Norwegian gearheads on the right Way

Lada 1500's been a hot topic in my previous posts, including the VAZ 2101 and 2102 versions. But now, I've been yappin' about Volvo 240 and even mentioned the Volvo 240 Olympic edition made for the Norwegian Olympics in Lillehammer. Well, reckon it's worth mentioning that next year marks 45 years since them Russians rolled out an electric car for the Moscow Olympics in 1980. Lada VAZ 2801  The Soviet Electric Wagon , turns 45 next year. I gotta mention, I got me a T-shirt with a picture of that contraption on it, just to rib my brother-in-law, born in 1980, who's mighty keen on winter sports and hails from Hønefoss. Also, gotta give my old man a hard time 'cause he had some buddies out in the Hønefoss region still cruisin' around in them Ladas (not the electric ones) clear into the '90s. Now, all Norwegians have heard that tune "Kjøre Lada tel Hønefoss" by Vazelina Bilopphøggers, and last year marked 35 years since the first Lada rolled off th...

Ford Explorer, a rugged rig with some mighty fine wheels, rims, and chrome. The Ford Explorer Mk1 , built until 1994, and the Jeep Cherokee AMC , spanning from 1983 to 2001, along with the Beijing Jeep Cherokee produced until 2014, were among the last rugged-looking compact SUVs from the USA. The Jeep Cherokee had that iconic boxy design and made appearances in numerous American films. I even spotted one as a sort of ghostly car in a dealership once, tucked away in the back of the showroom. The Ford Explorer from 1990 to 1994 starred in the first Jurassic Park movie and must be presumed to handle encounters with a hungry Stegosaurus and an amorous Triceratops quite well. The Explorer has also made its mark in many other films and TV series, albeit with more recent and less boxy models. The Jeep Cherokee was produced by AMC Motors (American Motor Corporation). Interestingly, AMC Motors was on the verge of bankruptcy when the Cherokee was introduced, but they carried on as AMC Jeep und...

The Daihatsu Rocky kept that '80s design rollin' right up 'til around 2007, give or take. Although I did read on Wikipedia recently that they only made it 'til 2002 and it stuck around 'til 2007 as a whole different model exclusively in Indonesia. But I reckon I saw ads for it here in Norway 'til at least 2003-2004, maybe even 'til 2007. I'm thinkin' the Norwegian importer might've got their hands on some leftover stock or somethin' like that. Back when I kicked off junior high in 2000, there was always a Daihatsu Rocky parked by the road near an elementary school I passed on my way home. Turned out, the owner was a contractor workin' on a water pipeline in the ground. The car had the plate KF ninety-nine thousand (Drammen plates), and since I'd just started learnin' about plates, I knew it had to be a 2000 model. Now, that contractor feller must've thought I was mighty peculiar since I stared at his car so much every time I w...