(O.T.) Studebakers in Sweden

I know this is off-topic, but I'm also a Studebaker collector in addition to 2-cycle SAABs, and I thought these so non-Swedish cars in Sweden were interesting. Swedes seem to appreciate cars that aren't just copies of what's popular.

Michael Bostedt posted this on alt.autos.studebaker...

"The Swedish Studebaker Club Meet was held about two weeks ago. 33 cars (including a Packard) attended the meet and I think that's a new club record.

Here are photos of the cars:

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Michael Bostedt

-'53 Starlight

-'53 Starliner"

Michael's Studebaker Pics Page

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Reply to
saabyurk
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Didn't realize Studebakers ever made it to Sweden. My uncle has a restored '37 Packard, neat car.

Reply to
James Sweet

Sweden has always had a high standard of living, which means that they could afford big American cars.

Reply to
Johannes

Umm, no. They don't have as much disposable income as Americans do.

Their quality of life is comprised of many things, but the social services account for a lot of it and we don't have those in the U.S.

SG

Reply to
Saab Guy

account for a lot of it and we don't have those in the U.S.

From my World Atlas:

Sweden GDP per head US$ 25400 USA GDP per head US$ 26037

These data are probably 10 years old, but I can't imagine that USA has improved over Sweden since then.

Reply to
Johannes

No they have not... In the 1850-1900 period people in the countryside were out of jobs and poor, leading to alcohol problems. Reason for many people to emigrate to the USA.

It got better with the industrial revolution, but most inportant was that Sweden was not involved in WW1 or WW2

Reply to
MH

From

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United States $41,557 Sweden $29,537

Reply to
MH

Well, they weren't combatants, but I wouldn't say they weren't "involved"...

Reply to
Dave Hinz

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2005;

Yes, these are GDP(PPP) massaged figures.

Reply to
Johannes

OK, let's put it in a different way then; they were not bombed, robbed and partially destroyed like other European countries

Reply to
MH

Yes, and their "involvement", if you look at who they were selling what to, explains why. "Neutral" is probably a generous way to describe them in WWII.

Reply to
Dave Hinz

Johannes,

GDP sure, but how much is taken from takes about 33% unlike our 8%

Also, Sweden was "neutral" in wartime and now the official term is "military non-alignment"

FYI

SG

Reply to
Saab Guy

Though with the surpurb cars manufactured right there in Sweden I'm not sure why there was much demand for big American cars.

Reply to
James Sweet

It wasn't always like that. Saab 93 and Volvo P444 were fairly small cars, the

50's American cars was the ultimate prestige cars at the time: "Dollargrin"
Reply to
Johannes

The Volvo 120 "Amazon" was/is a downsized copy of the Chrysler 300. Chrysler had an assembly plant in Sweden.

Reply to
MH

Very nice car and you still see one now and then driven by a classic enthusiast. However, the design was Italian inspired and it looks almost identical to a FIAT 1900.

Reply to
Johannes

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