"Is it true what they say about Tønsberg? That they take time off when the sun shines best?". It may not be verbatim, but I think the quote belongs to one of Per Asplin's songs. Tønsberg is a nice place in the summer, and just like that, a vintage car appears.
Gunnarsbøparken around the old shipowner's villa of the Wilhelmsen family was last Saturday the meeting place for the annual car meeting between Tønsberg Automobile Club, Re Motor Club og Stokke Veteran Carriage Club. The main image shows a Saab Sonett III that arrived with the lovely sound of the V4. A person with a background in Saab has told me that no Saab Sonett was ever sold as a new car in Norway. The most famous Saab Sonett belongs to the cultural personality Åse Kleveland. Her car was not bought in Norway - it was bought new in Sweden. Nor was the beautiful Sonett in Gunnarsbøparken bought locally. I overheard in a conversation that it was brought in from Nevada in the USA. The Saab Sonett III sold well over there.
It's not every day you get to see one of the very first Datsun cars that came to Norway. It is a Datsun 410 from 1964. According to the owner, there are approximately 3 other cars of the same type in Norway. Model 410 was replaced by 411 after quite a short time, although it is difficult to see any difference between the two models. The green example has been in the same family since it was bought new by someone who worked within the importer and dealer organisation.
The sound of the V4 was not only reserved for the orange Saab mentioned earlier. This Ford 15M also had the same engine. From 1967, Saab bought V4 engines from Ford. Despite the fact that the Ford P6 (12M and 15M) were very popular, there are almost none left today.
See
Tønsberg Automobile Club
Re Motor Club
Stokke Veteran Carriage Club