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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Sean Howman, The Pamir highway in an unseasonably cold late October, Tajikistan

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 4 Aug 2005
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Dakar rally spectator in Morocco
Hello all,

I am planning a trip to Morocco in Januari 2006 to watch the Paris-Dakar, to do some pistes (fromChris's book) and visit Marrakech.
I want to prepare a Mecedes 190 2.5D to Chris's specifications as a fast through Europe desert cruiser for this trip.

Maybe somebody can help me with some advice regarding:

- Drawings or templates for making an aluminium bashplate for a 190 2.5D (I think ordering one with Allisport will be to expensive for me, because they would have to deliver it to The Netherlands)
- The best place or area to watch the Dakar rally in Morocco?
- What to look out for when camping in the wild in Morocco?
- Has anybody ever tried to make a home-made rooftent (maybe out of a cheap normal tent)?

Thank you,
Michiel
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Old 5 Aug 2005
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You may be in luck Michiel, I flogged some 2.5D bits on ebay recently, including the bashplate but the bloke never came to collect it all. Will chase him up - bash and bits could be yours if you want them.
Otherwise I can send you bash pix and measurements if you want.

Regarding the cheapo rooftent - its an excellent idea (did I suggest it in the book?) - sideways fold out would work best I think - like the top pic on p..153

Ch

(my 190 Merc is now rotting in a Croatian graveyard with a stake through its engine and garlic all around...)
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Old 5 Aug 2005
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(my 190 Merc is now rotting in a Croatian graveyard with a stake through its engine and garlic all around...)

Chris, was this a conscious decision based on what the merc put you through or just a consequence of natural atrition?
Are you therefore back in a 4x4 or are you going to try the 2CV or Peugeot 504 adventure, or bigger (see post on tanks)?
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Old 5 Aug 2005
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Obviously, I should have written Tanks Overland!

A consequence of natural atrition is about right - tried to sqeeze a quarter million out of it but it wasn't having it so we put it down and carried on in a rental.

>Are you therefore back in a 4x4 or are you going to try the 2CV or Peugeot 504 adventure, or bigger (see post on tanks)?

Actually I obtained an Audi 80, same huge miles, half the price, more poke, a bit heavy but much nicer to drive - tho it lacks the magical 3-pointed star... The 'Merc Effect' is quite amazing - the Croat guy in the campsite was wetting himself at the thought of a free [dead] car - until he unearthed the import tax hassles...

If the Audi had not turned up I think I would have tried a 405 TD - around here all the 504s are long gone. My memories of a 2CV evoke corporal mortification - a bit extreme.

Ch

(fyi, I have just written an epilogue on my Merc Project 'S-File' - I made some mistakes there.

[This message has been edited by Chris Scott (edited 10 August 2005).]
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Old 10 Aug 2005
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Hello Chris,

Thank you for your reply. I read your new Merc update whit lots of interests.

I think it is too expensive to send the original bashplate to me (in The Netherlands), but I am very interested in those pix and measurements of your bashplate to try to make one myself.

You can send them to klitsje(at)hotmail.com

Thank you!
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