Ferdinand Hros
Autobahn Newbie
Hi!, I am Ferdinand Hros, 48 years old born and living in Caracas, Venezuela. My parents arived here in 1949 escaping from former Czechoslovakia. Yes I love Germand Cars, actually I own to old Mercedes: a 56´ 220a sedan and a 60´ 220SE coupe. Both are totally torn apart as I have been trying to restore, first the sedan, them in the last 15 years, it´s not an easy task, restorations are expensive and time consuming. Wel, I am merried, one daughter 18 years old and has just began studying Administration in the Catholic University Andrés Bello in Caracas. I am a co owner of a Chevron Texaco dealer, we sell, as well, other brands as Mobil, Shell, and others, screws, bolts and nuts and related items, Automotive and industrial filters, WIX, BALDWIN, and others.
I drive a 2007 ford Focus ( 2 lt duratec engine ) a very pleasant car, good suspension, fast and well built ( Argentinian manufacture, Ford in Venezuela assembled the Focus until 2004 ). By the way Mercedes assembled cars, trucks and buses in Venezuela since the late fifties thru 1975, many parts were locally manufactured, the late models to be assembled were the 280S/350SE/450SE sedans, 280/280E sedans and coupes. VW had a assembly and manufacturing facility since the late fifties up to the midle 80´s. German cars in Venezuela?, many, actually BMW, Merecedes Benz, Audi, Porsche, VW have well established representants and sell well. Other makes?, ...the ones that have assembly plants: Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota, Mitsubishi-Hyundai, and soon Fiat and Renault will resume assembly of at least one of the models they market here, Peugeot and Citroen are the other French that sell well, there are also Seat and Skoda with interesting models, other Corean makes: Kia, Ssangyong and finally the Chinese are here since almost two years ago: Great-Wall, Geely, Hafei and others. The exotics: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce and the Hummer ( the favourite of the Regime plutocrats ) now officialy imported by GM of Venezuela, almost 2000 of them were brought in the last months to compete with the Explorers, Tahoes, Grand Cherokees, Toyotas and Nissans largest SUV´s. What a crazy Country I live in!!!!!!!. Anyway, my old Mercedes´s are waiting for me to resume restoration, I will have to move them from my parents house to my warehouse. I hope that at least the 220A will be finished by my daughters wedding ???????. My father bought the 220A here in Caracas in 1956 new, but it was delivered in Sindelfingen as he was on a trip in Europe, was delivered to Venezuela by plane after a year in Europe, afterwards in 1960 again by plane to the USA and then the 220SE was bought somewhre in Florida and driven throughout the Country and Canada ( I was some 2 years old ) and finally back to Venezuela by plane, the 220A stayed for some 10 years in a warehouse in Orlando, FL and then again brought back, by plane to Venezuela, what a crazy story!. For many years I drove Renaults and am very proud and fond of them, they are strong and reliable cars, my wifes car is a 2007 Renault Clio 1.6 lt.
My parents are still alive, 88 my Dad and 85 my Mom and I am very proud of my origins. Profesor Ferdinand Porsche was born in a town that is actually in the Czech Republic, then it was the Moravian Protectorate, he worked some time with the genius Ing. Dipl. Hans Ledwinka, the brilliant man behind TATRA, and many of the ideas in the Tatras of the day were used by Porsche in his Volkswagen, the central tube florpan design, the pendelachse??? ( swingaxle ), air cooled engine???, anyway Porsche was also a great man.
Well I hope I have not bothered you so much, in the near future I´d like to buy some C200 Kompresor sedan or an 80´s 380/420 SE.
Many regards to all of you.
Ferdinand Hros
Caracas, Venezuela.
Cheers!
I drive a 2007 ford Focus ( 2 lt duratec engine ) a very pleasant car, good suspension, fast and well built ( Argentinian manufacture, Ford in Venezuela assembled the Focus until 2004 ). By the way Mercedes assembled cars, trucks and buses in Venezuela since the late fifties thru 1975, many parts were locally manufactured, the late models to be assembled were the 280S/350SE/450SE sedans, 280/280E sedans and coupes. VW had a assembly and manufacturing facility since the late fifties up to the midle 80´s. German cars in Venezuela?, many, actually BMW, Merecedes Benz, Audi, Porsche, VW have well established representants and sell well. Other makes?, ...the ones that have assembly plants: Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota, Mitsubishi-Hyundai, and soon Fiat and Renault will resume assembly of at least one of the models they market here, Peugeot and Citroen are the other French that sell well, there are also Seat and Skoda with interesting models, other Corean makes: Kia, Ssangyong and finally the Chinese are here since almost two years ago: Great-Wall, Geely, Hafei and others. The exotics: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce and the Hummer ( the favourite of the Regime plutocrats ) now officialy imported by GM of Venezuela, almost 2000 of them were brought in the last months to compete with the Explorers, Tahoes, Grand Cherokees, Toyotas and Nissans largest SUV´s. What a crazy Country I live in!!!!!!!. Anyway, my old Mercedes´s are waiting for me to resume restoration, I will have to move them from my parents house to my warehouse. I hope that at least the 220A will be finished by my daughters wedding ???????. My father bought the 220A here in Caracas in 1956 new, but it was delivered in Sindelfingen as he was on a trip in Europe, was delivered to Venezuela by plane after a year in Europe, afterwards in 1960 again by plane to the USA and then the 220SE was bought somewhre in Florida and driven throughout the Country and Canada ( I was some 2 years old ) and finally back to Venezuela by plane, the 220A stayed for some 10 years in a warehouse in Orlando, FL and then again brought back, by plane to Venezuela, what a crazy story!. For many years I drove Renaults and am very proud and fond of them, they are strong and reliable cars, my wifes car is a 2007 Renault Clio 1.6 lt.
My parents are still alive, 88 my Dad and 85 my Mom and I am very proud of my origins. Profesor Ferdinand Porsche was born in a town that is actually in the Czech Republic, then it was the Moravian Protectorate, he worked some time with the genius Ing. Dipl. Hans Ledwinka, the brilliant man behind TATRA, and many of the ideas in the Tatras of the day were used by Porsche in his Volkswagen, the central tube florpan design, the pendelachse??? ( swingaxle ), air cooled engine???, anyway Porsche was also a great man.
Well I hope I have not bothered you so much, in the near future I´d like to buy some C200 Kompresor sedan or an 80´s 380/420 SE.
Many regards to all of you.
Ferdinand Hros
Caracas, Venezuela.
Cheers!
