I-Spy Citroen H Vans (aka HY/TUBE etc)

[white exec]

Better than the ghastly horsebox-cum-buttywagon which BBC Breakfast used in the run-up to the Election.
Maybe a French vehicle would have been pounced on as a sure sign of corporation bias!
If looking for a replacement for the horsebox, maybe they need to be quick about it: might not be long now until the next chunk of *l*ct**n coverage

[CitroJim]

That's better James

[NewcastleFalcon]

Tintin was partial to an H-Van

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/56 ... b9f5be.jpg

I am going to intrigue myself with whether the Castle in the background is a real location and where it is, but quite happy if someone jumps in and tells me

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

That's a new Tintin on me Neil, I guess one that was never translated....

The H looks sensational in electric blue and orange...

It will be a real castle... Herge was always a sticker for accuracy as can be seen in his depictions of cars, vans and everything else in his books...

[NewcastleFalcon]

That's a new Tintin on me Neil, I guess one that was never translated....

I think you are onto something there Jim. I think it could well be a fake, possibly with a genuine background. Still nice H-Van anyway.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Let's clear the Castle up

Its Ovafinlinna (Olaf's Castle) in Savonlinna, Finland.

http://www.ita-savo.fi/sites/default/fi ... 4720_0.jpg

Olavinlinna is the initial model for Kropow Castle in the comic book King Ottokar's Sceptre, an album in the series of Adventures of Tintin created by Hergé.

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Neil, excellent detective work

[NewcastleFalcon]

Neil, excellent detective work

Thanks for the lead Jim! I do enjoy a bit of a delve.

I also like a bit of random trivia.

Savonlinna is also known in Swedish as Nyslott ie Newcastle!
Savonlinna has been the home since 2000 of the World Mobile Phone Throwing Championship
Savonlinna has an international Opera Festival each year


Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

An H Van in a very pretty shade of blue spotted in Weston-Super-Mare by a very good friend of mine:





Gorgeous

Images courtesy of Paul, an ex-V6 Xantia owner and hosted via my Flickr account...

[NewcastleFalcon]

An H Van in a very pretty shade of blue spotted in Weston-Super-Mare by a very good friend of mine:

I am afraid I have developed a bit of an unhealthy habit of looking up the DVLA MOT History check, at the least provocation. Its not as if I am a prospective purchaser, where such noseyness would be warranted. Now that particular van sailed through its last few tests, but had this rather long list to sort out a few years ago.

Reason(s) for failure
Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b), Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)
Offside Rear Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)
Nearside Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1), Offside Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)
Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)
Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)
Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)
Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)
Offside Front Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)
Nearside Rear Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)
Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)
Nearside Rear Vehicle structure is damaged, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)
Offside Rear Vehicle structure is damaged, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)
Advisory notice item(s)
Both front brake hose retaining clips broken, Excessive corrosion on fuel tank retainer.

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Gosh Neil, that was a epic fail

Pleased it was fixed Can't imagine it was cheap...

[CitroJim]

Latest H Van spots - courtesy of Robyn

She's a good girl, she knows how much I love my H Vans and snaps them whenever she sees any...

These were at some Countryfile Live gig she attended last weekend...

The obligatory coffee van..

Thanks Robyn for this one!

And an ice cream to go with it perhaps?

Thanks again Robyn!!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Latest H Van spots - courtesy of Robyn

Excellent, and Robyn has captured that vital bit of info-the Registration number. Can't do much with the French Plates on the coffee van, but I do feel tempted to plug PMY258W into cazana!

I imagine pitches at events like Countryfile live would be a horrendous price, so I imagine the journey up from the farm in Cornwall may well have been on the back of a trailer if only for the saving in fuel consumed/ and potential breakdowns as the old "H" as it trundled up the Country.

Regards Neil

[van ordinaire]

I fear that sandwich bar I see trundling up the A21 is unusual in that it's driven to its pitch every day. Interestingly, at Lee Green (or the Tiger's Head, as its known locally) it turns up the hill to Blackheath, rather than continuing into Central London (although it might just cross the heath & join the A2)

[CitroJim]

Excellent, and Robyn has captured that vital bit of info-the Registration number.

She's wise Neil, she knows what's important!!!