Last Saturday, Gunnarsbøparken in Tønsberg was bustling with activity. We were greeted by cars and two-wheelers in various designs and the sounds of the Opus One Big Band.
It was the local car clubs Tønsberg Automobile Club, Re Motor Club og Stokke Veteran Carriage Club who was in charge of the event. We were in Tønsberg on another errand, but of course we took a quick trip to Gunnarsbøparken. While we were there, new cars kept coming in, while others left. Thus, the cars were gradually replaced to the delight of those who spent time in the nice weather in the park.
Norwegian cars
Several cars in the exhibition originate from Vestfold and neighboring counties. It is about completely ordinary and unsnobbish cars that were on the roads several decades ago. Local historical connections may not mean much in terms of money, but they still add value. We can call it nostalgia.
At the public entrance stood this beautiful Volkswagen decorated with birch leaves for the occasion.
Alvis is a car brand that you don't see very often, either in Norway or England. They built the cars semi-finished on frames and had the bodies fitted by external coachbuilders. Most of them from Mulliner Park Ward, which also supplied bodies to Rolls Royce and Bentley, among others. Some Alvis cars also had bodies fitted from Swiss Graber.
DAF developed the first continuously variable automatic transmission system Variomatic which is considered the forerunner of today's CVT gear. The special thing about DAF was that you could hear the belts (two pieces) when the cars were driving. In Sweden, DAF was called "Rem-Johan".
In Tønsberg, Morris (and other BMC cars) were sold by Morris Autohandel. They sold many cars in the district. The car in the picture was first registered in Norway, but probably in the former Oppland county.
This nice Saab is also first registered in Norway. My father had bought the exact same car from Vestfold Auto. I checked the ownership history of the car in the picture. It has a different history, probably from the neighboring county.
Vauxhall was a popular car brand in Tønsberg. The dealer Jontvedt Auto located in Farmannsveien. The car in the picture was first registered in Norway, but perhaps from another place in the country. The model VX 4/90 was based on Vauxhall Victor FB but in a more sporty version with upgraded engine, brakes and interior.
The Citroen Traction Avant often appears at car shows all over Europe, but it is rare to find pre-war cars. This car was first registered in Norway in 1938. In the interwar years, Citroens were purchased for the police, among other things.
See
Tønsberg Automobile Club
Re Motor Club
Stokke Veteran Carriage Club
