Tag: africa

Video: Gun-rigged car used in assassination attempt in South Africa

Filed under: Government/Legal, Videos, Mercedes-Benz

Burned VW Cross Polo with shotgun barrels

As car people, there’s a certain degree of delight that comes with watching an old James Bond movie and seeing Desmond Llewelyn describe the accoutrements of an MI6-modded Aston Martin or Lotus, all while saying, “Oh grow up, 007.” But in reality, a car with concealed firearms, a hallmark of Bond’s rides, is actually a terrifying prospect, as one Czech citizen found out.

The incident occurred in Johannesburg, South Africa, when Radovan Krejcir emerged from his Mercedes-Benz and started hearing popping sounds as he was walking into his pawn shop. A Volkswagen Cross Polo, parked directly across from where Krejcir regularly parks, opened fire with a dozen shotguns concealed behind the license plate, according to The Mirror. Ten rounds hit the driver’s side window, but the Czech national was clear of his vehicle by that point. After, the VW caught fire. Whether this was intentional in order to destroy evidence, or merely a result of placing 12 hot gun barrels in the back bumper of a car, remains to be seen.

This was not a random act of violence, though. The Associated Press reports that Krejcir is linked to the Johannesburg underground, and that he fled his home country after escaping a police raid in 2005. He popped up in South Africa in 2007 and has been the subject of extradition efforts by the Czech government ever since, who want him to serve an 11-year sentence for tax evasion.

Since arriving in SA, Krejcir has been charged with both robbery and insurance fraud, although charges were eventually dropped. It’s also been insinuated that he was involved in the murder of a strip club owner in 2010. Further proof that this isn’t you average sleezy pawn shop owner? He drives a matte black Mercedes-Benz CL-Class AMG that’s been bulletproofed. Head below for the full news report from South Africa’s Eyewitness News.

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Gun-rigged car used in assassination attempt in South Africa originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Jul 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Africa gets Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition. Lucky them.

Filed under: Hatchback, Chrysler, Dodge

Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition for South Africa

Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

South African Chrysler fans has a new special edition vehicle coming their way. Described by Chrysler as a way to “satisfy the boy racer in all of us,” the Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition is a blacked-out hatchback rolling on 18-inch powdercoated alloy wheels.

Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s been juiced up courtesy of a cold-air induction kit and an upgraded manifold and exhaust system, and the mill is paired with a manual transmission. The Caliber Mopar Edition is dropped two inches, wears Mopar decals and gets a unique hood as well.

Priced at 259,990.00 Rand, the Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition will set you back a bit over $37,000 at current exchange rates. We understand that car cost is a hard thing to directly translate, and if you ditch the stripes it’s not half bad looking, but that’s still a ton of money for a tarted up Caliber… and it’s a far cry from the long-lost turbocharged SRT4. Check out the South African press release after the break.

Continue reading South Africa gets Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition. Lucky them.

South Africa gets Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition. Lucky them. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: Uwe Gemballa reportedly found murdered in South Africa

Filed under: Etc., Porsche

Uwe Gemballa

News is coming in that the body of Uwe Gemballa has been found in South Africa. Gemballa was the former CEO of the Porsche tuning company that bares his name. As we reported earlier this year, Mr. Gemballa went missing in February after arriving in South Africa for a business trip.

The details that poured in after the reported disappearance of Gemballa caused great speculation that shady business deals were afoot. He was reportedly having trouble paying its employees, his wife was given power of attorney and registered the company for bankruptcy and he had started a second company with his 79 year-old mother listed as the sole stockholder.

To further muddy the waters, it’s being reported that Uwe Gemballa was turning towards Czech fugitive and South African organized crime boss, Radovan Krejcir. A former business partner of Krejcirs by the name of Juan Meyer has provided the local police with a sworn statement, saying that the Porsche tuner and the mobster were working on a business arrangement. Gemballa was slow in getting money to Krejcir and it may be what cost him his life.

It’s a sad, speculative end for a once famed tuner of German sports cars. The Gemballa company has moved on since Uwe’s disappearance but these new stories can’t help it as remaining employees attempt to revive the company.
Thanks for the tips, Alexander and Nicolas!

[Source: Stern.de – translated from German into English]

BREAKING: Uwe Gemballa reportedly found murdered in South Africa originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Oct 2010 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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