Brookline auto museum celebrates Swedish cars this Sunday
This Sunday, fans of Swedish cars will have their chance to get up close and personal with some of their favorite imports.
The Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline is hosting the 16th Annual Swedish Car Day, a lawn event meant to celebrate Swedish car-making. An estimated 800 enthusiasts are expected to attend, with between 225 and 250 vehicles on the museum’s lawn.
Village Automotive Group president Raymond Ciccolo started the idea of Swedish Car Day in 2000. Ciccolo told Boston.com that car buffs tend to get very excited by popular Swedish car brands Volvo and the now-retired Saab. Village Autotmotive is sponsoring the event.
“People are deeply loyal to these brands,’’ said Ciccolo. “I’m one of those guys and I’m not sure I can describe it.’’
But he has a few ideas about why Swedish cars have appeal in New England.
“They’re always good snow cars because they were made in Sweden,’’ he said. “It goes as fast as you need to, yet it stops on a dime.’’
Ciccolo will be bringing his own 1965 Volvo 544 to the show. He restored the car so that it would look exactly like another 544 model he previously owned about 50 years ago “when [he] first got into the business.’’
Village Automotive Group president Raymond Ciccolo will have his restored 1965 Volvo 544 on display at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum on Sunday.
“I had a chance to buy one and restore it,’’ said Ciccolo. “For sentimental reasons, I restored it down to the frames like it’s brand spanking new.’’
In addition to Ciccolo’s 544, one of the newest members of the Volvo family, the 2016 XC90 will also be at the event and available for test drives. The XC90 model was first introduced by Volvo in 2002 and has seen its first redesign in over a decade.
Story continues after gallery
What makes the 2016 Volvo XC90 worth waiting for? Take a look:
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A 1961 Volvo P210 will also be among the roughly 250 vehicles on display. The P210 is considered the XC90’s ancestor because they share the same shape, have a smaller, 4-cylinder engine that delivers strong mileage, and offer advanced safety features for their respective eras. For example, the P210 was one of the earliest vehicles to feature three-point seat belts while the newer XC90 has collision avoidance and pedestrian detection systems.
According to a press release, the event’s “special guests’’ will include Ginga Sewerin-Olsson, Vice Console from the Boston Swedish Consulate. Executives from Volvo Cars North America will also make presentations about the XC90.
The lawn opens to vehicles at 8 a.m. and the show opens to the public at 10 a.m. An entry fee for a car is $20, while admission to the event is $10 per person. The museum is located at 15 Newton Street in Brookline.
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