Today is the 40th anniversary of the revolution that brought the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamarihyya (officially abbreviated to the Great Splaj) into being – which makes Col Gadafy the longest-surviving Arab leader (a year longer than Sultan Qaboos in Oman).

On a visit to Libya in 2004, I photographed this car which is the star exhibit in the national museum:

A notice alongside the car, written in English, says:

Vehicle: Volkswagen
Property of: 2nd Lt. Moammar Gheddafi
Veh. Reg. No: 23398 LB
Date: 6/4/1967

This vehicle has been part in serious events, astonishing surprises, traveled thousands of kilometers, crossed valleys, plains, villages, cities rural zones and avenues all over the country during ember years which Moammar Gheddafi lived underground in a journey of four thousand days of clandestine activities.

This vehicle has carried manuscripts, secrets and men.

It was kept under closed watch, controlled observation, hot pursuits and investigations by oppressive military and security services of the defunct regime.

More than one warrant and more than an inquiry have been launched about it in several regions, from Benghazi to Brega, from Abugren to Sirte, Tripoli, Sebha, Derna Zawia and Beida.

This vehicle suffered failures, collision courses, incidents, halted journeys in difficult circumstances and hard times full of dangers that waylay it.

In more than once, carrying instigating circulars such as the circular distributed by the Leader himself in Tripoli's streets on behalf of workers calling the masses to rebel and avenge. At other time transporting organizational and ideological pamphlets to build and inspire the free Unionist Officers.

It has embodied the simplicity in confronting the Mercedes Benz car which has incarnated clamor, haughtiness and false arrogance.

There were great differences between both cars, while the Volkswagen was rolling up time and distances to bring closer the salvation day, the Mercedes was moving between night club, gambling halls and military bases driven by agents of the Italians, Americans and British in the defunct regime. All paid from the Libyan people's wealth. The people were suffering from poverty, oppression, sleeping on the ground, and protecting themselves from heat and cold by zinc panels under the yoke of an agent regime that had lost sovereignty, will and legitimacy whereas it infiltrated to the country from abroad in the darkness under the cover of charlatanism heresy and perversion under the protection of colonization.

This car as simple, normal and popular as it is shall be one of the flagrant public eye witnesses about the journey of four thousand plays' [sic] clandestine action.

Glory to the Revolutionary Moammar Gheddafi Leader of the Great El Fateh of the 1st September 1969.

Department of the Morale [sic] Guidance

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 1 September 2009.