<VV> European Delivery of GM Cars to GIs in 1970s

[hallgrenn at aol.com]

Irv,

I bought a new Corvair in 1967 (a '68) in Germany while in the Army and financed and insured new and used cars for GIs in the '70s when I worked in Heidelberg Germany for GEICO Gmbh.  It's complicated, but in general during that period all official sales of new American cars to DOD personnel in Europe (active duty and civilian) were built in the U.S.A. (and for some models Canada) and shipped over duty free--usually on DOD contracted ships.  There was no customs duty as the cars were never officially registered in a European country--they were registered, tagged and insured under the laws governing U.S. Forces in Europe using the Military Police for enforcement and firms specifically licensed to insure them--GEICO, USAA and another firm beginning with "A" that I've forgotten.  Insurance was very expensive.  I understand Japan had a similar setup in the '50s, '60s and '70s.  If a GI bought a new US Spec foreign car (lots of Capris, Peugeots, Mercedes, Porsches etc.) it came from a factory that built the American export models and was delivered through the PX or BX without customs duty.

Most Americans simply shipped their used cars over to their new duty station--gas was subsidized by the DOD and bigger PXs and BXs had auto repair shops with good mechanics.  The US government aggressively pushed "Buy American" programs in the late '60s and early '70s due to the "Dollar Drain" and foreign exchange problems.  For a time there were even PX gas stations on some autobahns between bigger US installations.  If any cars were sold "on the economy" by a departing American then customs on the current, lower value were paid by the buyer and the car had to be brought up (or down) to local standards.  A lot of desirable muscle cars entered European registration as used American cars.  Typically only the rich (or fiscally foolish) could afford American cars as the annual road tax and higher gas consumption meant our cars were expensive to keep compared to local vehicles.

As you indicated the "Hergestellt" plate on the car you referenced means it was registered at some time in a country where German was the dominant language and indicates that the vehicle was made in the US.

Depending on the demand and costs involved many American cars were built for the local market "in country"--many as knockdowns that were assembled overseas to reduce the customs cost.  GIs didn't buy these cars (unless they bought well used, fully depreciated ones) because they sold "new" for twice as much or more as the same American car purchased through the PX--and didn't necessarily meet American standards so they couldn't be registered in the U.S. without modifications if shipped back.  Corvairs were sold that way in foreign countries through GM's sales arm and others have written about that production.  Today many "American" cars are marketed worldwide, but built locally--Jeeps, Chrysler minivans, Chevy Cruzes etc.--with locally produced (and frequently smaller) engines.

And of course classic American cars are still desirable--the Swedes really love them--and are shipped overseas all the time. 

Bob Hall
Group Corvair
Corvanatics
CORSA 

I'm assuming all the Classic American Cars we see now in Europe came there that 
way and the GIs sold them when they shipped back stateside?




-----Original Message-----
From: Irv Brock <ivrbr at yahoo.com>
To: virtualvairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Tue, Aug 20, 2013 8:13 am
Subject: <VV> European Delivery of GM Cars to GIs in 1970s


I am seeking any firsthand knowledge of our Military Vets who were stationed 
overseas especially in Germany during the 70s and were able to purchase the 
brand new GM cars directly through the Commissary. I recently found a classic 
70s car with a " data plate " that says " Hergestellt " GM Corp. USA. I remember 
trips to Europe back in the 70s when I was a child visiting my Uncles/Aunts and 
Grandparents and seeing American made cars everywhere in Germany (especially 
spanking new Vettes, Trans Ams and Mustangs (Autobahn).
 
I'm assuming all the Classic American Cars we see now in Europe came there that 
way and the GIs sold them when they shipped back stateside? I'm wondering if the 
cars were in any way modified by the factory for European delivery? 
Interestingly, my brother was stationed in Japan and purchased a local righthand 
drive used Honda Prelude. The Navy couldn't send it back for him as it didn't 
meet US DOT requirements. Maybe he should've bought a Muscle car and shipped it 
back!
 
Irv Brock
65 Corsa 
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