Craig Patterson
VINTAGE AUTO MUSEUM
YSTAFELL AUTO MUSEUM
SKÓGAR TECHNICAL MUSEUM
AUTO museums of Iceland 2023 3
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Table of Contents Introduction 6 Vintage Auto Museum 9 Ystafell Auto Museum 69 Skógar Technical Museum 125 5
For the vast majority of Iceland’s history, automobiles, trucks, and buses didn’t exist. Residents and those passing through needed to rely only on themselves to transport goods and people, with some limited assistance from working animals. But the desire for greater commerce, communication, and reliability, just as in the rest of the world, eventually had to outweigh the desire to do everything on their own. Cooperation was required in order to build even the most rudimentary trails, and wagons were built by those best versed in the arts of construction.
No longer could it be said that a family lived only by their own wits and muscle. As more children needed to go to school, and more production was expected from every farmer and rancher, the concept of community and reliance upon neighbors expanded into taking advantage of those means of transport that were being made in other countries for their citizen’s own purposes.
Though this reliance brought with it a certain dependence, it also brought a spirit that was much more tangible and valuable; increased feelings of community, a better economy, and a more dependable means of assisting those in need.
Like most other modern countries, Iceland owes its current existence to the automobile. But instead of allowing cars and trucks to define their existence, as has occurred with many other countries, Iceland has chosen to use them only as a means to an end. The spirit of self-reliance lives on in this completely self-aware country, even as the sense of community has grown stronger than ever before. A thriving democracy lives here, assisted by a populace that doesn’t take itself too seriously, choosing to demonstrate their dissatisfaction by throwing eggs at government
buildings, rather than needing to resort to violence. Indeed, there is no need; the message sent by the egg-throwing is received loud and clear, taken seriously by a government whose priority is its people, rather than itself.
Automobiles are so ubiquitous, even in Iceland, that their history is forever in danger of being forgotten as unimportant. Where the typical museum in most of the world shows only the most rare, the most expensively restored, and the most powerful versions of each vehicle, the museums in Iceland take a very different and refreshing tack. Though many of the examples in all three of the museums have been restored, their increased monetary value is irrelevant to the real reason they are being displayed. The real purpose for the inclusion of virtually every item in these museums is not to display that model of car, but to display that one car in particular; to show who owned it, how it was used, who modified it for Icelandic weather and needs. To show how Iceland itself was made better by virtue of having that exact car on the island.
From odd vehicles that led rescues, to cars that were brought over entirely by mistake, no other museum in the world is like the ones seen here. They show how the American military influenced the purchase of cars, along with illustrating geopolitical difficulties, as cars from certain countries suddenly became nonexistent, in favor of imports from governments trying desperately both to curry favor with Icelanders and bolster their own flagging economies. Ideas for practicality and styling are borrowed, stolen, and negotiated from country to country, shown here in vivid relief.
Who could have known that the Icelandic Cod would cause such a shift in the purchase of vehicles? Or that technology built for World
Introduction
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War I could have revolutionized rescue operations in the High Country glaciers? Icelanders knew. And they’ve had that knowledge on display for decades, teaching all those who wish to know.
Those lessons don’t end with the history of the cars, however. One noteworthy truck, used as both a bus and cargo truck at the same time, shows us something else about the community spirit in this country. When the truck was found, in absolutely horrible condition, literally hundreds of locals donated their time, free of charge, for a solid seven years, to rebuild this beautiful truck, simply to be shown in the museum. There are few places in the world that would be able to martial this type of cooperative support and devotion. But in Iceland, it’s just par for the course.
Though a small number of people had inhabited Iceland prior to the Vikings, the Viking spirit has traditionally permeated the land, even for those who immigrate here from other lands. Any Viking who ever set foot here would surely be proud to meet those who have descended from them so successfully.
The author would like to acknowledge the inviting attitude, tremendous friendship and assistance, and genuine kindness displayed by the owners and operators of these museums. It obviously would have been impossible to create this book without their help. Their friendship and openness was a wonderful surprise.
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CHAPTER ONE
VINTAGE AUTO MUSEUM
Gunnar Kr. Þórðarson and his wife, Sólveig Jónasdóttir, have lived in a small house at this location for decades. Just as for many homesteads around Iceland, a water supply flows graciously from the plateau above, providing a supply that seems endless in the short term. Gunnar made a nice living as a truck driver, while fixing cars and trucks on the side to take advantage of his Master’s Degree in Auto Mechanics. Through virtually her entire life, Sólveig has had a career as a primary school teacher. He became known for being able to provide parts of all types, when no others could be found, a result of his collecting of vehicles that might not run now, but could perhaps be useful down the line.
Local donations of cars in amazing condition, as well as Gunnar’s continuing restoration projects, caused the collection to outgrow the one hall, and a second hall was opened in 2013. The current size is approximately 350 vehicles, but the number does slowly grow. In addition to the two main halls, there is also an active shop on the property, where all the restoration takes place. A vintage diner takes care of hospitality and refreshments for up to 60 people, and there are also many examples of working and non-working machinery on display outside. Somewhat hidden away behind the buildings is the scrapyard, still called upon to provide finishing touches on restorations both here and around the world.
had stopped working. All the way up until 2019, Gunnar continued to work, even as his health deteriorated. There were in fact many times when he would physically drag himself out of his wheelchair and crawl across the grounds and shop floor, in pursuit of just as much as he could possibly do before his time to leave this Earth finally came in February 2019.
Jonas Kristinn Gunnarsson spends much of his time here, even though he lives in Aachen, Germany, where he is a pilot of cargo and civilian aircraft. He and his wife are building a home nearby, to make it easier for his family to visit during the summer.
Many could be restored, but in order to do so, a 600 square meter (6,500 square foot) building was constructed, to house those items that deserved better protection from the elements. On June 26th, 2004, the Vintage Auto Museum was officially opened, including the main showroom and a reception area.
But while Gunnar’s vision is one completely of his and Sólveig’s making. Gunnar’s brothers, Sigurmon Þórðarson who lives in Hofsós and Páll Hólm Þórðarson who lives in Kópavogur, have also assisted throughout the years in restoring many of the museum’s pieces. As time marched on, Gunnar stepped back from the dayto-day operations of the museum, and allowed his sons to continue the tradition. But that didn’t mean that he
The museum is open to the public from June through September every year, and advance appointments are welcome throughout the year.
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Previous owner: Sigurður Karlsson, Selfoss, Iceland
Current owner: Þórður Eyjólfsson and Þórey Gunnarsdóttir, the founder’s daughter
This beautiful car is one of the oldest running cars in Iceland, though it hasn’t been here the whole time. It was purchased from Armand W. Masters in America on March 30th, 1993 by Sverrir Andrésson in Selfoss. In 1939, Harry G. Gullick, of Gloresville, New York, was a registered owner of the car. It is not documented when Mr. Masters bought the car, or if there were other owners between him and Mr. Gullick.
The car arrived in Iceland on April 28th, 1993, moved to Selfoss just two days later, and the restoration was begun. Not a single new part was bought for the car – all parts needed were either built by Sverrir himself or built for him by Icelandic contractors.
The car was registered at Bifreiðaskoðun Íslands (Icelandic car inspection services) on May 4th, 1993, under number EA-654. The car received its first inspection in Iceland on May 9th, 1994.
The Graham brothers initially made their own trucks, beginning in 1919, but began to buy drivetrains from the Dodge brothers in 1919. This partnership would eventually become Dodge Trucks.
The car‘s special equipment list is extensive, including a 12 volt electrical system, which other manufacturers would not adopt until the 1950s. (Even Dodge went back to using 6 volts in 1926.) The height of the headlights can be adjusted. The gas tank is in the car’s rear; next to the refueling opening is a gauge indicating how much gas is in the tank. A special vacuum tank, with a float, pulls the gas forwards to the engine and from there it runs to the carburetor. The engine has a grease pump and an oil-splash system. In the crankcase there is a float, lifting a stick which indicates the oil level.
The paint was applied by BÍLASPRAUTUN SELFOSS, Hrísmýri 5, in Selfoss.
2. 1925 Chevrolet
Current owner: The family of Sjávarborg
The first passenger car in Skagafjörður.
On March 16th, 1926, the county council had decided to establish a road fund, and an associated tax, to build roads for cars all over the county of Skagafjörður. The tax would cover the cost of road maintenance by the county council. Seven roads were approved. The first three were the road of Hegranes between the lakes, the road of Hofsós from Brú over to the Viðvík region and Óslandshlíð to Hofsós, and the road of Blönduhlíð east of Austurós and over to the Viðvík region and Blönduhlíð on the main road by Dalsá.
Though often confused as being the end of March 1926, it was April of that year that saw the arrival of the first car in Sauðárkrókur. The car was a 1925 Chevrolet, a four door covered sedan. The car’s owner was Árni Daníelsson, a farmer at Sjávarborg in the Skarðshire. Árni had moved back to Iceland in 1925 after almost five years of living in America. He bought the car specifically to take back to Iceland, and drove it across America to New York, where it was put on a ship and shipped to Reykjavík. He arrived in Reykjavík at the end of August, 1925.
The car was registered in Reykjavík on October 12th, the same year, as registration RE 291. During that same year, Árni bought a new Chevrolet truck, keeping the sedan as well. Both cars were moved by ship to Sauðárkrókur in the spring of 1926, while Árni rode a horse.
The arrival of the vehicles in Sauðárkrókur was surprising, because few people living in Skagafjörður at the time had ever even seen a car. Historians may get confused at this point, because Árni unfortunately didn‘t convert the car registration until New Year’s 1926-1927, when the car became registered as SK – 3. A man by the name of Guðvarður Steinsson had brought an old Ford to Sauðárkrókur before Árni got a chance to convert the registration of the car, receiving the registration number SK – 1. Since registrations began at the number 1, it may look as though Árni‘s car wasn’t the first, but in fact it had been in Sauðárkrókur for quite some time before the Ford. What has happened with regard to registration number 2 is unknown.
Árni was both a District Administrative Officer and a member of the county council, and ran a business in
Sauðárkrókur. In a letter to the author of the book “Cars in Iceland I – 19, Árni says:
“You wish to know the cause of me bringing a car to Sauðárkrókur. I must first mention my homecoming from the Pacific coast of America in 1907. At the time I had not any experience of cars other than laying my eyes upon them. In the next year I moved to Sjávarborg. A few years later, the construction of the main road into the countryside started. Sjávarborg sits 2 km from the main road, southeast to the so-called island land. At this time, there were no roads to Sjávarborg and sometimes it was even impassable by horses. A telephone line was laid to the house in 1916 and a road in 1918-19, and my dream was always to get a car, and I had that dream in mind while building the road.
“In the autumn of 1920 I went back west to the Pacific coast, planning to spend not more than a year, but my stay was prolonged to almost five years. My first winter in America I bought a Ford, which I owned to the spring of 1925 when I bought the car in the picture sent with this letter, drove it to New York and shipped it to Reykjavík at the end of August of 1925. The car was a Chevrolet. We spent the winter in Reykjavík and I drove it a little at a truck station. If my memory serves me right, it was Nýja Bifreiðastöðin, a truck station run by Haraldur Sveinbjarnarson. In the spring of 1926 I brought the car and another new Chevrolet truck here to Sauðárkrókur. At that time, a long road had been built from Sauðárkrókur to Marbæli, or 17 km. From there to Grófargilsá are 6 km and that was difficult to drive but not impossible, and then you were 23 km from Sauðárkrókur.
“At one time I managed to drive all the way to Mælifell with the late Einar Kvaran, a 40 km drive and mostly without road. In the same year, Guðvarður Steinsson, truck driver, moved from Reykjavík to Sauðárkrókur with an old Ford. Those were the only cars to arrive in Sauðárkrókur for the next 2-3 years. But before long I started teaching others to drive a car and with the lessons, the number of cars in Skagafjörður started to increase. I think Pétur Guðmundsson from Vatn was the first I taught to drive a car.”
(Reference: The Skagafjörður Chronicles 1847-1947)
1. 1923 Dodge Coupe
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1. 1929 Ford
Previous owner: Baldur Þorsteinsson
Current owner: The Vintage Auto Museum in Stóragerði
This was the first car owned by Baldur Þorsteinsson, but the last one to drive it was Baldur‘s brother, Steinþór. Steinþór was chain harrowing the fields (a process used to break up thatch and even out the field) and the car needed to be moved because the field was so wet.
The car stood for a long time in Vindheimar, where the brothers lived, before being transported to Akureyri. From Akureyri it was transported to the museum, on August 23rd, 2009. The car was in its current condition when it arrived, with the exception of an incorrect grille. Gunnar was able to retrieve the original Ford grille from the village of Þingeyri, shipped in from Borgarfjörður.
2. 1930 Ford Model A
Previous owner: Þorsteinn Baldursson
Current owner: Þórður Eyjólfsson
Þorsteinn Baldursson imported this car already renovated. Þórður Eyjólfsson, the father of the museum founder Gunnar acquired the car in 2002.
The Model A, launched in 1928, was frequently called “The new Ford,” superseding the Model T or “The old Ford“.
The Model T was a very well-liked car, but in 1926 sales of the car dropped, and price reductions weren’t helping. Competitive cars were constantly working on higher quality and prices, and were increasingly eyed by consumers who wanted more comfort and elegance than the Model T had to offer. Henry Ford believed the declining sales were due, not to the car itself, but to the dealers, though he eventually had to accept that the Model T had passed its prime. Ford then began extensive work on designing a new car, followed by the renovation of a factory and equipment to construct the new car. Production of the Model T was discontinued in 1927, just a few days after the 15 millionth car was produced.
Ford’s basic idea of the new car was that it would be fast-paced, powerful, and luxurious. It would be suitable for the increasing speed of the cities, as well as the improved road system of the country. The car would be lower, longer, and wider than Model T and available in more versions, but also in many colors. The name Model A would be used, even though the first Ford from 1903 had already used the moniker.
The Model A got a four-cylinder, 201 cubic inch engine, a little bigger than the Model T, delivering 40 horsepower (double that of the T engine) at 2200 rpm, with a top speed of 105km/hr (65mph). The transmission had three unsynchronized gears, similar to the same equipment in Lincoln (which Ford had acquired in 1922), but smaller. Innovations in the car included hydraulic shock absorbers,
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The car was made of 5580 parts, almost all of new design, which meant huge organizational changes in factories. Four hundred thousand orders were received for the Model A during the first year, which was unheard of at that time. In the spring of 1928, orders exceeded eight hundred thousand. Ford sold more than two million Model A cars in 1929, and by 1930 the three million mark was reached. 1931 saw a drop in sales, down to 620,000 cars. In total, Ford produced almost five million Model A cars. Only five or six are known to exist in Iceland today.
3. 1936 Chevrolet
Current owner: Róbert Júlíusson from Hvalshöfði
Júlíus Ingvarsson, also known as Júlli the Crane, imported this truck from Oklahoma around 1988. His dream was to restore it, but unfortunately he passed away before the work could be finished. His son, Róbert, inherited the truck and completed the restoration.
Legend has it that this very car was used to transport moonshine for the infamous Al Capone, and that the car was disguised as an oil truck during its moonshining days. When Róbert was working on the renovation, he found a single bullet hole on the body. It was very evident from other evidence and wear that the car had been used for oil transportation, but a more nefarious past could not be ruled out. The car arrived at the museum in 2005.
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bumpers, automatic windshield wipers and an electric starter.
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