SWEDEN HAS MORE CLASSICS THAN CALIFORNIA - Sweden's greasers cruisin' in classic US wheels

www.motoring.co.za ^ | 07/13/2007 | Pia Ohlin

[WesternCulture]

Vaesteraas, Sweden - Thousands of mint-condition Chevrolets, Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles from the 1950's boulevard-cruise with Brylcreemed greasers draped over the steering wheel and rock 'n roll hits blaring on their radios.

You might think you've been transported back a half-century to small-town America but, no, this is a scene found in any number of towns across Sweden where the early days of the US car culture never went out of style.

[dalereed]

A friend of mine sold two restored clasics to a swede last year.

The Swede told him that they were a real bargin because of the hugh change in rate of exchange over the last few years.

[ThreePuttinDude]

Yumpin’ Yiminy!

LOL, thats great. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.

Thanks

[WesternCulture]

“as I said in an earlier writing you left out, the home phones my aunt had from the 30’s were still work in in the 90’s”

- I simply didn’t know what to respond. I feel like I’m very innocent when it comes to the general decline of the telephone industry.

However, it’s obvious that phones of today have more functions than those old ones, but are of much poorer quality.

Phones of today are junk, like you said.

[WesternCulture]

That sure is a nice story.

Thanks for sharing, fellow FReeper.

I’ve never owned a classic American car, but I somehow feel very inspired to.

To me, the American cars of the 1950’s and 1960’s are the most ‘American’ cars ever built.

My best friend owned a very nice Mustang some years ago. Often, especially when he’s drunk, he says “Damn, why did I sell that car!”.

Regards

[WesternCulture]

“The Swede told him that they were a real bargin because of the hugh change in rate of exchange over the last few years.”

- Prior to closing the deal?

[dalereed]

“Prior to closing the deal?”

Sure, he could csre less, he got his asking price.

[WesternCulture]

In that case, I rest my case :-)

Skål!

[SteveMcKing]

Why don't they make cars this way anymore? They're damn gorgeous.

Of course they only look nice restored. A dirty old car looks depressing.

[HoosierHawk]

Very nice pics.

[Stegall Tx]

I think these are discontinued, but the Nortel M9316 is a great phone. You can use it stand-alone or network four or six of them throughout the house on four wires. It has a built in auto attendant with up to ten mailboxes (three or four are reserved, so actually you only have a max of six mailboxes). It has a GREAT speakerphone. I’ve used one for five years or more and it works as well as brand new.

I spent about $100 for mine on eBay years ago. If you buy one, be sure you get a power supply.

[Oliver Boliver Butt]

However, some people say the Cuban cars seldom are restored to mint condition like the Swedish ones.

I don't believe the cars in Cuba are viewed as collector cars and restored...at least not on a wide scale. It is more a matter of "this is all I have to drive, comrade, and it takes everything I can do to keep it running."

[television is just wrong]

I have an 81 delorean, neat. everything original stock equipment.

[ThomasThomas]

Cuba dosen’t have classic cars because they want them. Their still driving the same cars because it is what was their when them embargo started.

[WesternCulture]

“I’ve used one for five years or more and it works as well as brand new.”

- I’m not surprised. They were built to last.

The only true advantage of new, ‘ordinary’ telephones compared to products of those days are that they are wireless.

Who needs any of the silly ‘bonus’ functions? I’d prefer them to have a life expectancy of more than 1.5 years, or in the worst cases, to ever function properly at all.

[38special]

Funny how there aren’t really any classic Japanese cars!

[WesternCulture]

“Cuba dosen’t have classic cars because they want them. Their still driving the same cars because it is what was their when them embargo started.”

- Just kiddin’.

But truth is, if the Cubans would’ve chose to stick with the West instead of Castro, they could have been a prosperous, democratic nation by now, driving around in nice cars and perhaps having expensive hobbies like restoring classic cars like US Americans and Europeans can afford...

[WesternCulture]

“Funny how there aren’t really any classic Japanese cars!”

- Japanese cars are built to last for a certain amount of miles/km’s, then they break down completely.

Cars like the classic American ones, as well as European products bearing names like ‘Mercedes’ and ‘Volvo’ are more or less indestructable.

Furthermore, Japanese cars have no ‘soul’. The ones who buy them are people who lack a genuine interest for cars.

I like Japan and many aspects of Japanese culture, actually I admire Japan, but I’ll never buy a Japanese car.

[doug from upland]

Those were gas guzzlers and big polluters. How can they get away with driving them in Europe?

[WesternCulture]

“Those were gas guzzlers and big polluters. How can they get away with driving them in Europe?”

- Here in Sweden, cars just have to meet with the requirements existing at the time that particular model first was sold on the Swedish market.

[mamelukesabre]

Japanese cars have motors designed to outlive the car. This makes the car throw away.

American cars have a design in which the car will outlive the motor. This makes them repairable. Sometimes infinitely repairable.