<VV> GM cars in Europe

[Sethracer at aol.com]

Irv - I don't qualify for your study. We weren't able to buy cars and ship  
them home from Vietnam.<grin> I did, however see a Corvair in Vietnam. It  
was a late 4-door, painted dark blue with white lettering on the door,  
identifying it as a Navy vehicle. When I saw it, it was parked in  front of the 
USO club in Saigon. When I was working in Antwerp, Belgium, in the  
mid-70's, I learned that GM produced American cars at various  locations in Europe. 
Corvairs were produced at a plant in Antwerp. I visited the  plant and there 
was no sign of anything resembling a Corvair. They were, at the  time, 
producing Opels for the European market and Vauxhalls for the British  market. 
Before leaving, I had a friend buy the instrument panel and  the MFG ID plate 
from a 1966, Antwerp-built Monza that I found in  a Junkyard there. The 
plate was given to Dave Newell for his "collection" And  the 0-200 (KPH) speedo 
went to Canada a number of years ago. I think I still  have the Kilo 
Odometer - different gears. I also saw two Corvairs in Belgium, an  early 4-door 
parked/abandoned by a charter bus company out in the country, and a  running 
63-64 coupe that was entering the highway just as I had exited the same  
highway. I also saw an early-model Corvair on the street in Yokohama, Japan in  
1969. 
 
As to your premise about the Classic cars in Europe being remnants of the  
GI purchases? Maybe some are, but the Europeans have been importing Big  
Iron from the US for many years. The new Autoweek magazine estimated  that 
between 5000 and 7000 American cars are exported, just to Sweden, every  year! 
And lots of those are the 50's and 60's cars that you asked about. Germany  
might be a little more conservative about letting in those cars. I am sure 
that  there are several of our European Corsa members who will fill you in on 
the  rules.
 
"Hergestellt" means "constructed" or "made" - According to a "web"  
translation.
 
Seth Emerson
 
 
In a message dated 8/20/2013 5:13:02 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
ivrbr at yahoo.com writes:

I am  seeking any firsthand knowledge of our Military Vets who were 
stationed  overseas especially in Germany during the 70s and were able to purchase 
the  brand new GM cars directly through the Commissary. I recently found a 
classic  70s car with a " data plate " that says " Hergestellt " GM Corp. 
USA. I  remember trips to Europe back in the 70s when I was a child visiting my 
 Uncles/Aunts and Grandparents and seeing American made cars everywhere in  
Germany (especially spanking new Vettes, Trans Ams and Mustangs  (Autobahn).

I'm assuming all the Classic American Cars we see now  in Europe came there 
that way and the GIs sold them when they shipped back  stateside? I'm 
wondering if the cars were in any way modified by the factory  for European 
delivery? Interestingly, my brother was stationed in Japan and  purchased a local 
righthand drive used Honda Prelude. The Navy couldn't  send it back for him 
as it didn't meet US DOT requirements. Maybe he  should've bought a Muscle 
car and shipped it back!

Irv  Brock
65  Corsa 
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