THULE / SWEDEN

AUTOMOBILFABRIKEN THULE / SÖDERHAMN / SWEDEN (1939)

In spring 1939, engineer Gustav Kastengren founded a company called AB AUTOMOBILFABRIKEN THULE to manufacture trucks and bus chassis in Söderhamn, Sweden. 

This company has nothing to do with the THULE Group, situated in Malmö which is so successful today and produces automotive accessories such as roof racks, bike racks, sawnings etc..

The city of Söderhamn was chosen at the time because of its high unemployment rate, and the company partnered with HÄGGLUNDS, the largest body shop in Sweden at the time, located in Örnsköldavik. However, the company managed to produce only a few chassis before the outbreak of war, which are said to have been delivered to Finland. After the war, vehicle production was not resumed, so it can be assumed that fewer than 20 vehicles were built.

 

 

Size	7.0 cm x 5.1 cm
Year	1939
Estimate

 

 

The following advertisement is probably the only one THULE has ever run. It's a treasure trove of technical specifications. It also explains the name as follows:

T:  TILLFÖRLITLIGA

H:  HÖLLBARA 

U:  UP-TO-DATE

L.  LÄTTKÖRDA 

E:  EKONOMISKA

1939 advertisement

As described above, the body was manufactured by HÄGGLUNDS in  Örnsköldsvik / Sweden.

Unlike THULE, this company survived World War II, which is why I am able to show you here a beautiful enameled front emblem that was mounted, among other places, on a 1965 SCANIA bus. This company still exists today under the name: Häglund & Söner 

 

 

Size	9.7 cm x 10.8 cm (emblem only)
Year	1950 / 1960
Estimate

 

For more emblems see older posts or top right  (list of car makers).

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