Toruń. He bought a toddler who rode Simon Kossak. Now he wants to give him a second life

Simon Kossak rode it. The little Fiat was bought by a naturalist Bartek Guentzel living in Toruń, who wants to give him a second life. – The project involves the renovation of an old toddler who once belonged to Simona Kossak and Lech Wilczka to keep the memory of them in this symbolic way and save Fiacik from scrapping – explains the naturalist.

Simona Kossak is a famous biologist, the first Polish environmental, nature defender, author of numerous books. This legendary researcher lived surrounded by animals in the Białowieża Forest. She had her favorite car, which was FIAT 126p, a popular toddler. Now the second life wants to give him a naturalist from Toruń Bartek Gentzel.

– Simon Kossak bought auto in 1999 and drove it until her death. She was not a seasoned driver and legends say that when driving in the Bieszczady Mountains from Białowieża she was able to cover the entire route using only three runs. Simon Kossak was a person living very modestly and although she could afford a much higher class car, she just liked the little Fiat, who bravely covered the bumpy road to the field – says Bartek Guentzel.

He bought a toddler after Simon Kossak

He took inspiration for the project after watching a documentary about the life of Simona Kossak.

– I was inspired by the story of the toddler of the famous biolocy, who after her death fell out of favor, scattered slowly, standing on one of the courtyards in Białowieża. Toddler is our national sentiment, a bit like storks and mazurka Chopin, and a toddler loved by so many Simona Kossak, which, as if we said it today, personalized him, ordering the sunroof cutout and applying the varnish in the color of a favorite sweater. This is a really enough reason to take care of this car – adds Guentzel.

As he points out, it did not take him much time to find contact to the heir to Simona, who eagerly agreed to sell him the car for a symbolic amount for the museum exhibit.

A lot of work, later will go to the Memorial Chamber

There will be a lot of work when renovating the toddler. Guentzel founded a collection for this purpose. The whole is to cost about forty thousand zlotys.

– Quite intensive use of the car and, above all, the years spent under the open sky meant that the car is in a terrible condition. Let's be honest, if it wasn't a toddler of Simona Kossak, it would be only suitable for scrap metal, because it would be difficult to recover any not damaged parts. We will try to keep as many original parts as possible and restore the legendary color as well as repair the broken sunroof, which allowed Simon to smoke while driving. Unfortunately, the whole bottom of the car must be cut and inserted a new one. The thresholds, floors and the whole suspension were absorbed by rust. Fortunately, the most personal parts, such as armchairs, steering wheel, the entire desktop and the headliner can be saved and only require solid cosmetic procedures – says the naturalist.

When the car regains its former splendor, it will go to the newly built chamber of memory of Simona Kossak in the Ściborska Republic in Eastern Masuria, where every visitors will be able to touch it without any problems or sit in the legendary Simona armchair.