Amcar

Amcar – American cars. Events with a clear Amcar profile are often not just about cars - but lifestyle, clothing and music in different eras where the 50s are strong.

Vinyl roof – a little over the top?

Posted 07/05/2025 by Terje Bjørnstad

What do you think about fake convertible tops? It looks cool – American taste, right? – or is it a little over the top?

I came across this Cadillac Seville on display outside a car dealership in Drøbak. The car is a 1995 model Seville of the 4th generation with a transversely mounted 4.6 liter Northstar V8 engine. The latest models of Seville are stylish cars with a design that has held up well. What caught my interest was the vinyl roof. This is a special type that is retrofitted to new and used cars in the USA. There the solution is called carriage vinyl tops, with an allusion to earlier horse-drawn carriages. In any case, the tops look like real, foldable canopies. That is why they are also referred to as fake convertible tops.

Vinyl roofs come in many forms

The purpose of vinyl roofs is to give the cars more character as convertibles with retractable roofs. You can find cars with vinyl roofs all the way back to the 1920s, but it didn't become common until the 1960s – especially the latter half when vinyl roofs became an optional extra on very common car models. They were often expensive equipment variants.

The vinyl fabric was glued to the roof with the ends hidden within the front and rear window moldings, as well as chrome moldings along the sides. Vinyl roofs could also be retrofitted. A solution that became quite popular in the 1970s was vinyl roof on box. A substance was simply sprayed onto the roof that gave the same surface as a vinyl roof. This solution was often used after body damage to repair car roofs.

Landau roof

In the 1980s, vinyl roofs disappeared as an option on European and Japanese cars. In the United States, however, new vinyl roofs began to take shape. Landau roofs cover about a quarter of the roof at the rear and are reminiscent of old horse-drawn carriages of the “Landauer” type where you could fold down the rear part of the roof. Some car models with landau roofs even had fake hood handles on the sides – for decoration. You can still buy these as accessories on Ebay.

Only in the US

Let's go back to the Cadillac in the main image. It has a lavish solution that looks like a real convertible. You can tell that there are roof bars underneath and that the side rails cover the side windows like a real convertible. Also notice that the texture is the same type used on real convertibles. It all looks good, even though the roof is not foldable in reality.

Retrofit styling

In the United States, vinyl roof conversions an offer for owners of newer sedan models, such as the Cadillac CTS and Toyota Camry (US). Carriage Tops is not glued directly onto the original roof. It is first built onto a fiberglass shell that is adapted to the car model. The shell is then placed on the car's original roof with rivets and silicone. Finally, the moldings are screwed into place.

Disadvantages of vinyl roofing

Vinyl roofs do not stand the test of time very well. They can crack and moisture can get inside. It is not uncommon to find rust damage under old vinyl roofs. When vintage cars undergo full restoration, the vinyl roofs therefore disappear. However, many have experienced that the underside of factory-installed vinyl and landau roofs is poorly finished by the factory. Removing a carriage top with a fiberglass shell, will leave damage from fasteners. This type of roof also has another disadvantage. If you are unfortunate enough to have the rear window broken, you may risk having to remove the entire fiberglass shell first.

But why remove the vinyl roof? Doesn't it give the car more character?

Cadillac Seville SLS 5th generation

Cadillac Seville 3rd generation

From left: Cadillac Seville SLS 5th generation, Cadillac Seville 2nd generation. Both images are copied from advertisements.

A Cadillac will never be a common sight in Norway. With fake convertible top becomes even more interesting, – but not necessarily more beautiful. One might add that it represents American taste more than European. The car in the main picture can therefore be described as a small piece of America in Norway. Here, all “closet Americans” can put on plaid pants, Hawaiian shirts, baseball caps and let the tones of Merle Haggard roll out of the player.

What do you think about vinyl ceilings?

Lincoln Town Car Presidential - Vinyl-coated rear side window for more privacy like a president would like.

Lincoln Town Car Presidential – Vinyl-coated rear side window for more privacy like a president would enjoy.

Opel Ascona B – vinyl roof finish.

1973 Ford Taunus 2.0 GLX – Vinyl roof finish details

From left: Lincoln Town Car Presidential, Opel Ascona B, 1973 Ford Taunus 2.0 GXL.

See

Example of American companies that supply vinyl tops:
Carlen Automotive Restyling
Merrillville Auto Glass & Trim

Sales ad for the Cadillac Seville in the main image:
Finn.no – item 401082625

What cars does Trump want us to buy?

Posted 07/02/2025 by Terje Bjørnstad

«- They don't take our cars. Yet, they send cars to us by the millions! »
Trump's claim that Europeans don't buy American cars is true. But what cars does he want us to buy?

We have gradually learned that what comes out of Donald Trump's mouth is unfortunately often false accusations, harassment and threats. He probably makes his statements without checking the facts. This may also apply to his knowledge of the car market in Europe. But the claim that Europeans do not buy very many American cars – it is actually completely true.

What about Tesla?

In 2024, the Tesla Model Y became the fourth best-selling car model in Europe. It will likely be a big seller this year as well, despite Elon Musk's anti-social tendencies. But the vast majority of Teslas sold in Europe are manufactured in Berlin or Shanghai - not in the US. They contribute little or nothing to Trump's steel industry.

GM canceled its European plans

In 2023, GM's European president said they would establish themselves in Europe with their new electric car models. Work was started in Oslo to create a showroom, but it was cancelled. It is uncertain om, or when, GM will return. Electric Cadillac Lyrics could have been well received. The less expensive models, Chevrolet Equinox EV and Blazer EV, would be able to compete with Tesla og Mustang Mach-E.

Never came to Norway. Ex Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Equinox EV and Chevrolet Blazer EV.

But GM is not coming to Europe. Their profits come from selling large full-size pickups and SUVs that are not suitable in Europe. Sales of electric models were not as expected, and GM's small and mid-size gasoline-powered models are unlikely to do very well here. Moreover, they are not produced in the USA, either.

American pickup culture does not fit in Europe

The cars that Trump probably has in mind are Ford F series og Chevrolet Silverado, S og Tahoe – cars that have been top sellers in the US for several years. All the large frame-built cars are still built in the US. For many Americans, this is the ultimate type of car. If you can't afford a new car, you buy a used one. The success can be explained by a culture based on American patriotism and Western idealism. Americans have always loved big cars – many of the owners are big people themselves – and after several years of downsizing, pickups represent the latest big car models. One could also add that having a new full-size pickup in front of your house signals that you have succeeded in life – which is important in the US.

Large American pickup trucks and SUVs are a poor fit in European cities. They are too long and wide, and with a poor turning radius, they are best suited to straight, wide roads. They are also disproportionately expensive in European countries with taxes calculated according to engine power and weight.

Left: (Built in USA) Chevrolet Traverse Z71 AWD 2.5 liter Turbo 4-cyl. 8-speed automatic. Mid-size SUV with 3 rows of seats on a self-supporting body. Length 524 cm, width 200 cm. Price: $47.795. Number in Norway: 2.

Right: (Built in USA) Dodge Durango GT Plus 3.6 liter V6 Pentastar. 8-speed automatic. Mid-size SUV with 3 rows of seats on frame. Length 502 cm, width 194 cm. Price: $40.565. Number in Norway as of 2020: 16.

New US tariffs will hit ordinary Americans

Trumps Secondly, The claim is that the United States imports millions of cars. These are car models in lower price ranges – cars that most people depend on. Because in the United States, most people depend on cars. 16-year-olds need a car to get to school. If you have a job, you need a car no matter how little you earn. The expensive, huge pickup trucks are at the top of the sales charts, but affordable car models like Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic og Nissan Sentra coming close behind. Toyota Corolla og Honda Civic Hatchback is manufactured in the USA, while Honda Civic Sedan is manufactured in Canada and Nissan Sentra in Mexico. Many of the cars in the lower price ranges are manufactured outside the United States but are adapted for the U.S. market. The prices of these cars will likely rise regardless of where they are manufactured.

Left: (Built at GM South Korea) Buick Encore Avenir 1.3 Turbo. 9-speed automatic. Compact SUV. Price AWD $34395. Length 435 cm, width 181 cm. Number in Norway: 0.

Right: (Built in USA) Buick Enclave Avenir 2.5 Turbo 4-cyl. 333hp. 8-speed automatic. Mid-size SUV with 3 rows of seats. Length: 527 cm, width: 202 cm. Number in Norway: 0.

American cars that are manufactured outside the United States

Numbers in parentheses are numbers sold Q4 2024.

Chevrolet
Trax – South Korea and Mexico (50900)
Equinox – Mexico (64200)
Trailblazer – South Korea (22000)
Blazer – Mexico (7800)

Buick
Envista – South Korea (12400)
Buick Encore GX – South Korea (13600)
Envision – China (12900)

Ford
Bronco Sport – Mexico (30300)
Mustang Mach-E – Mexico (16100)
Maverick (pickup) – Mexico (22100)
The Escape (Kuga) and Ranger are produced elsewhere for the European market.

Dodge
Hornet – Italy (5000)
Charger – Canada (2800)

Chrysler
Pacifica – Canada (11900)

Jeep
Compass – Mexico (27200)

Foreign car brands in the United States

Several foreign automakers have established production in the United States. In the last quarter of 2024, 82300 were sold. Toyota Camry there, 55800 Toyota Corolla as well as 25300 Corolla cross – all made in the USA. Volkswagen has established production in both the USA and Mexico. Their US-made SUV, Atlas og Atlas Sports, sold a total of 32000 cars in Q2 2024. Manufacturing facilities in the US provide protection from tariffs, but could potentially face new tariff barriers when exporting to Canada. Honda manufactures the Civic in both the US and Canada, and therefore transports car parts between the factories. This can result in tariffs being applied multiple times.co

Chevrolet Colorado at The 2020 North American International Motor Show (Photo: Steve Lagreca/Shutterstock.com)

In the top photo: (Built in USA) Chevrolet Colorado, frame-built mid-size pickup. Number in Norway: 105. Photo: Steve Lageca/Shutterstock.

In the next picture: (Built in Mexico) Ford Maverick, mid-size pickup built on the same platform as the Escape/Kuga. Number in Norway: 1.

Conclusion

In 2010, my friend, the businessman, had Jonny Bunæs a meeting with Tesla's marketing manager where he said that Tesla could be an optimal electric car for the Norwegian market. The marketing manager then replied dryly that "Norway is probably far too small for us to invest in that country for many years." Who would have thought that Tesla would become a big seller in Norway – and Europe? Ford Mustang E-Mach also well suited to European conditions, although it is manufactured in Mexico, not the USA. If the USA is to succeed in selling more cars to Europe, they have to build cars that suit European conditions. But those are hardly cars that Trump is interested in, right?

See

Remarks by President Trump - Whitehouse.gov

Photo Sunday: Right On Fredrikstad

Posted 07/08/2023 by Terje Bjørnstad

Great cars, good weather and super location. Last Sunday was the Right On Car & MC rally at Isegran near Fredrikstad.

Organizer of the Right On musters er Ronnie Krabberø who is also behind the car magazine of the same name. Both the magazine and the patterns have a clear Amcar profile with elements of custom-built cars and hot rods. Krabberø himself presided over the prize-giving of Meguiar's Top 10 among the cars present at Right On.

Ice fir is an island out where Glomma divides. The island is owned by Fredrikstad municipality and is today a living coastal cultural park and a center for the dissemination of traditions, history and experiences, including old boats. Last Sunday was about car culture. I have taken pictures of cars that I liked, and that stood well for photography.

1959 Cadillac Coupe De Ville

1960 Chevrolet El Camino with small block V8

Ex Dodge Dart GTS Convertible 340 and Packard Clipper Coupe 352

1969 Dodge Charger SE 383

1974 Ford Mustang II 2,3 Notchback

1983 Chevrolet Caprice – Norwegian car. Was for a time sold through Bergheim. In 1985/86, it cost approximately NOK 450 - most of it taxes, of course.

See

visitnoray.no – Isegran

4th of July in Frognerparken

Posted 03/07/2023 by Terje Bjørnstad

In Oslo, The Independence Day (USA) was celebrated on Sunday 2 July when everyone had the day off. Unfortunately, the torrential rain put a damper on the party for a while. I myself was there to listen to country music and study nice cars from Amcar members.

Tradition in Oslo

According to the organizer, The American Coordinating Council of Norway (ACCN), this year's celebration was number 36. I read somewhere that the celebration in Oslo is the largest 4th of July celebration outside the borders of the United States. I don't know if the event has always been held in Frognerparken, but it is ideal. When the weather permits, there are opportunities for picnics, games and ball games on the grass. I think there have been fewer cars over time. Unfortunately, the weather put a damper on the celebrations. Thunder and torrential rain had been reported, so many people stayed at home. - And the storm that was predicted came about an hour into the event.

Country and cars

Country music and cars go well together. While I was there, the Norwegian-American country artist Lawson Vallery played with his band. According to Tylden & Co, Lawson grew up in Texas where his parents ran a "honkytonk dancehall". Going out on a Saturday night at a Texas dancehall when the parking lot is filled with pickup trucks is absolutely amazing! The music Lawson Vallery plays is classic country that goes well with the cars that were behind the stage.

Could win plane tickets

One of the traditions is "The grand raffle" with great prizes, this year including 4 return tickets to the USA with North Atlantic Airways!

1956 Chrysler Imperial Coupe 353 V8

1958 Buick Limited Convertible 364 V8

Stylish rear lights

1966 Lincoln Continental Convertible

1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 350 V8

1971 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe

1997 Dodge Viper GTS 8,0 liter V10 - Owner: Ketil Solvik-Olsen

Soggy chair. In the foreground is the owner's 1953 Buick Roadmaster Coupe. In the background the same car as the main picture of the post. – 1949 Oldsmobile 98 Sedanette 350 V8 Custombuilt in California

1953 Buick Roadmaster 2 door 322 V8 - all original down to paint and chrome!

See

4. July — The American Car Club of Norway celebrated July 4 in Frognerparken (2016).

ACCN.no
Amcar.no

Veteran car day at Tofte

Posted 06/09/2022 by Terje Bjørnstad

A piece of fringe Norway

For many years, Tofte has lived in the shadow of the large cellulose factory which has now been razed to the ground. Back then, the small town is left as an outlying place, even though the distance to Oslo is only a short hour. Apart from the car park, the main street appears to have remained unchanged since 1980. This makes the place an ideal location for the annual Veteran Car Day. It's a car meet where the street is closed to make room for the guests' cars. The surrounding buildings form a nice frame for the cars.

Wide range of vehicles

The first thing I spotted was a red DeTomaso Pantera next to two Wartburgs. Wartburgs were common, simmering two-strokes in the 60s. Italian Pantera, on the other hand, few had seen in reality. What makes Veteran Car Day interesting for car enthusiasts is the wide range of vehicles. Here you can actually find cars that don't come to car meets very often - cars that were everyday cars a few decades ago. You can also find car brands that no longer exist, such as DeSoto, Studebaker, Borgward and Rambler.

Nice hiking trails

One good argument for bringing your fine car to the Veteran Car Day at Tofte in early September is also the nice hiking trails - whether you come via Filtvedt or Klokkarstua. Classic country roads that wind through a slightly hilly landscape with lots of nice things to see along the way. If you want to extend your trip outside Hurumlandet, you can take the Drøbak tunnel to the east or the car ferry across the Svelviksundet to the west.

This car was probably never sold in Norway as new. When the cars were new, you could only buy them as toy cars. Several have later acquired a real Pantera. At the moment there are actually 72 De Tomaso Pantera cars in Norway. The Pantera is equipped with a Ford V8 engine, centrally positioned at the rear. It both sounds and runs really well! But Ford was not just a subcontractor – they bought into the company and sold the cars in the US. The collaboration lasted from 1971 to 1975. It was probably the oil crisis that caused Ford to withdraw. After the breach, production continued in low volume. The Pantera was actually produced until 1993, but was redesigned twice in 1980 and in 1990. From 1980 as the Pantera GT5 and from 1990 as the Pantera 90. The De Tomaso car brand still exists. The rights have been acquired by a company in Hong Kong that builds cars in a very small volume for extremely rich people.

DeTomaso Pantera

Did you know that the Opel Manta is named after a devil skate of the same name? A huge stingray that swims gracefully around the great oceans with wings and a tail? In 1971, the Manta's beautiful appearance made a big impression on myself and other young car enthusiasts. The Manta A was, by today's standards, simple, rear-wheel drive cars based on the Opel Ascona A. The car in the picture is a 1900 SR which originally produced 90 HP. It was registered before the new signs were introduced on 1 April 1971 and is thus an early edition.

Opel for those of us who liked the Manta

The most beautiful XJ model is without a doubt this gorgeous coupé variant without a center pillar. It is based on the XJ with a short wheelbase. The model was produced until 1979. The engine options were a 4,2 liter straight six or a 5,3 liter V12.

Shopping and spotting – Jaguar XJ 5,3 Coupe

Opel uses a letter to indicate model order. Rekord E is thus number 5 in the series, and the last model under the model name "Rekord". The last Rekord was in production from the 1978 model year up to and including 1986. It received a facelift for the 1983 model year. The two series are often referred to as E1 and E2. The facelift involved a completely new front and rear section, as well as new engines. The pictured car belongs to E1. It is rare to see an Opel Rekord E in such fine condition. Not only are all Rekorders today vintage cars, but also Opel classics.

Opel Record E

Opel Ascona B 2,0

Opel Ascona B approved with 2,2 engine

Opel Ascona

It was slightly wider, slightly longer and slightly faster than its predecessor. The Ascona B was a car that was on many people's wish lists - and that evokes good memories today. Among the engines delivered to Norway were the 1,3 S (75 HP), 1,9 S (90 HP). The Ascona was the sister model to the more sporty Manta model. Ascona B could also be delivered with larger engines, such as 2,0 S (100 HP), 2,0 E with injection 110 HP, as well as 2,4 E (144 HP). The Ascona 400 did well in WRC rally with a trimmed version of the 2,4 liter engine. The Asconas became popular, both as family cars - and later as youth cars. The cars had a great, GM-inspired design - and ran well. I myself have driven the Ascona 1,9 S when it was relatively new - and am left with good impressions. On the road, it delivered well in all branches. A car that was easy to like and which are sought-after projects for conversions. I hope many keep them original too.

Opel Ascona B

There was no real "schwung" over Audi until the Quattro system came along. It was in 1980 and then it was the B2 Coupé bodywork that was used in the so-called "ur-Quattro". The results in motorsport gave Audi a lift up the status scale. The beautiful B2 Coupé is one of the most beautiful Audis ever made. They were based on the sedan model's platform and engine choice with front-wheel drive. B2 Coupé/GT are cars many people want as a hobby car.

Audi 80B2

The Deville 3 was produced between 1965 and 1970, with small cosmetic changes each year that made customers change cars more often. Engine-wise, the V8 was the only choice – 429 V8 (7 litres) until 1968, then 472 V8 (7,7 litres). A Deville in this period is around 5,7 meters long, just over 2 meters wide and weighs over 2 tonnes. Deville could be delivered as 4 doors with pillar, 4 and 2 door Hardtop (without pillar), as well as Convertible. The car pictured is probably a 1965 model.

Cadillac DeVille 3rd generation

Hidden lights created a tough front end. As far as I know, there was no regular import of Mercury Cougar to Norway, only individual imports via private individuals. The first model generation was sold as model year 1967 through 1970. The Mercury Cougar got the same V8 engines as the Ford Mustang for the corresponding model year. It concerned only V8s – primarily 289, 302, 351 and 390 cubic inches – but also Ford's 7-litre V8 427 and 428 engines.

Mercury Cougar

It came as a surprise when Ford chose to replace its successful M models – the 17M and 20 M. The new Consul and Granada were not only to replace the M models, but also the English Zephyr and Zodiac. Seen in today's eyes, there was little to distinguish Consul from Granada. There were equipment details, grill, interior and chrome. In the beginning, you could choose the 2-door Consul Coupé as an entry-level model, or the 4-door sedan and station wagon. The transition between 17M/20M and Consul/Granada took place at the turn of 1971 to 1972. Based on the registration number, the car in the picture is one of the very first Ford Consuls in this country, registered early in 1972 and delivered with a 1700 V4 engine from the Taunus series. In my opinion, these first Coke-bottle shaped cars are the most beautiful of all the Consul/Granadas. They are also rare, especially with the 17M-V4 engine. Highly preserved cars!

Ford Granada mk1

Chevrolet Corvette C1 color matched inventory

Jaguar Mk2 2,4

Borgward Isabella Coupe

Chevrolet Corvette C1
Borgward Isabella – a popular German in the 1950s

See

Veteran car day at Tofte

Motordilla at Årnes

Posted 05/06/2022 by Terje Bjørnstad

motoring frenzy — Ford Mustang among several other fine cars

Motor interest in Nes in Romerike is great. So big that the municipality has teamed up with enthusiasts in various motor environments to establish a joint event in the center of Årnes. The event last Saturday was Motordilla number 4.

Many American cars

One can safely say that American cars top the list of hobby cars. Lower parking around the station was reserved for American cars before 1970. Newer Americans were on display at the police station. In between, there was also an area for hotrods - also the American ones. All the V8s roared merrily in the streets.

Honest cars

The American cars were really great. But a few decades ago, it was not Americans who dominated the street scene. The director drove a Jaguar, the district doctor a Volvo, and most people owned Folkevogn, Hillman, Austin, Anglia, Taunus, Rekord and Mazda. I don't know if it is this nostalgia that lies behind the event's exhibition for "Honest cars". At least it was min favorite exhibition space.

[/caption id="attachment_48882" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Hudson Hornet[/caption]

Drive-in wedding?

A folk festival like this is of course not just a static exhibition. There were people coming and going, on foot or in various vehicles. There was cruising in the streets and life in the restaurants. There were also activities in the surrounding shops, and car dealers showed off new cars. I caught a glimpse of the new Subaru Solterra. At one end of Rådhusgata, a drive-in wedding was launched. One could imagine weddings on a conveyor belt performed by a priest in an Elvis costume, although I think there was a proper wedding there. At least I saw a car cruising around downtown with tin cans rattling in the back.

Motordilla pictures

Situation bid from Årnes station

1962 Cadillac 62 Convertible

Triumph TR250

Triumph TR250 with real wood in the dash

DKW Autounion 1000

Skoda Rapid (Garde)

Opel Kadett B 1100

Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk

Ford Anglia Deluxe

See

Nes Kulturhus – Motordilla

America party in France

Posted 20/04/2022 by Terje Bjørnstad

argelès — Route 66 does not only give associations to the United States. The area here in France belongs to a department with the same number – namely 66.

Every Easter is organized american party in the small town of Argeles-sur-Mer. Then the boardwalk fills with country and rockabilly music and ordinary people line dancing as if they've never done anything else. In between, you can hear the rumble of American vehicles gliding across the seafront.

First exit after Spain

To come to Argeles-sur-Mer you take the flight to Barcelona, jump into a rental car and drive to France. After passing the border crossing, take the first exit and follow the signs for Argeles. The car journey takes 2 hours. Then you can reward yourself with a beer after swimming in the Mediterranean. The beach area stretches several kilometers to the north. In the summer, it is flooded with tourists. Besides the French, hordes of Dutch people have fallen in love with the city. If you get tired of swimming, you can take the car up into the mountainous region inland and visit the towns and sights there, or cycle to the picturesque neighboring town of Collioure or enjoy a fish meal in Port Vendres. The tourist office in town can provide more information. The only thing you have to remember is that you must get off at the first exit after Spain.

France is not just the Côte d'Azur
The houses on the beach

Awakened to life after winter

Fête americaine brings the beach area to life after winter. In winter, the area is not as attractive. Then most things are closed. The city center is a couple of kilometers further inland. Most permanent residents live there, and the shops and shopping centers are also located there. The "America party" was not a tourist attraction. It was for people who live in the area. The tourists come later.

Surprisingly good western atmosphere

The beaches in Argeles-sur-Mer somewhat reminiscent of the beaches in Southern California, such as Newport Beach, although the cowboys there are not the same as those found in France. When I compare with similar events at home, it strikes me how good the western atmosphere is in Argeles. In Norway, line dancing would almost exclusively have attracted women. Here, all age groups were represented in the dance, including grown men, who refused to step out even though the wife insisted on going on. There was also life in the stalls and in the eateries. Good (country) music, barbecue, nice cars and Harleys contribute to a good atmosphere.

American icons

It is worth mentioning that the event was not just a car show. Those who exhibited their cars were local owners - with what they had in the garage. Cars that are not pictured here - but which attracted positive attention - included an original Citroen GSA Break, two Renault 4CVs in "mint condition". Renault 4CV became actually sold in the US, but no one would associate them with America. The fleet of vehicles also consisted of Harley-Davidsons, trikes, vans, trucks and cars that represented American icons.

Join the tour!

Kings of the road – Scania T 560 and my brother-in-law Henrich.

Chevy C20 Van

Trucks and vans

- It's a Scania, my brother-in-law said as we approached the area on foot. I meant it was "something American", but that var a Scania T 560. Scania's muzzleloader can safely be called a classic. There are some Scania cars in the USA - but there have hardly been any regular imports. But with a V8 engine, there is something American about the car on display. The pictured Chevy C20 Van is not very unusual, but it is unusual to see a car in such good condition as this one. We are used to these cars rusting, and end up with a couple of seasons as Russian cars before they are scrapped. Dodge RAM is also not unusual in our area, but it does very well with the sea in the background. Can you imagine California with a couple of surfboards on the back of the plane?

Corvette

Chevrolet Corvette C3 with nice "side pipes"

Chevrolet Corvette C3 at the beach

Chevrolet Corvette C4 next to Ford Mustang mk5 GT

Chevrolet Corvette C3 in front of the stalls

The Chevrolet Corvette generation 3 (C3) from the 70s has a shape that the whole world knows. It is a real American icon, especially with fat "side pipes" like the car in the main picture.

Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson is also considered a typical American icon. Even new models have inherited elements from their predecessors. Thus, almost all Harleys can be considered classics even when they are new.

Other cars

A local Simca Ariane that looks American and has family ties to the Ford Vedette

Ford Mustang mk5 GT

Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna with old California plates

The Simca Ariane doesn't just look like a car from the 50s - the colour, shape and engine are in American style. The Ford Mustang is an American icon, even in newer versions like this mk5 Mustang GT. The red Chevrolet Laguna from the early 70s with period California plates looks undeniably very American as well.

See

4th of July celebration in Frognerparken

From war to peace

Posted 08/11/2021 by Anders de Lange

kaiser phrases — The sports car Kaiser Darrin was introduced in 1954. One of the very first cars with a plastic body.

This is a car story that started when the world calmed down after the war ended in 1945. So many great opportunities in a world market that needed most of everything in the first years of peace. Especially the factories that produced cars and transport equipment envisioned many good years. With this as a background, a number of new car factories were established in the years 1945 – 1947.

Kaiser-Frazer

One of the new manufacturers that came on the scene in this period was Kaiser-Frazer, which today is history and largely completely forgotten by the vast majority. But the story is exciting and includes everything from big dreams and ambitions to a long struggle to survive. Let's start with the people who started it all. Car man Joseph Frazer had extensive experience in car manufacturing. He knew the car industry from the inside and had been involved in the development of many well-known car models for a number of manufacturers. When the United States joined the war in 1942, he was head of the car manufacturer Graham-Paige, which in 1939 had presented the forward-looking model "Hollywood".

Henry J. Kaiser was an industrialist with broad experience in production and industrial development. During the war, his shipyards were partly behind the development and production of the well-known "Liberty" ships.

In 1945, these two decided to start car production on a large scale. The plan was initially to produce 2 different car brands. The Kaiser was supposed to be a somewhat affordable family car for the large market. Frazer, on the other hand, was planned as a car brand with more emphasis on luxury. As early as 1945, Kaiser produced a prototype of an affordable car equipped with a plastic body and front-wheel drive. The ambitions were great and the large aircraft factory "Willow Run" was taken over to be transformed into a really huge car factory.

When the factory started the introduction of the 1947 models, the car brands Kaiser and Frazer were quite similar to look at, but the difference lay in the technical aspects. The Kaiser was to be launched as a modern front-wheel drive model while the Frazer became a more traditional rear-wheel drive luxury model. But the plans were changed just before the first car was due to roll off the assembly line. The front-wheel-drive Kaiser model was discontinued due to technical difficulties and high production costs, and it therefore became just a more affordable version of the Frazer.

The Kaiser in particular sold well because it was one of the first car models to hit the market after the war. The new exciting design and gorgeous colors were a hit with car buyers. Kaiser and Frazer shared body designs right up until 1951 which was the year of introduction of the all new and modern model from Kaiser. But sales continued to plummet even with a new low-cost model (Henty J) and production in several countries. Kaiser tried to sell the factory but in vain. When production in the USA ended after approx. 750 cars had been produced, body presses and equipment were transferred to Argentina. Here, Kaiser models were produced until 000 by IKA, which also produced Renault and Alfa-Romeo under license. In the United States, Kaiser now concentrated on his large aluminum works and worked for aluminum to be used more in the car industry. In that connection, several futuristic design proposals were brought forward to influence the automotive industry. But it was with this last attempt and the rest is history.

Kaiser was really a car brand that could gain a place in the market as the good start indicated. But the factory was unable to meet the competition from the other major manufacturers in the USA and peace settled over car production at Kaiser.

kaiser aluminum — Kaiser Aluminum presented several exciting prototypes of cars based on aluminum in 1958.

Henry J. Kaiser sold off his car brands (Kaiser and Jeep) in 1955 to concentrate on aluminum production. Kaiser believed that the car industry should use more aluminum in new cars. In order to convince the major car manufacturers, he engaged a well-known car designer who was given the task of designing several exciting prototypes to be produced in aluminium. Source: Bilhistorie.no

aluminum cars — Kaiser-Frazer. When the car brands were introduced in 1947, expectations were high.

Exciting car history from Anders de Lange's archives

Photo Sunday – Cadillac Diner

Posted 07/09/2021 by Terje Bjørnstad

It's nice to have friends visit - especially nice when they arrive in a classic Cadillac Convertible with the roof down. We are located in Gudbrandsdalen. The base temperature is 14 degrees, but the sun is still shining. Today, many people drive with the top down.

Meeting place

We agreed to meet for lunch at the Cadillac Diner on Tretten in Gudbrandsdalen – a natural stop when driving a Cadillac Eldorado Convertible or another enthusiast vehicle. The cafe is decorated with memorabilia related to Cadillac and nostalgic American 50s. Outside is a Mack Cabover tow truck. Several other guests had arrived in cars with the roof down, including an Austin Healey 3000, Plymouth Special Deluxe and a Ford Mustang. Everyone had a great time in the fine autumn weather.

A break at the Cadillac Diner is mandatory for many in the car and motorcycle community. If you pop in for a bite to eat, you might see some great enthusiast cars outside.

No chain

Our table chose hamburger with fries, American pancakes and bacon - as well as Coke served in glass bottles. The hamburger was very good - just like my grandmother made them. It made a complete lunch meal for me. The Cadillac Diner reopened this summer. Brittirèn Bjerkestuen has gone into partnership with Stavsplassen SA and is thus carrying on his father's life's work, Trond Bjerkestuen, further.

Today, almost all the eateries along the road are franschise places. I prefer places that are independently run - like the Cadillac Diner.