Active holiday in an aged Austin
article in Dagblad Rivierenland, Auto pages, friday 20th of june 2003
It seems a adventure: take an age-old British car on a journey through France. Maarten Kempen just shrugs his shoulders. "If you perfectly maintain a car like that, not a lot can go wrong".
It was called a Landcrab, mainly due to the typical styling; something all of its own. Thirty years old is the Austin 2200. The last twenty years it was owned by Maarten Kempen. From the beginning on Kempen has taken his British six cylinder on holiday, mainly to France and England. France for sure seems quite a venture, because the Austin is even rarer than rocking horse droppings in the Sahara.
The tooth-technician from Eindhoven was prepared for every possibility: "I took an incredible load of spares with me. You just never know what can go wrong. Actually I never had real problems, until the mid eighties when the engine gave up. With the engine breakdown the car became worthless all at once; nobody wants such a car. However, I could not say goodbye to her and looking back I am glad about that".
In 1990 Kempen started out by rebuilding the body and the drive train. He replaced all parts that were subject to wear. Since then he again takes the car with him on his travels. "At the time these cars roamed the earth, people did not take so many parts with them on holiday? If you maintain a car like this to perfection, not a lot can go wrong. In case of emergency, club members can send spare parts. This has never been necessary."
Poor Fellow
Holiday pleasure is not limited to the journey in itself with a kind of Classic like this, according to Kempen. "You get reactions everywhere. While camping in France, you have to explain time and time again what the car is. Contrary to the UK, where these cars used to be as popular as Vauxhall or VW in our country. So often I hear "my uncle used to drive one"...Well, that is something that has come lately, because when I crossed the channel in the eighties, the Brits regarded it as just another old car. When you filled up at the petrol station, people pittied me; "Poor fellow, came here all the way from the continent driving such an old barge." However, you could buy new parts for pocket money!"
That the Austin 2200 was not held in high esteem for ages, has never effected Kempen. "An old Aston Martin is great, but such a super sport car does not whet my appetite. I'm more of a guy that likes a common car, one that used to be around everywhere. With a Classic Car I just enjoy the journey in itself."
It turns out to be some kind of active holiday. "The awareness of driving, hear the engine and the transmission en working behind the wheel", says Kempen. "That's much more fun than going from A to B in record time with a modern Eurobox?"