SWEDEN. It looks like the car was built by Sture Torngren, the legendary editor of Wheels magazine during it’s golden years. This is the way we remember the 80’s.
In comparison as to how they are formed today, with an extended rear and a fan belt that exactlty matches the upholstery. Nothing wrong with that picture. It’s just so enjoyable to see the old style get remodelled in 2011. By Lars Krantz. Translation Ellen Kay Krantz.
With a licence plate hanging low and a rear fitter than a quarterback it humms beautifully against a road of gravel. Few people can build cars like Erik Henriksson but everyone can enjoy his creations.
Progression is an natural part of life and obviously things chance. New materials, new ways of production, new machines and new ideals is the natural course of action for the progression of the hobby and its survival. Still, when a project like this show up makes the younger man in me from 1981 to emerge and get really excited. Erik Hansson’s 1946 Ford coupé sparkles as if brand new. The collective vision of the creation vibrates like its newly manufactured, but it looks very yesteryears. Unreal and incredible.
– I enjoy the old look. Nowadays the’re lowered all the way around but I want her like this, said the owner.
The summer city Hudiksvall cracks up in its widenest smile this day and shows a sparkling ocean, flowers in full bloom and ice-cream tourists in search for the perfect table on the outside deck. This city offers several old-style cruising’s during the summer. No traffic guards, no pre-approved car stickers for the windshield, hardly any police officers.
Only slow rolling cars and loads of people. In this part of Sweden there is still a fair amount of cars that participates and not 600 cars on a coffee meet, a wednesday night in July. And definitely not 3000 vehicles that all cramp together in a small town on a saturday night.
There’s just not that many people living in these areas for that. Norrland could possibly have the best cruising conditions for better and for worse.
Sitting on the latter where he played as a child. Today in company of a couple of blue coupé’s he put together himself.
Thee’s thunder in the city. A bit higher up, on the west side on the outskirts lives Erik. Whilst sitting on the latter he overlooks the limited area behind his house. Limited because the guy has about a dozen cars. Most of us knocked to sticks together with a hammer. He liked american cars and PV.
– The Ford I bought in parts, he states shortly.
– A front from a Commodore, rack and pinion steering from a SAAB and Volvo breaks, I guess that’s it .
Erik didn’t think that there much to show under the hood. – Everybody’s seen a Chevy small block, he said.
Just like that, the entire project in one sentence. That’s it. This kind of people is a little less conversation and a little more action. The paintjob practically screams 6200 green ones.
– What type of colour?
– Blue.
– Have a blue fuel pump to, Holly with reduction. The motor came with, but I have upgraded most of it.
– Got a big shop?
– What, nah, I work on this lot. I do the bodywork somewhere else. When the body is all done I’m either out here or I roll it under roof, but then something else has to kinda come out.
He opens one of the doors and another one of those big, blue PV whales loom underneith roof and walls covered with spare parts! How on earth do you find anything in here, Erik?
– What do you mean?
Could-come-in-handy-cupboard. The PV had a B22 with Timo- and Hedlund parts and had a good 170 hp. Got broken in during 1989.
He opens the door to the -46 Ford.
– Taunus GXL 1972 seats in frot and a widened bench seat in the back from a SAAB 9000 where the backrest had gotten a great chop, a great fit.
– Great fit, you had to redo the entire seat?
– Yeah, but that’s a given. A great fit afterwards then, if you get it.
That’s the thinking of a car smith. The car immediately starts and navigates between the gateposts. Clean, straight frames, straight paint, new chrome, new aphoulstrery.
– How many years did it take you?
Fort Taunus GXL-seats in the front and SAAB 9000 bench in the back. ”A perfect fit”.
– I try to make it in one winter. If you use all nights and weekends it’s almost a guarantee to get it ready in time. I don’t have a spray booth so I paint undernieth a tarpaulin and that’s why it’s great if you can do that during the spring, then you got a month or so for assembling and then you are ready to drive in July.
– Have you got a girlfriend?
– What do you mean?
– Just wonderin’.
Clean and thought out. The ones that’s done it before makes it look so easy.
In these last years PV:s have almost disappeard to be replaced by american projects. He hasn’t got a computor and doesn’t watch a lot of TV. Mechanics is what blooms in his yard. – A mechanic, a tinsmith and a refinisher with lots of time on his hands since he doesn’t waste his time watching others work.
Something to think about for all the know-it-all’s without a jack screw of their own but have seen the latest youtube clip of an overcharged 572 that does a “really awesome burnout”.
Rattstång från en Van och massor med mätare att titta på. Den ständigt skruvande Erik blir väl sysslolös bakom ratten om han inte har något att läsa av och grunna på.
A Swedish hot rodder as many remembers it. Gravel road, chrome reverse with babymoons, three inch tailpipes and leaned. A mile stone.
– What the ..! I’m supposed to sit here? – Crazy reporter! He’d never rid in the passenger seat.
Chromed spare is a must. Pretty all the way.
Läsvärt.