Garage/workshop in Bogota, Colombia

[Jvvmusme]

Here is my modest workshop in Bogota, Colombia, South America.
I live in a residential building so I had to rent this small garage in a hurry when a rusted Austin healey was arriving and I had no place to work on the car.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10185785@N02/
This garage, too small for my choice, is very well located 10 minutes from my house (traffic in Bogota is terrible) and 15 minutes to a cluster of auto parts shops, crappy repair shops and a lot of "sidewalk" auto specialists.
I have all the tools I need. I like to hang them in the wall so I can check very quickly when something is missing and they are easy to reach. The engine stand is in another place, along with the engine crane and big stuff. I need more space !!!
This small place takes care of the following toys: Austin Healey 100M, MG TC & MG TD, an Alfa Romeo Duetto and very soon an Alfa Romeo Spyder Guillieta.

 

[930dreamer]

Nice space you have there, how's life in Bogota?

 

[Jvvmusme]

Life in Bogota is fine. Traffic is terrible but we can enjoy our toys in the country. Take a look at the link I have in flickr. What cars do you have ?
Tomorrow I will have a MaxJax delivered so I guess I will,install it during the weekend.

 

[flybefree]

Great looking old cars!

 

[abstamaria]

Very interesting, Jose. And lovely cars to boot. It's wonderful to be a able to peek into a garage in Bogota. I was in Bogota three or so years ago. A lovely city.

Would it be all right to show the general neighborhood, to give us a feel of the place?

Andres

 

[Neuswede]

Love the Healey. Looks like some very nice work being done. Thanks for sharing the pics.

 

[Jvvmusme]

Andres
Taking pictures in my neighborhood is quite challenging. You will find a picture of the building where I live and a map of my neighboors. I live in the blue dot.
A. American Embassy B. Chinese Embassy C. Russian Embassy - Next Door is thge residence of sitting President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos. D. Peruvian Embassy E. Italian Embassy .
So imagine what is taking out a camera and start taking pictures. About a year ago my MG TC (who else ?) died suddenly a block from my house and just as I was openning the hood to bang on the fuel pump I was already surrounded by guards either from the equivalent to the colombian secret service and some private guards from the US Embassy...
F. Location of mty garage/workshop.
G. Location of the Cluster, full of auto parts shops, "sidewalks" technitians and crappy repair shops.
On a saturday going from point F to point G can take 15-20 minutes.
I will take some pictures of points F and G., for your curiosity and post them next week.

 

[Jvvmusme]

Here are the promised pictures. The 2 where you see all the disorder is the cluster where you find all kinds of auto related shops, hardware, machine shops, etc....
The other 2 is the neighborhood were my small garage/workshop is located. It is in the 3 story building in the corner.

 

[Bryan83taco]

Looks good man. And yes Bogota has the worst traffic I've ever seen. I'm currently in Bogota and actually live pretty close to you. Bogota is a amazing city, lot's of fun.

 

[Jvvmusme]

Looks good man. And yes Bogota has the worst traffic I've ever seen. I'm currently in Bogota and actually live pretty close to you. Bogota is a amazing city, lot's of fun.

And youxr hobby is ...?
Your interests ?

 

[Bryan83taco]

My garage is a place to work on my Mustang and also my Mancave. The US Embassy is actually down by calle 24 y carrera 50.

 

[Jvvmusme]

My garage is a place to work on my Mustang and also my Mancave. The US Embassy is actually down by calle 24 y carrera 50.

I am refering to the residence of the embassador...
What mustang ? year model color

 

[orange02ss]

The Healey is nice!

 

[Jvvmusme]

Since my last post I installed a MaxJax lift and I am in the process of buying a 1956 Speedster, so I guess my cars are way better than my garage. I am trying to buy a house in the neigborhood by they go to arounf 200K dollrs and I frankly prefer to spend that money in toys than in real state....
I had 2 sets of pads made for the maxjax. One inside the garage and one outside to work when the weather is nice.

 

[MG30]

Hi Jose. Very nice topic. Very good car taste. The Healey it's just fantastic...

 

[MG30]

I can see you like European cars. You have very similar taste to mine. I love the English style, the German quality and the Italian purism but also love de American simplicity like the Ford A.
Diferent cars to diferent purposes.

Best regards

Jorge

 

[Jvvmusme]

yes we have the same taste.... what a coincidence....
But my heart is always in Bristish cars, specially my TD, wich has a 5 spped gearbox.
But lately I must confess I am being unfaithfull with Italians and Germans...
In my wish list there is a Lotus Elan, a Jaguar C Type recreation of course, a Ford A and offcourse a Ferrari Dino or a Lancia Stratos (jealous of Andres)

 

[MG30]

Nice...
I would add MG J2, Bentley Speed six, closed Jaguar XK 120, Porsche 356 (better a spedster), Alfa Romeo TZ (i know where is one for sale), Austin Healey 100M (jealous of you), of course a red stratos (a friend of mine has one exacly like Andres, simply gorgeous)... The problem is to chose and the price of some of them.

Jorge

 

[abstamaria]

We are the same. But an aluminum replica D-Type for me instead, please. A long-nose version with a sailfin.

I was not too far from you the other week, Jorge (Santiago de Compostela).

Andres

 

[magova1104]

Since my last post I installed a MaxJax lift and I am in the process of buying a 1956 Speedster, so I guess my cars are way better than my garage. I am trying to buy a house in the neigborhood by they go to arounf 200K dollrs and I frankly prefer to spend that money in toys than in real state....
I had 2 sets of pads made for the maxjax. One inside the garage and one outside to work when the weather is nice.

Very nice jobs. Great detail and pure passion. I saw the pictures in flicker, very impressive. Congrats.

Excelente todo Jose. Saludos desde Illinois.

 

[Jvvmusme]

And for e also an aluminim Porsche 550 spyder....

 

[MG30]

We are the same. But an aluminum replica D-Type for me instead, please. A long-nose version with a sailfin.

I was not too far from you the other week, Jorge (Santiago de Compostela).

Andres

Nice place Santiago de Compostela. Lots of history and peregrins. You should have done the " Camino de Santiago de Compostela". I never did but who knows one day i have guts for that.


Jorge.

 

[Travisnd]

Nice! My brother in law works in Bogota!

 

[Jvvmusme]

A gringo or a local guy ?

 

[abstamaria]

Jorge, thanks again for posting photos of the neighborhood, which I was looking at again. I was trying to get my bearings. I stayed at the Casa Medina when I was in Bogota.

There seemed possibilities for a shop outside the city proper. Would that be too far for you, and would security be a problem? I know there is no substitute to having one's workshop nearby.

Andres

 

[Jvvmusme]

My house is 10 minutes walk from Casa Medina. Yes there is no substitute to having the workshop nearby. That is my problem.
There would be no security problems having it outside the city other than my lazyness. Remember than my workshop is 10-15 minutes from my house and 10-15 minutes from a car parts cluster where i can get all kinds of parts, supplies, crappy car repair places, etc...

 

[Jvvmusme]

here is the MG TC on the MaxJax. It had being 2.5 years since I drove-it. I had no problem getting the car in the MaxJax even though the chassis of the TC is so narrow.

 

[abstamaria]

When you take the MG up, again, Jose, can you take photos of where you placed the jack lift pads?

By the way, there is a very good article on Bogota in the September 23 issue of the International Herald Tribune, specifically on the La Candelaria district. It speaks of a renaissance and how lovely it is now there. But it was already lovely when I visited some years ago. I had forgotten how high up Bogota is (2,650 meters!).

Andres

 

[Jvvmusme]

I will take pictures very soon, probably next week
I am pretty sure the rubber pads rested on the chassis, trying that the arms were as open apart ( in term of degrees) as much as possible, therefor the arms fully extended.
The car seemed very fragile on the maxjax. The chassis is so thin. But I remember that it was an easy task with no flaws or any safety concerns. I placed the center of the car ( distance beetween wheels) aligned with the column, then rolled back the car 10 cms aprox ( so the engine weight is more closed to the maxjax column a little bit) ( confusing?) and then up with no problem at all.
Yes, Candelaria is beatifull. I have a few friends who live in the historic district and the have wonderfull houses.

 

[HRHerman]

Hi. I have a 1984 Alfa Spider. Currently I live in the US but planning to relocate to Bogota. I am thinking of bringing the car with me but concerned if I cannot find a good, local repair shop. I am contemplating a return to your city within the month. Can you give me your address and I will come visit you. Best regards. Howard

 

[Jvvmusme]

Just read your post !!
311 288 3401 cell phone

 

[Jvvmusme]

Hi. I have a 1984 Alfa Spider. Currently I live in the US but planning to relocate to Bogota. I am thinking of bringing the car with me but concerned if I cannot find a good, local repair shop. I am contemplating a return to your city within the month. Can you give me your address and I will come visit you. Best regards. Howard

did you ever relocate to bogota ?

 

[Kasal]

Welcome and beautiful collection of classic cars you have. By the way, I am from Santiago de Compostela, if you have one day here let me know I will be happy to meet you.