 The pictures accompanying this article were taken one month ago, but these american cars have not been moved for many years. Still this can´t be considered as a "barn find"the . The owner is a classic car dealer and they are parked in the cellar of a storehouse where also other cars in much better conditions can be found. So, what is the case? Ten years ago the european classic car market was flooded with pre-war cars imported from South American countries such as Argentina and Uruguay. The business appeared easy, as these vehicles were bought cheap there -always below $3000- shipped, and then sold here for 6.000 euros or more. All these cars were easily recognisable: American cars from the mid 1920s to mid 1930s with right hand drive and many non original headlights, tops, colours, wheels... everything due to a past life of hard work which was probably daily till the moment of the sale to the european dealer. Not in every case the cars were in so bad conditions, but when the market seemed to accept almost everything years ago, many heavily modified cars came in reasonable quantities to europe, and then the crisis came... and many remained unsold till present days. How many Ford, Chevrolet, Willys, Durant, Rugby, and other popular american cars are hiding in Europe?? And there will be market for them some day? (photos & text Francisco Carrion) |
    |
↧
The fate of the South American cars
↧