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In the 1960s we used to take vehicles (in a boxvan) to Germany for testing.
We also carried all spares (including tyres) and had to return the used/broken pieces to England.
The customs at Aachen used to cause aggro as they were convinced we were importing new vehicles that we were going to sell in Germany.
Later, in the 1980s, I used to drive the test car down to Narḍ (way down south in Italy) carrying spares as well.
The worst customs were the Austrians as they knew we were just passing through but always made life difficult, insisting on checking every piece listed on the carnet.
Then there were the trips to Italy (in the 1970s) loaded with concrete blocks as ballast. The Italians were puzzled as to why we were importing 'marble' into Italy.
When south of Rome we used to contact the local Cosa Nostra and pay them to guard the vehicles when parked overnight (otherwise our spare wheels and supplies of diesel would have disappeared). It was usually a young 'boy' in a Fiat 500 (sometimes toting a shotgun) that spent the night on duty.
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