Gems from our Collections
Digitised vehicles from the post-war period in Finland
Volkswagen Beetle 1961
A model 1961 Volkswagen Beetle from the Mobilia collection. With the liberalisation of car imports in 1962, sales figures for the Beetle rose sharply. In 1963, a total of 17,188 Volkswagens were sold in Finland. Imports of the Beetle were discontinued in 1975. In total, more than 127,000 Volkswagen Beetles were imported to Finland. Volkswagen was the absolute number one in the car market.
Photo: Studio Torkkeli
Datsun 100 A 1975
A model 1972 Datsun 100 A from the Mobilia collection. The Datsun was the most popular Japanese brand in Finland in the 1970s. The 100 A had several nicknames, the most common ones being “Rice Bag” and “100-amp”.
Owner: Mobilia
Photo: Studio Torkkeli
Wartburg 311 Limousine 1962
A model 1962 Wartburg 311 Limousine from the Mobilia collection. The Wartburg was a prestigious car from the East. It was considered beautiful and well-equipped. In 1962, when imports of Western cars were liberalised, 2,248 Wartburgs were sold. The car is front-wheel-driven and has a top speed of 107 km/h. The 311 Limousine accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in 29.9 seconds.
Owner: Mobilia
Photo: Studio Torkkeli
HZV Motorized Bicycle
Year of manufacture: 1960s
Manufacturer: Kharkov Bicycle Factory (Harkovski Velosipednyi Zavod)
Country of manufacture: Soviet Union
Owner: Mobilia
Photo: Studio Torkkeli
Moto Guzzi Cardellino
Year of manufacture: 1964. The bike was owned by the Defence Forces and was in the vehicle register between 1964 and 1970.
Engine: 1-cyl.
Power: 2.6 hp
Volume: 373 cm³
Country of manufacture: Italy
Owner: Mobilia
Photo: Studio Torkkeli
Honda CB 100
Year of manufacture: 1974. The motorbike’s first owner used it from 1975 for fishing and berry picking trips in the Nokia area. In 1988, the bike was bought by a person in Kangasala for a young girl as her first motorbike.
Engine: 2-cyl.
Volume: 99 cm³
Country of manufacture: Japan
Owner: Mobilia
Photo: Studio Torkkeli
Helkama Hopeasauma
Year of manufacture: 1950s. In the 1950s, bicycles began to come with a variety of goodies, colours, and equipment, such as on this Helkama Hopeasauma bicycle. The soldering metal of the bike, whose name translates to “Silver Seam”, even contains a touch of silver.
Country of manufacture: Finland
Owner: Mobilia
Photo: Studio Torkkeli
Cargo bicycle
Year of manufacture: 1930s. Cargo bikes came onto the market in the 1920s. The purpose of the small front wheel is to fit a larger load on the tyre.
Owner: Mobilia
Photo: Studio Torkkeli
