Tag Archives: Portugal

Hydropneumatic Hovertaxi

Leave a reply

The Citroen DS (AKA the coolest car ever made) was a technological marvel. Launched way back in the mid-’50s, the DS was fitted with a clutchless gearbox, front-wheel-drive, cornering headlights, disc brakes, power steering, and – most amazingly – fully height adjustable, self-levelling hydropneumatic suspension that gave it an unfathomably incredible ride. The only way to improve upon it would be to literally float.

Cue Sergio Batista, whose cyberpunk Citroen DS (in Portuguese taxi livery) literally floats. Wonderful detailing and a beautifully recognisable shape make Sergio’s cyberpunk Citroen hovercar one of the coolest small scale cars we’ve ever featured. But of course it is, it’s a Citroen DS. Head to Sergio’s photostream to hail a hydropneumatic hovertaxi.

UMM Alter II | Picture Special

Leave a reply

The UMM Alter II is surely one of the most tragic looking off-roaders ever conceived. Designed in France, but then sold to Portugal presumably for being too ugly, the UMM was a pretty decent off-roader, and found a reasonable following around the Mediterranean with militaries, utility companies, and civilians.

Simple, easy to work on, and powered by common Peugeot engines, around 10,000 Alter IIs were produced in an eight year production run beginning in 1986, with many still in use today.

Most don’t look like this though.

Ricky.Silva’s Model Team UMM Alter II is in ‘v.Sport’ specification, and it looks a lot cooler than standard 4×4. Chunky wheels under working suspension, an external cage, roof lights, fender flairs, and snorkel all feature, plus the model features a detailed interior behind opening doors and a highly realistic engine under an opening hood.

Ricky’s UMM Alter II is presented beautifully too, and there’s lots more to see of the build at his ‘UMM Alter II v.Sport’ album on Flickr. Click the link above to take a closer look at the coolest UMM there is.

Umm…

Leave a reply

Lego UMM Alter 4x4

This is an UMM Alter II, and it’s surely one of the ugliest vehicles ever made. Based on a design bought from France and powered (mostly) by Peugeot engines, the UMM was built in Portugal from the mid-’80s until the mid-’90s mainly for military and utilities use, and it found around 10,000 buyers around the Mediterranean during its production run. A capable off-roader, there’s actually an avid following of the UMM amongst 4×4 enthusiasts despite it looks, so this marvellous mini-figure scale recreation by Flickr’s Pixel Fox is sure to please. Head over to Flickr via the link to see more.

Big Train*

Leave a reply

Lego CP 1408 Locomotive

Just like your Mom, today’s model is much, much larger than you think it’s going to be. Riding on brick-built wheels (each made from nineteen pieces), Andre Pinto‘s CP 1409 locomotive is a seven thousand piece Goliath, with another seven thousand pieces in the brick-built tracks and base.

These engines were constructed in England in the 1960s for use in Portugal, where 67 of them pulled pretty much anything across the country. Andre’s creation replicates the original locomotives beautifully and there’s more to see at his Flickr album via the link above, plus you can join the discussion at the Eurobricks forum here.

Lego CP 1408 Locomotive

*The surreal British comedy from which today’s title is taken. Good if you want to see what Simon Pegg did before he was a famous movie star, not so good if you want to laugh…

UMM…

1 Reply

Lego UMM Alter II

This slightly sad looking vehicle is an UMM Alter II, built from ’86 until ’96 by Portuguese metal-works União Metalo-Mecânica, primarily for use in utilities and military applications.

Based on a design bought from France and mostly fitted with Peugeot engines the UMM Alter was a surprisingly tough and capable machine, with 10,000 finding a home in UMMs markets around the Mediterranean and Africa.

This perfectly recreated Model Team replica of the UMM Alter II is the work of Flick’s Biczzz and it features working steering, rear suspension and opening doors and hood. There a large gallery of images available and you can see more via the link above.

Lego UMM Alter II 4x4 Biczzz

Line of Coke

1 Reply

Lego Tram

This utterly beautiful Portuguese tram from Flickr’s rupilego was found on, er… The Brothers Brick. We were a bit drunk at the weekend and missed a few posts. But no matter, rupilego’s creation is gorgeous so it can appear here too. Plus our title is better. Anyway, there’s lots more to see at the link/s above!

Táxi!

1 Reply

Lego Citroen DS Taxi

This is a Citroen DS Portuguese Taxi by Sergio Bati…. oh – er, it seems we’re not needed here. Here’s a link.

Nos Autocarros

10 Replies

AEC Regent BusHere at The Lego Car Blog we usually feature creations with a V8 under the hood, flames shooting out the back, or machine guns on the front. And sometimes all of the above at once. This glorious AEC Regent Bus in Lisbon livery (hence the Portuguese title) has none of these things, but it is fanatically beautiful, and thus it earns a place here – and instantly makes the homepage a more classy place to be to boot. Joao Campos is the builder behind it, and you can see more of this wonderful historic vehicle on MOCpages.