Name the car..

Correct sir.

 

Frenchie vans are pretty unique, but the 'box body', if you want to call it that, was a bit of a curve ball.

 

It appears to be a mobile shop kind of thing. It's still on French plates and labled National Trust, Sudbury Hall and Museum of Childhood but it's been parked near the offices in Clumber Park the last 2 times I've been @Merlin Cat.

 

You should have tagged @Merlin Cat, Alex loves these old Frenchie vans!

 

Eastern European?

 

I'm making these too easy for you lot . Yes it's a Skoda 1203 with camping conversion.

 

Worryingly, I quite like that

 

I saw this jewel at Rotherham Transport Museum.

 

My dream machine...

 

And here's a Japanese fellow taking his down to the shops

 

Always wondered why the designers' bothered with the front wheel on those?

 

Yes, it's been there quite some time.

 

Steering the Kettenkrad was accomplished by turning the handlebars: Up to a certain point, only the front wheel would steer the vehicle. A motion of the handlebars beyond that point would engage the track brakes to help make turns sharper. It was also possible to run the vehicle without the front wheel installed and this was recommended in extreme off-road conditions where speed would be kept low.[1]

 

Apparently, it does steer on moderate turns. Tighter ones, the handlebars operate the track brakes. You can actually drive it without the front wheel.

Forget your Porsches. I desperately want a Kettenkrad. They're not cheap...

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24118/lot/66/

 

I just said that.

 

Seems over engineered to this engineer, I mean, it's just like a miniature tank, track brakes steering would have been enough and cheaper to make! Wouldn't have been as cool tho', I grant you.

 

Of course it’s over-engineered - it’s German! Very useful tho’, by all accounts. They kept building them after the war for forestry and the like.