Budd Posted February 5, 2005 Share Posted February 5, 2005 My friend Leif in Sweden (he post's here occasionaly) sent me an email with a photo of his newly aquired car. Not sure if you'd call this a "coach built" or not, but it is apparently someone's attempt to put a custom body on a 1956 Buick chassis.Here's a link that talks about the car, and attached is a copy of the original advertisement that ran for selling these cars. Notice the front grill "V" emblem is a 1956 one, and the portholes look to be from 1956 as well. Hubcaps look to be 56's as well.Just when you think you've seen everything... So apparently Leif has purchased one of these, as is going to restore it. This will certainly be interesting. Leif, keep us updated and post some pic's of the beastie when you get her home!Budd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted February 5, 2005 Share Posted February 5, 2005 It must be red because the title is "Sapphire Swedish Luxury vehicle" . I am not sure of the last word but am close.The first line reads "Which is Sweden's most Exclusive Car ?"Its been a long time since I have read or translated this. I am amazed I dont have to look up more words. If I get a chance I will work my way through the rest of the article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idle Swede Posted February 5, 2005 Share Posted February 5, 2005 Second line reads: The answer would be Norrbottningen, (a miserable cold county in the northern part of Sweden) Henrik Wiklund's home project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
55PackardGuy Posted February 5, 2005 Share Posted February 5, 2005 Sure looks like a Jaguar XKE from the front, maybe more 'vette-ish in the back? A light body on a '56 w nailhead would go some! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted February 5, 2005 Share Posted February 5, 2005 That link describes the car as built in 1963, on a modified 41 Buick Special Chassis. Claims it has parts from a Corvette, Chrysler, Ferrari, Ford Thunderbird and Jaguar too. Said it originally had a GM V8 but now has a Chevrolet 305 V*. Can this be evidence the Chevy motor isn't even a GM product? . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
55PackardGuy Posted February 6, 2005 Share Posted February 6, 2005 OOPS! I just ASSumed the link would be in Scandihoovian too. But I'm kinda proud I spotted the 'vette without looking (the Jag was easy). Mebbe it was a GMC engine. Sure is a hodge-podge, but interesting...Wonder why they'd go with the 305, not exactly a high point for Chevy SBs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted February 6, 2005 Share Posted February 6, 2005 These are the pictures of the car posted in the link as it appeared in April, 2000. The link reads: <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Year and place: 1963, AleHenrik Wiklund was a crafty young man, having built among others a machine for harvesting potatoes. He was interested in motoring too, and had been into TT racing. He has also built boats (before or after the Safir work).In 1962 he decided to build a car of his own. The result consisted, as often with homebuilt cars, of a mix of parts from various cars and own constructions. But, the Safir is different both inside and outside.In the bottom is a Buick chassis. I was told that it was registred as a Buick 41 Special rebuilt in 1956, but has a Buick 1958 front end. Other parts inside, and integrated in the aluminium and plastic hard-top body made on a plaster mould, comes from cars like Chevrolet Corvette, Chrysler, Ferrari, Ford Thunderbird and Jaguar. Quite classy parts, that is!The 2+2-seaters interior follows the rest, equipped among others with a stereo tape recorder.Initially the Safir had a GM V8 with automatic transmission, but today it has a Chevrolet 305 V8.Wiklund moved to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, where he formed AB Amerikanska Karosseriindustrin ('The American Body-industry'). The idea was to sell bodies to be fitted on chassis from the U.S.A. with 280 to 310 centimeter wheelbases.A folder informs that the bodies were 5 metres long and almost 2 metres wide. They had no wheel openings - these were made by the buyer depending on what chassis was used. The bodies were delivered without lacquer. The body shown in the folder has small fins.I am not sure if the Safir I was lucky to see is the original one, or one built with a body produced later. But I'm sure that I am glad that it has been preserved so well. Thank you! </div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif Holmberg Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 The "Safir" how it looks today after 2 years restoring.2009-2011 Leif in Sweden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif Holmberg Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 How it looked when I bought the car in 2004. Leif in Sweden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jscheib Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Lief,THat was quite an undertaking, especially if you had to find out what components were from which car, if any had to be replaced. I think the choice to change it to all white, was a wise one as it looks much "cleaner".John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif Holmberg Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Thanks John.Here is a picture from around 1967,that`s why I painted the car white. Leif in Sweden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RICK YOUNG Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 VELKOMMEN My Swedish friend.I see many different things , a skylark, a vette, a jag, yes yes.Very nice Rick "JUNGE" (as it was pronounced in Swede Homeland) Young Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Way cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1957buickjim Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Leif, as I said before, what a very cool and unique vehicle. It must have really been a challenge to restore, as John said, with all the very different parts from very different vehicles, and getting them to mate up and work properly. Very nice job! It looks fantastic and I bet it is a pleasure to drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 A very interesting car! Looks great!NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Aaarrhhhhhhh Matey, She be a fine looking land Yacht. Glad to see you put a red sail, as in white, she would surly get lost in the fog. Dandy Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gunjeep444 Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Pretty neat you restored that. I see the dash is a 56 Buick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 Looks good !. Headlights look to be from an early Jag E type Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif Holmberg Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Thanks to all. Leif in Sweden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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