Perfectly captured: these old-timers play leading roles in comics

There is a certain preference for old-timers among the illustrators. Sometimes even true love, inspired by reality: for example, Jan Kruis (1933-2017) drove around in real life in the red MG that plays a leading role in Jan, Jans and the Children. A contemporary example is the tow truck from Cars. The cars are perfectly captured in these comics.

Jan Kruis' Marietje

In the second album of the still ongoing comic series Jan, Jans and the Children the draftsman appears as himself, arguing with the tax authorities. He forces him to sell his car, but Kruis loves his MG Midget TD (Marietje) that he would rather entrust these to people who will take good care of her: Jan, Jans and the Children  – perhaps the best-known Dutch comic. The MG pops up endlessly in the stories, although Jans wants to get rid of it. However, Jan is madly in love with the old-timer that he once displays in the living room. When befriended car enthusiasts come to admire the polished Marietje, Kruis is also present again.

Child of the bill: the Willys Army Jeep from Sjors & Sjimmie

Who are better now and then Compare car insurance to prevent too high costs, the Colonel is out Sjors & Sjimmie, the strip that Jan Kruis once also worked on. In the version by colleagues Robert van der Kroft, Wilbert Plijnaar and Jan van Die, the Willys Army Jeep of the strict educator is regularly the loser. The army vehicle is occasionally overhauled in an unconventional way by the two ruffians and wrecked as part of niece Sally's driving lessons, but returns every time as an iconic part of the comic book series.

International Harvester Tow Truck (Cars)

The comics/animated film series Cars does not model all cars after reality as Jan Kruis and his colleagues did. Lightning McQueen, for example, resembles a standard Le Mans endurance racer, as well as a Ford GT40 – or a C1 Chevy Corvette. The tow truck in the series, which is very popular among children, has been captured very aptly: it is based on the International Harvester, an American pickup. This is, just like in real life, other cars always at service.

De Citroën 2CV of Jansen and Janssen

The two detectives who assist the most famous reporter in the world in the album series Tintin move in a vanilla-yellow Citroën 2CV, of course a classic with a typical image and therefore the ultimate means of transport for the clumsy sleuths.