1972 Buick Electra 225 reigns as 4,500-pound king of Stockholm's streets

Swedes love big American cars; the bigger and more luxurious the better

Many American-car-loving Swedes prefer the Sedan de Ville To the Electra.

As we've pointed out, Swedes love big American cars, preferably from the 1946-1980 period. When summertime comes to Scandinavia, tens of thousands of Detroit machines emerge from the barns and garages in which they endured the long winter, and you'll see them roaming all over the country.

I was in Sweden last week, and I saw hundreds of such cars; in Stockholm, it isn't uncommon to spot a chopped '47 Plymouth on the same block as a '64 Ford F-100 with hay bales in the bed. Of all the American cars I saw in Stockholm, though, somehow this well-worn '72 Electra 225 Limited seemed the most impressive.

 Murilee Martin
Clio, Electra, A3.

Parked between an Audi A3 and a Renault Clio in a hip neighborhood, the deuce-and-a-quarter has quite the presence.

 Murilee Martin
The Limited trim level added even more luxury and bling to the massive Electra.

This car appears to be in solid, original condition. Not perfect by any means, but also nowhere near the level of Sir Mix-a-Lot's famous Electra 225 hoopty.

 Murilee Martin
Hiding behind the Swedish plate is a gold-on-blue California plate, complete with 2002 tags.

Many Swedes with old American cars keep the original plates, often half-hidden behind the Swedish ones. This car left California in 2002, according to the registration tags seen here.

 Murilee Martin
All manner of interesting tchotchkies fill the car.

This Buick is full of personalizing touches inside, including a Fugees CD, a nodding-head cat doll, and a Turbonegro zillion dollar bill.

 Murilee Martin
Gas is more than $8/gallon in Sweden. Who cares?