April 6th, 2020 : Aagland

There is an area in Germany called “Franconian Switzerland”. It looks like it could be Switzerland, or Italy, or Virginia or a thousand
other places. Rural, hilly, bucolic, with narrow winding lanes, some unpaved, that harken to the 19th century when life moved slower
and the horse was king. But horses are expensive and a lot of work so reins gave way to steering wheels.



Right after the turn of the century (I love the way that rolls off the tongue), a guy named Roland Belz founded Aagland to build
horseless carriages for locals and tourists to savor the pre-steering wheel days. Two models, short wheelbase drive yourself with
the wind in your hair and bugs in your teeth, and the larger long wheelbase hire a driver or draft a friend and do dirty deeds in
the more enclosed back.



In this litigious world 4 wheel hydraulic disc brakes, hidden Halogen lights, and carefully engineered construction are a given.
Both models have a 719cc(44 cu in), 20 hp Diesel, with a 12.5 mph maximum. You get a heater and latest GPS but that’s about
it, no infotainment system and no steering wheel.



Hold the presses, this just in. The engine is now 3 cylinders, 900 cc (55 cu in) still 20 hp Diesel and 12.5 mph though.

link

link

More like steering handles than wheels.
And still looking at horses' butts.

Golden asses that don't poop or fart... hmm, must be mares.

That's what I said, no steering wheel, Jesus take the reins.