OScar
1984 OScar at Sommer's Automobile Museum
Overview
ManufacturerOle Sommer
Production20 units
Model years1983-1986
AssemblyCopenhagen, Denmark
Designer
Body and chassis
ClassSports car (S)
Body style2-door roadster
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine
TransmissionManual Volvo M46 four-speed

OScar is a limited production sports car produced in Denmark from 1983 to 1986. The car was built by Ole Sommer, a prominent automobile importer and dealer.

Ole Sommer

Ole Sommer was a Danish importer of automobiles and car enthusiast. He found business success importing Volvo, Renault and Jaguar cars into Denmark.[1][2] Sommer had an interest in producing a car in Denmark and in the 1970s built a few cars called Joker which were a type of beach buggy based on a Volvo 140.[3] In the 1980s, Sommer set his sights on building a sports car. Sommer later established an automotive museum. He died in 2018.[1]

OScar

The car was named OScar for "Ole Sommer car". Sommer imported fiberglass body shells based on the AC Cobra from BRA in the United Kingdom.[4] Unlike the multitude of other manufactures who created AC Cobra replicas or imitations, Sommer wanted to use Volvo underpinnings.[4]

The car was built on a custom frame.[2] The engines available were from Volvo: they were straight-four turbocharged Redblocks of the B19 and B23 variety.[5] Customers were offered the option of up-tuning the engine for more than the standard horsepower from the Volvo engine.[2]

OScar featured a Volvo front axle and steering assembly from a 140 and a rear axle from a 240. Electronic components were lifted from a 340.[2] The transmission was a Volvo M46 four-speed.[5] Remaining components were hand-made at Sommer's facility including the exceptionally large 70 liter fuel tank. Instrumentation was custom produced by VDO in Germany.[2]

Sommer had envisaged a larger scale production than the 20 units that were produced. Automotive regulations, including crash testing, made it difficult to sell the car. Volvo also refused to let Sommer use his Volvo dealer network to sell the car.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Ole Sommer er død". Motor Magasinet (in Danish). July 30, 2018. Archived from the original on January 1, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Oscar". bilhistorie.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on February 7, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Classic Iron: Volvo Sommer Joker Beach Buggy". volvojo.com. December 15, 2020. Archived from the original on January 1, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Legate, Trevor (October 5, 2015). Cobra: The Real Thing. Veloce Publishing. ISBN 9781845846022. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Jensen, Mads (November 13, 2015). "Danish Delights". Curbside Classic. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
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