In Article <199810060216.WAA13837@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mopar2ya@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> (INTERNET) wrote:
> I'm trying to help an acquaintance in South Africa find parts for his
> '56 Diplomat (Plymouth-based). It seems from what I see here that the
> from the Scandinavian countries are more familiar with these cars tha
> else. Any information on Chrysler history in these countries would b
> appreciated.
Parts for '56 DeSoto Diplomat are as easy or as difficult to find as for
'56 Plymouth. It's almost the same car, except the grille and trim.
DeSoto Diplomats and Dodge Kingsways were more usual sight, when these
cars were new than senior models, at least in Finland. Have you ever
heard a Diesel DeSoto?? Yes, there were Perkins P4C Diesel engine
available for '58-(61?) Diplomat. These engines or the whole cars were
assembled in Belgium. Diesel Diplomats (and Kingsways?) were popular
with Scandinavian taxicab drivers.
Some senior models were not available in export market. For example,
'57 DeSoto Firedome and '58 Dodge Royal were available only as a 4-Dr.
Sedan, when I look my export sales brochures.
> I would especially like to hear from the list member who mentioned Chr
> strong Finnish presence, including any information on the large Chrys
> dealership in Helsinki.
The importer of DeSoto was Berner, Inc. in Helsinki. When the DeSoto was
demised, Berner imported Chrysler-Imperial-Plymouth-Simca cars in the '60s.
Dodges were imported by Autokeskus-Bilcenter. In the '50s, Laatuvaunu
imported Chrysler-Imperial-Plymouth.
Mark
Finns like fins
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