THE DRIVER AND THE CAR THAT DEFIED TIME

A 1973 Opel Ascona holds immense value and meaning for Boško Bosnić, a native of Banja Luka originally from Romanovci, who spent his working years in Ljubljana. He is the car’s first and only owner.

PHOTO: Milan Pilipović - Nezavisne novine

The vehicle has covered 500,000 kilometers—without a single major breakdown or repair.

“This Opel is exactly the same today as it was the day I bought it. Nothing has been replaced—not the bodywork, the seats, the interior, or any parts. Everything is original. I’ve driven it everywhere, and it has never stopped, stalled, or broken down. That kind of failure is unknown to me,” says Bosnić proudly of his four-wheeled companion, which he frequently showcases at vintage car exhibitions, most recently in Gradiška.

“I treat my Opel as if it were a person, a friend, a living being. I protect it from heat and cold, keep it in the garage, regularly check and maintain the engine, change the oil, top up the radiator, and respond immediately if I notice anything suspicious,” explains Boško Bosnić, adding:

“When a good car ends up in the hands of a caring driver, neither of them is ever truly finished.”

Asked how much the car cost back in 1973 and how many monthly wages were needed to buy it, Boško recalls:

“It took 20 monthly wages of a highly skilled welder. It’s important to note that these were wages earned abroad, in Germany, where I was temporarily working at the time.”

When it comes to the mileage, this 88-year-old driver has no real doubts.

“It has certainly covered half a million kilometers. The odometer only goes up to 100, and then resets. I used to keep track every time it rolled over, but eventually I stopped. Why bother, when the car is completely reliable? I fill it up with fuel, take it for regular inspections, and just drive wherever the road takes me,” said Boško, who has driven his Ascona all across the former Yugoslavia, as well as Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

“It’s hard to say where I’ve been—it’s easier to say where I haven’t. My Opel has never let me down.”

Boško’s story is also filled with emotion for the years that have passed.

“When I bought it, I was 36. Now, I’m approaching ninety. This oldtimer—like I consider myself to be—is a witness to all the wonderful moments I remember,” he shared with a group of admirers gathered around the car in Gradiška. They examined it from the outside and the inside, asking questions, astonished by what they saw.

When the event ended, Boško got behind the wheel, turned the key, the engine started without hesitation, and he waved from the open window as he drove away. He casually added that the car doesn’t have air conditioning, but for the two of them—Boško and the Opel—there’s neither unbearable heat nor cold.

Boško Bosnić proudly says he still drives every day and that he feels most comfortable in his trusty old Ascona.

“I still drive it almost daily. My wife Bernarda and I feel happiest in it. It’s comfortable, reliable, and practical in every way. I never imagined that, when I first drove it 52 years ago—young and with life ahead of me—I’d still be behind the same wheel in my old age. But here I am, still driving my Opel and preserving memories. Fortunately, I’m in good shape—I’m not slowing down,” said Boško Bosnić, who has been driving for a full sixty years.