by young Arab boys who were given 'backsheesh' to keep the goats at bay.
Fred Caroe
"Our 1961 Volvo B18 bought new in Aden (no tax!) and shipped back to the U.K. when we left. As you will see it is bearing its' Aden registration plate. The car is still going strong in the U.K. although no longer owned by our family." Nigel Brennan
Jehangir Patel loved his Studebakers - he had two in succession but for some reason they became unavailable in Aden and in the 1950's he bought a dark blue Opel Kapitan; one with a round roof, rather like a much larger version of the Volkswagen Beetle. In the 60's he had a smaller Opel Kadett (the German version of the Vauxhall Viva) in which his son, Noshir, learnt to drive when he was 16.
The Pickering's Austin A35 'jalopy', previously owned, I think, by someone working at the hospital at Steamer Point. This car was originally a sandy-beige colour but was hand-painted green by Roland Pickering. One day it was left unattended in Crater whilst the family were shopping. Upon their return the car was full of goats who had eaten the seats! With that lesson learned the car, when unattended, was henceforth guarded by young Arab boys who were given 'backsheesh' to keep the goats at bay.