1962, Belgian Comics: “De avonturen van Nero en Co”, “Het Lodderhoofd”

In 1962 a new "De avonturen van Nero en Co" ("The adventures of Nero and Co") album, "Het Lodderhoofd" ("The Rag Head") is published by “Het Volk”. The comic was pre-published in the newspaper "Het Volk" between 1 December 1961 and 22 March 1962. The story was drawn and written by the Belgian cartoonist Marc Sleen (Marcel Neels, 1922-2016). The main characters are Nero, Petoetje, Petatje, Madam Pheip, Madam Nero, Meneer Pheip, Adhemar, Irma alias Gele Juul, Aloïs alias ‘t konijn and J.J.J. Winkelmann.

"De avonturen van Nero en Co" ("The adventures of Nero and Co"):
"Het Lodderhoofd" ("The Rag Head")

The series "De avonturen van Nero en Co" ran between 1947 and 2002. Marc Sleen drew and wrote all stories until 1992, that year he hired Dirk Stallaert as a drawing assistant. Sleen holds the world record of issues of a comic book series title drawn by the same author. In 2002 Stallaert was hired by “Studio Vandersteen” and Marc Sleen decided to end the series.

Adhemar and Nero

Aloïs aka ‘t konijn (the rabbit) and Irma aka Gele Juul (yellow Juul)

Madam Nero and Nero

The comic was first published in the newspaper "De Nieuwe Gids" in 1947 as "De avonturen van detective Van Zwam" ("The adventures of detective Van Zwam"). After eight stories Nero (real name "Schoonpaard", in reprints "Heiremans") became the central character. In 1950 Marc Sleen left "De Nieuwe Gids" and joined the newspaper "Het Volk". At first the comics (3 issues) appeared as "De avonturen van Nero en zijn hoed" ("The Adventures of Nero and his Hat"), from 1951 they were titled as "De avonturen van Nero en Co" ("The adventures of Nero and Co").

Madam Pheip

Meneer Pheip and Nero

Synopsis

Nero wins five million with the colonial lottery. Soon afterwards the gangsters Irma and Alöis want to steal his profit...

Nero

Petoetje and Petatje

J.J.J. Winkelmann.

Trivia

• The title refers to the fact that Nero loses his head a few times in this story.
• Reference to the Belgian sitcom "Schipper naast Mathilde" (1955-1962) with caricatures of Josée Puissant (Madam Krielemans) and Jetje Cabanier (Mathilde).
• Reference to the 39th Prime Minister of Belgium with a caricature of Théo Lefèvre (1961-1965).
• Reference to the 5^th King of the Belgians with a caricature of King Baudouin of Belgium (1951-1993).
• Reference to the Belgian Queen Fabiola.

Nero loses his head

Reference to "Schipper naast Mathilde" with caricatures of
Josée Puissant (Madam Krielemans) and Jetje Cabanier (Mathilde).

Reference to the 39th Prime Minister of Belgium
with a caricature of Théo Lefèvre

Reference to the 5^th King of the Belgians
with a caricature of King Baudouin of Belgium

Reference to the Belgian Queen Fabiola

Cars

• Unidentified Taxi

Unidentified Taxi

1961, Car Spotting: The Stonebow / St. Saviourgate, York, England, UK

Bottom of the photo, left to right

Austin A35, MG MGA.

Parked left to right, first row

Ford Anglia (105E), unidentified dark coloured car probably Austin, unidentified light coloured car, Volkswagen (Type 1, Beetle).

Parked left to right, second row

Volkswagen (Type 1, Beetle), unidentified light coloured van, unidentified pick up.

Parked left to right, third row

Austin A40 Farina.

Parked left to right, fourth row

Austin A50 Cambridge, Singer Gazelle II, unidentified dark coloured car, Ford Consul Mark II (204E).

Parked left to right, fifth row

Ford Prefect (204E), Standard (Vanguard) Ensign, Morris Minor, Austin A55 Cambridge Mark II.

1960, Music: Belgian Single Charts 01/02/1960

N° 20

Caterina Valente with "Mijn souvenir"

- Country: Belgium

- Music/Lyrics: ?

- Highest Position: N° 4

- Weeks in the charts: 16

- Video clip

N° 19

The Platters with "Sleepy Lagoon"

- Country: USA

- Music/Lyrics: Jack Lawrence, Eric Coates

- Highest Position: N° 18

- Weeks in the charts: 8

- Video clip

N° 18

Johnny & The Hurricanes with "Reveille Rock"

- Country: USA

- Music/Lyrics: Tom King, Carl Conaster

- Highest Position: N° 17

- Weeks in the charts: 8

- Video clip

N° 17

Conway Twitty with "Mona Lisa"

- Country: USA

- Music/Lyrics: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans

- Highest Position: N° 3

- Weeks in the charts: 24

- Video clip

N° 16

The Jaye Bros with "Rag Mop"

- Country: USA

- Music/Lyrics: Johnnie Lee Wills, Deacon Anderson

- Highest Position: N° 16

- Weeks in the charts: 8

- Video clip

N° 15

Freddy with "Unter fremden Sternen"

- Country: Austria

- Music/Lyrics: Lotar Olias, Aldo von Pinelli

- Highest Position: N° 10

- Weeks in the charts: 16

- Video clip

N° 14

Louis Armstrong und Gabriele with "Onkel Satchmo's Lullaby"

- Country: USA / West Germany

- Music/Lyrics: Hans Bradtke, Erwin Halletz

- Highest Position: N° 4

- Weeks in the charts: 20

- Video clip

N° 13

Will Tura with "Onvergetelijk"

- Country: Belgium

- Music/Lyrics: Et. Lams, Harold Logan, van Aleda, Lloyd Price

- Highest Position: N° 13

- Weeks in the charts: 12

- Video clip

N° 12

Sarah Vaughan with "Broken Hearted Melody"

- Country: USA

- Music/Lyrics: Hal David, Sherman Edwards

- Highest Position: N° 8

- Weeks in the charts: 16

- Video clip

N° 11

Frankie Avalon with "Why"

- Country: USA

- Music/Lyrics: Peter De Angelis, Roberto Marcucci

- Highest Position: N° 11

- Weeks in the charts: 12

- Video clip

N° 10

Freddy with "Die Gitarre und das Meer"

- Country: Austria

- Music/Lyrics: Aldo von Pinelli, Lotar Olias

- Highest Position: N° 2

- Weeks in the charts: 32

- Video clip

N° 9

Paul Anka with "It's Time To Cry"

- Country: Canada

- Music/Lyrics: Paul Anka

- Highest Position: N° 5

- Weeks in the charts: 16

- Video clip

N° 8

Rocco Granata with "La bella"

- Country: Belgium

- Music/Lyrics: Rocco Granata

- Highest Position: N° 4

- Weeks in the charts: 16

- Video clip

N° 7

Ivo Robić with "Morgen"

- Country: Yugoslavia / West Germany

- Music/Lyrics: Peter Moesser

- Highest Position: N° 5

- Weeks in the charts: 28

- Video clip

N° 6

Johnnie Ray with "I'll Never Fall In Love Again"

- Country: USA

- Music/Lyrics: Johnnie Ray

- Highest Position: N° 6

- Weeks in the charts: 12

- Video clip

N° 5

Paul Anka with "Put Your Head On My Shoulder"

- Country: Canada

- Music/Lyrics: Paul Anka, Joe Sherman

- Highest Position: N° 2

- Weeks in the charts: 24

- Video clip

N° 4

Johnny & The Hurricanes with "Red River Rock"

- Country: USA

- Music/Lyrics: Fred Mendelsohn, Tom King, Ira Mack

- Highest Position: N° 2

- Weeks in the charts: 24

- Video clip

N° 3

Rocco Granata with "Marina"

- Country: Belgium

- Music/Lyrics: Rocco Granata

- Highest Position: N° 1

- Weeks in the charts: 40

- Video clip

N° 2

Neil Sedaka with "Oh! Carol"

- Country: USA

- Music/Lyrics: Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield

- Highest Position: N° 2

- Weeks in the charts: 28

- Video clip

N° 1

Bobbejaan Schoepen with "Een hutje op de heide"

- Country: Belgium

- Music/Lyrics: Willy Albimoor, Jean Rolle, van Aleda, Ke Riema

- Highest Position: N° 1

- Weeks in the charts: 40

- Video clip

1977, Cars: Matra-Simca Rancho

In 1977 Matra in co-operation with Simca (Chrysler France / Europe) introduced the Matra-Simca Rancho. The car had an "off-road look", a trend started by the Range Rover, but it was in fact front wheel driven. Based on the Fourgonnette version of the Simca 1100 ( VF2), the Rancho was designed by Antonis Volanis. It used The Simca 1100 front structure with a stretched chassis and a body in fibreglass and polyester. The Rancho was powered by the 1442 cc Simca Poissy L4 engine.

After Chrysler sold its European arm to PSA (Citroën / Peugeot) in 1978, the Matra-Simca Rancho was rebranded as Talbot-Matra Rancho in 1979. Production continued until 1984, reaching 57792 cars in total.

Matra Simca Rancho

Matra Simca Rancho

Talbot Matra Rancho Découvrable

Talbot Matra Rancho

The Rancho was offered in several versions:

• "Base" 1977 - 1984
• "X" 1980 – 1984
• "AS" 1980 - 1984
• "Grand Raid" 1980 – 1981 (with an electric winch on the front bumper and an extra spare wheel mounted on the roof )
• "Découvrable" 1981 (cabriolet version, very rare only around 200 made)
• "Davos" (only in Germany)

Brochures

Talbot Matra Rancho 1983 Netherlands

Matra-Simca Rancho Promo (1977)