Ouarzazate then and now (1974 and 2010)

[Tim Cullis]

A couple of months ago I was looking through old photos from our honeymoon trip in 1974 and I thought I recognised the Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate which was built by the Glaoui family.

I tried to remember the position the photo was taken from and on my trip last month took another from roughly the same position.

At the time Ouarzazarte was tiny, comprising mainly the garrison around the central hilly area plus a Club Med vacation village, since closed.

 

[Greg Masters]

It's hardly changed - but it must have cost them a few Dirram to repaint the building AND the road from that ghastly purple colour.



Greg

 

[Tim Cullis]

If you'd seen the original 2" x 2" faded print you's be quite impressed with the image as posted.

Some more heavily purple 'then' and 2005 'now' pics, firstly in the Todra Gorge (note the two bushes in the rock face on each picture), then overlooking the oasis of Tinerhir.

 

[Twotter]

Nice 'then & now' pics Tim

Is that a Triumph Vitesse???

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Wow

Do you have any more, those are great piccies

Andres

 

[ricardo]

Wow

Do you have any more, those are great piccies

Andres

+1 on that.

 

[Rabbitson]

Very nice, I'm also wondering about the Triumph

 

[Hatchet]

Great pics.

I’m going to have to get over there and take a few of my own.


.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Yes, it was a 1600cc Triumph Vitesse. Some more pics below but I only have the 'then' versions, will try to get some comparatives when I go again in a few days time.

This I think was the piste between Tinerhir and the Todra, or maybe the Dades

Another inside the Todra narrow section

Djemma El Fna water seller

Djemma El Fna gnaoua musicians

Some handsome hippy

 

[Tim Cullis]

OK, I'm on a roll now. These are some pics from my first ever trip in May 1972 in a short-wheelbase 1949 Series I Landy that did 25 mpg on petrol and 50 mpg on oil.

I thought I had no more comparatives then when scanning realised I recognised the scene below.

May 1972: Test Pass when it was piste all the way

Feb 2010: Nearly the same spot looking north towards Ijoukak from the photo spot near the radio masts

1972: In the near-desert close to Goulamine. With four of us in the Landy things were a bit tight.

1972: The Ktoubia mosque in Marrakech

1972: Never did pay this guy for the photo

1972: In the cloth dying part of the souk

 

[Tim Cullis]

And finally a couple of pics of the bike I took on the 1973 trip, a TriBSA 750 (650cc bored out) with close ratio RRT2 gearbox, rear sets and clip ons.

Whilst I was in Morocco the air force tried to assassinate King Hassan II by shooting down his jet, so things were a bit fraught.

The third pic is in Spain, unfortunately I can't find any pics of the bike actually in Morocco.

 

[Greg Masters]

The car:

.. is most certainly a 1966 Triumph Vitesse Convertible Mk1.

The only problem is I can't identify if it's the Vitesse 6 (which used a 1600 6-cylinder engine from the Standard Vanguard) or the tool-eater (which took its engine from the Triumph 2000 saloon). The change point was during 1966.

Either way, the car was the dog's bollox of the day! The Vitesse 6 topped out at about 89mph, 0-60 in just 17½ secs; the 2-litre managed about 95 mph with 0-60 in 12.6 secs.

So Tim, did you have the beast or the mega-beast?



Greg

 

[Tim Cullis]

It was the 1600cc rather than the 2-litre but was a great car to drive. I had a sports exhaust fitted which was a real mistake as it got knocked off a couple of times on the pistes. We also had a problem in Ouarzazate when the engine and gearbox decided to part company every time you depressed the clutch but as you can imagine the Moroccan mechanics soon had that sorted.

Just before leaving on the trip we had a new hood fitted that had a clear plastic bit in the top like a non-opening sunroof. Seeing as it was mid-summer this wasn't sensible and we were frying in the heat so we stuffed a towel through the roof supports to stop the solar gain. The other thing I remember were the clothes pegs we pushed down between the door and the side windows to stop the rattles.

 

[Devon]

I had a 2lt convertible Vitesse in the late 70s, came with wide rostyle wheels. Great pics Tim, Thank's for sharing

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Fantastic to have photos nearly 40 years apart!

How is herself?

 

[Steptoe]

This is a good post .

respect

 

[neil 23]

Nice pics & memories Tim, setting off myself today, ferry to Roscoff, through France & Spain to Morocco, this had really put me in the mood now !

 

[Tim Cullis]

Nice pics & memories Tim, setting off myself today, ferry to Roscoff, through France & Spain to Morocco.

I'm flying out Tuesday to M'ksh then taking the bus to Ouarzazate to pick up my Tenere. Are you riding solo?

How is herself?

Like a good wine, improves with age... This was September 2006 above the Dades Gorge

 

[Mutley]

I was really struck by the change in Marrakesh when I went back with Bill a couple of years ago, and again last year. When I went the first time I was on a package trip and only managed to explore outside the city in a taxi so I onlt got as far as the Atlas.

It's great to see that the rest of the country hasn't ben as overrun by tourism as the main centres.

Thanks Tim

 

[(RIP) petcul]

Nice pics & memories Tim, setting off myself today, ferry to Roscoff, through France & Spain to Morocco, this had really put me in the mood now !

Enjoy yourself Neil.

Tim,

Great images and memories. I only wish I had a camera in 1963!!!