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A Royal Chevrolet Speedster
Of course there is a Chevy with Royal history, but letīs tell you the
history.
The year 1931 was still a depression year, new car sales was low, and
of course also the bodybuilders had hard times. In the danish capitol
Copenhagen, the bodybuilder "Dansk Karosseri A/S", started to build
special bodies on the lower priced Chevrolet chassies in small numbers. A
car that could be sold throughout the whole of Scandinavia, a fact that is
confirmed by
 a norwegian sales broschure of the Speedster.
Whether a single car or not was ever sold outside Denmark we donīt know,
neither do we know how many examples of the Speedster that were built.
Garaged at the castle
This car (chassy no. 20, but were they all the
same body?) was sold by Hans Lystrup A/S of Copenhagen, (GM's general
importer in Denmark), to His Royal Highness Prince Viggo of Denmark, whose
address was Amalienborg. No closer address given in the original
documents. But to all Danes, it was very obvious where the Prince lived.
Amalienborg was, and still is, the Royal Castle in the middle of
Copenhagen!
We have talked to a few people at Hans Lystrup A/S, and they confirm
that the car was built by Dansk Karosseri A/S, as well as the retired
salesman that personally delivered the car to His Royal Highness.
Still running unrestored
For nearly 30 years this car has been in my
possesion in Sweden, ever since I by chance found the car, bought it and
imported it to Sweden. So, what have happened in all those years! Well, at
least 120 cars, all interesting and of model 1929 - 1971 have passed
through my hands, a few have stayed in the garage, some have been
restored, but mostly they rolled on after a while. The Speedster is one
that has stayed, but it hasnīt been restored! It has just been kept road
legal and used during the warm summer months, to my own delight, but also
more and more so to other people, fascinated of itīs patina and the fact
that the car still functions so well. As an unrestored car
 it gives me more pleasure than a restored one would
do, as I now dare to use it almost like an ordinary car. Like a fast ride
to the store for some food and a bottle of wine, and just leave the car in
the parkinglot. I would never leave a restored car the same way - people
seems not to care too much anymore about other peopleīs treasures.
2 plus 2
This Chevy is similar to the production cars, except from
having itīs chassie painted silver and a few parts chromed that otherwise
was just painted. Talking of the body, the front fenders/wings, radiator
and hood/bonnet is just like a standard Chevy, and even so the rear
fenders/mudgards, but they have been tilted forward and shortened and
altered to fit against the rubber covered wooden runningboards. The body
is a two seater with a dickey seat for a furher two passengers, if one
accept to sit tight. The driver compartment is all leather covered, even
the dashboard is covered in red leather. The steeringwheel is ebonywhite,
and the gearlever can either be used in the standard size or shortened to
half. The driving compartment is big enough for my 194 cm (6 foot 5 inch),
but with the soft top/hood in up position and the sidescreens in place,
then you donīt brag about the space, so to speak.
Only five owners from new
But, bring the top down or just leave it
at home, the car is a delight to drive a sunny summer day. I believe I can
imagine that H.R.H. Prince Viggo of Denmark must have felt very satisfied,
driving around in Copenhagen or between the different Castles in his new
toy. By the way, Iīm the fifth owner of the car and the one that have held
on to the Speedster for the longest time, and yes, a car like this should
of course be restored. It will be, in due time. Meanwhile, I have
collected all sorts of parts, something that is a pleasure too, as
everytime one find a new old part, it feels as if one won the lottery. Of
the probably 20 (less or more?) Chevrolet Speedsters manufactured, this
one is still the only one left, even though there has been a rumor of one
more surviving in Denmark. But, that one has not yet surfaced. When we see
it, we will believe it. This one is still the only surviving example, and
with a Royal history at that!
Christofer Lee, "Woodman" - the woodgraining artist
 Prince Viggo (1893 - 1972) married in New York
His Royal Highness
Prince Viggo, Christian Adolph George, born Dec. 1893 in Copenhagen,
Prince and Baron of Rosenborg. Married June 10, 1924 in New York to
Eleanor Margaret Green, born Nov. 5, 1895 in New York. Daughter of James
Olive Green and Anny Beaumont Hewitt. |
