It's fun, too ................... FRegards
Posted on 07/05/2008 9:55:59 AM PDT by WesternCulture
The 'biggest American car show in the world' opened in Västerås in central Sweden on Thursday. More than 10,000 cars are expected for the Big Meet 2008 show.
The annual event started 31 years ago and was founded by Kjell Gustafsson who has seen it grow from the humble beginnings of 40-80 cars in a parking lot in Anderstorp.
"Just to keep the show going over three days costs 1.5 million kronor ($252,000). 160 officials work with this. That is around the same as the Hultsfred festival," Gustafsson said to Di.se.
The Big Meet 2008 show will take place over three days from July 3rd-July 5th and is a considerable money earner for the city of Västerås. Local hotels and campsites have been booked up for months and the largest odds-and-ends market in Europe will attract 600 vendors selling their wares.
American car enthusiasts will be able to go cruising in their Cadillacs, Corvettes and Mustangs on Friday and Saturday evenings. Competitions will be held in 11 different classes over the two days with the awards ceremony on Saturday, July 7th at 2.30pm. The Jay Leno Car Award will again be one of the gongs up for grabs and will be awarded by Swede Per Blixt, who looks after the US TV host's large collection of classic cars and motorcycles in Burbank, California.
According to the Big Meet 2008 website, 30 couples have registered their interest in tying the knot at the "Get Married Drive In" on Friday. A local Västerås minister, Jerker Alsterlind, will be doing the honours.
According to Gustafsson the good times are rolling for those owning classic American cars with some vehicles fetching up to 4 million kronor.
"One could say that a hard working person today would rather buy an American car than a Picasso," he said to Di.se.
Do Scandinavians, famed for constituting some of the most PC nations on Earth, oppose everything American?
Do all of us Scandinavians hate the US?
Don’t think so.
Call this was you may, but it isn’t exactly a celebration of anti-American sentiments.
Indeed there are hard feelings between our continents, like there always has been. But never forget the fact that the reason why we constantly squabble like little children is the even more important, underlying truth that we are brothers and sisters!
Best of regards from Sweden!
YouTube clips:
http://www.youtube.com/results?q=power+big+meet&search_type=
In fact, American classic cars seem attractive to people in most parts of the world.
Some years ago, I had this Italian girlfriend in Rome. Close to her apartment, neighboring a discount grocery store where we sometimes shopped for food (not too often though - we’re talking one of the most quality concerned corners of the earth when it comes to food), there was this magnificent, mint condition Mustang always peeking out of a Roman garage. I’ll forget that Italian beauty before I forget that beautiful car..
It's fun, too ................... FRegards
Interesting video, but... did I see a Caddy convertible painted like the General Lee?
Ah, Avanti!
Definitely up there on the “cool and different” scale.
I still have fond memories of a neighbor that had a Studebaker Hawk
for awhile. As a youngster, I liked it because it had dual exhaust,
when that seemed to be found only on teenagers’ tricked out cars.
And I liked it even though it did have substantial fins.
I'll probably just give it to the Studebaker museum there. With the Avanti R-2 engine, I can't get gas for it anymore - needs 120 octane, and that takes lead ............... FRegards
That is an amazing part of the world. Well worth visiting if people get the chance.
Thanks for sharing, fellow freeper!
Your “Gonzomobiles” are great!
One and a half years ago, I worked for Volvo here in Gothenburg/Göteborg making XC90s, XC70s, S80s and V70s (the smaller - and cheaper - Volvos are assembeled in Gent, Belgium), but I must admit that I am NOT able of making a car like the Gonzomobile:D :D :D
Keep up the good work!
Is there currently a new Gonzomobile under construction?
Best of regards from the West Coast of Sweden to the East Coast of USA (been to Fla by the way - I will forever love your magnificent state and its friendly inhabitants!)
“That is an amazing part of the world. Well worth visiting if people get the chance.”
- Thanks for these words!
Scandinavia is PC, expensive and people are stubbornly, no ANNOYINGLY certain of living in the best and also most “moral” part of the world. All of this is true BUT I don’t hesitate to say that visiting places like these are well worth the cost although fortune (I’m biased of course, being Scandinavian myself, but there must be some reason tourists to our part of the world seem so happy):
NORWAY:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ1jIcJVu_4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4wo-CeZV1A&feature=related
ICELAND:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHYIKvahcLA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orCtVlWBwhM&feature=related
DENMARK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTGKUwMegZ4
SWEDEN:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NmpbK2xmCY
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - “THE CAPITAL OF SCANDINAVIA” (since the Norwegians and Danes already hate us:), we Swedes thought producing a video like this would make no difference:D):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbNnw5Z0V6k
DRIVING TO WORK IN STOCKHOLM:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y27s04FkyTc
STOCKHOLM BABES VS BRITISH WOMEN:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-J9ZpQYW8s&feature=related
FINLAND(not a “Scandinavian” country, but a “NORDIC” one together with the Scandinavian nations):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRQJxTg6i_A&feature=related
THE TINY NORDIC NATION THAT MANAGED, NOT ONLY TO DEFEAT, BUT TO RIDICULE STALIN IN WWII:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwQmwbQttkY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B74ngZDpHY&feature=related
Yes!
You know the rules - If you stop, you die!
I really wanted a Hemi (based on the Mercedes platform), but I'm going with the Mustang. The '789' was too retro, and the Avanti is timeless.
It'll take a coupla years, again, but nobody's gonna park one next to me. Never let your dreams die!
Besides, I like wierd ............... FRegards
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