No Studebakers seen in Europe

[jnfweber]

We have been in Europe since July 6 and travelled on the toll roads from Barcelona, Spain to Cracow, Poland, and back, through France, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, and Italy, putting 5 hours on winding roads in the French and Italian Alps in a Mini Cooper. Did not see a single Studebaker, but from what I have seen, I would recommend buying stock in VW (Porsche, Audi, Skoda, Seat, and Volkswagon), 95 % of their cars 5 or 6 speed manual diesels (except Porsche). Many large cars, as large as the Chrysler Voyager (that's what they call it in Europe) and the large Mercedes, BMW's, and Audis). Why America has not embraced diesel (no smoke in these cars and trucks in Europe) is beyond me. Maybe we're too lazy to shift, as most of the cars are manual shifters.

Saw one car in Poland which was smaller but had a slight resemblance to the 47-52 Studebakers, excluding the bullet-nose. It is attached for your pleasure. Maybe someone can identify the brand.



Jack in Southern France

[dictator27]

Three cylinder two stroke Wartburg.

Terry

[1962larksedan]

Three cylinder two stroke Wartburg.

Terry

1950's East German car design.

[Lou Van Anne]

Go to Holland...lots of Studies there.

[64V-K7]

They do have clean(er) diesels in the US now, but they won't promote them because......it would hurt the profits they get from gasoline.

[KJongenburger]

Jack,

If you looked for mine, it's in my workshop, hiding in crates, boxes and loads of small plastic bags.

[Tahiti Coral]

I was just in Spain & Germany in June and you really don't see too many collector cars on the road. I would think you would see more cool old cars in eastern Europe. I love the old Tatraplans. I remember when I started traveling to Germany in the '90s I used to see some Trabis in Berlin and in the old post-DDR sections such as the Harz.

Here is a cool old Wartburg commercial for the car that was posted:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDR-UHh8kDo

It is rather surprising that Commies had commercials. I would think of that as a capitalist venture, but then propaganda is propaganda....

[JimK]

In the early 90s we took a bus tour in France. Among the stops was a splendid chateau still owned by the original noble family (which probably took some doing in their revolution), and had recently been passed onto the young count (or whatever title he had) who was spoken of a being a very eligible bachelor. And what did this dashing young fellow drive?


A Chryco minivan!

[comatus]

Why America has not embraced three-cylinder two-strokes is beyond me.

[jnfweber]

Why America has not embraced three-cylinder two-strokes is beyond me.

Wow! Think of that, a three-cylinder two stroke diesel. You wouldn't even have to add oil. Could have one in the rear to run an electric generator-motor, and one in the front to power the front wheels. An AWD vehicle with two engines.! Might not even make a lot of smoke.

Paul, Danke zehn fur die wunderbar Wartzberg commerzial! Ich kahn nicht warten fur mein selbst ein zu finden. Velieicht ein fahrt zu osten Deutchland!

Jack

[Bob Andrews]

Big diesel fan here; had them for years. I still have a diesel Audi 5000 that I bought in 1989 for next to nothing. Had a diesel Ford Tempo and Escort. Have a 5-speed diesel 73 Mercedes too. I've often thought of putting that engine/trans. in a Lark...

I have always dreamed of owning a Wartburg. Don't care much about the car, I just always wanted people to ask waht I drive so I could say 'Wartburg'

[go-studebaker]

Hi Guys,
there are plenty of Studebakers in Europe. You just have to know where to look for them. Grab a roster and call a member ?


Mind you it was only after living here 9 years I actually saw another Stude on the road pass me by in Oxford on Drive your Stude day last year.

Greg

[Tahiti Coral]

Here's another cool Wartburg commercial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHlAyk3ZY9s&feature=feedrec_grec_index

[62champ]

Think more diesel powered cars is something we will hopefully have in our future. Saw many vehicles in the Czech Republic at the beginning of the month that were diesel powered, including some Chrysler PT Cruisers.

Wonder if there is a lot of memories of the attempts at diesel power in the late '70s/early '80s? I had an Uncle who owned a 1980 VW Rabbit diesel that averaged 50 mpg and a few times a tank full got over 60.

And VW looks like it is doing quite well. They have some pretty interesting models available in Europe that you cannot get here.

How about a VW truck?

[Nelsen Motorsports]

Diesels are not dirty. The smoke is simply sut or black carbon, not vicious toxins.