PHOTOGRAPHY & WORDS: Tom Horna

There was only one answer for Erlend, creator of the brilliant automotive YouTube channel ‘The Silent D Motor Show’. His idea was simple… full custom body restoration combined with the modern-day power plant and running gear. This meant sending the car to the most capable people on American soil – the Ringbrothers.

We met Erlend in London to find out more about him, his Dodge Charger ‘DEFECTOR’ and his love for cars.

Erlend is a man of the world, originally from Norway and currently living in London (UK) yet spends most of his time travelling the world with his extremely entertaining ‘Silent D Motor Show’ filming his automotive adventures. This alone may explain why he didn’t just buy a classic Dodge Charger – it simply wouldn’t be enough. It needed to be more than a standard car, just like his entire life it needed to be more entertaining.

What was your first car ever?

My very first car was a 1986 Volvo 240 GL

How did you get into classic cars?

At 18 years old, I was driving a 15-year-old Volvo 240, so not quite a classic but a good old sturdy car that I got because it was value for money. I then realised that for the same money I could get an actual classic, a Volvo 142, which was way cooler and I would even save money on tax and insurance. So I sold the 240 and bought a 1969 Volvo 142 instead, a 32-year-old car at the time, and I haven’t looked back. Since then I owned several different classics, of which most were my daily drivers (and often only car).

You have quite a few cars in your collection. Can you list them for us?

1969 Dodge Charger ‘Pro-Touring’ 1978 Volvo 262C Bertone ‘Restomod’ 1978 Volvo 262C Bertone (stock) 1957 Volvo TP21 ‘Sugga’ (military vehicle) 2017 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Edition 463 (Not really a classic, but it is the last version of the legendary G Class, an iconic 4×4 that has remained largely unchanged from 1977.

I understand that your passion for cars turned into something more and now you run your own YouTube channel. Tell us more about it.

I’d like to share my passion by showcasing classic cars and their owners, focusing on cars that may not be the most obvious classics, but perhaps modified in a way I find interesting. So far, I’ve wrapped up the 1stseason, which you can watch via silentdmotorshow.com. Stay tuned as there is a lot more to come in season two.

You’ve recently commissioned the build of two cars. What are they?

1969 Dodge Charger ‘Pro-Touring’ 1978 Volvo 262C Bertone ‘Restomod’

Tell us more about the Dodge Charger. Whats the story behind this car?

I was living in California some years ago and since I never owned an American classic I wanted to get an iconic American muscle car. I can’t think of a cooler car than the ’69 Charger, so when I found a good and reasonably priced gold R/T on Ebay I knew I had to get it. I quickly realised that old muscle cars aren’t as comfortable and suitable for daily driving as the European classics I owned in the past. Also, as I was getting a bit older and started to have less tolerance for the ‘quirks’, issues and lack of comfort that comes with an old car. I didn’t want to a new car as I think they are all soul-less, so instead I decided to do a full-on pro-touring build, changing drivetrain, chassis, suspension etc. but at the same time, I wanted to keep the exterior and interior as close to the original as possible. I did some research on different builders and got blown away by the work and the personality of the Ringbrothers and was lucky enough to have them build my car.

What’s it like to own it?

Great! I am very proud of it!

What’s your favourite bit about it?

Probably the sound!

What’s the least favourite bit about it?

There honestly isn’t a thing I don’t like about this car.

Do you work on your car/s?

I used work on my old Volvo’s, but not really anymore.

What’s your dream car?

1971 Mercedes–Benz 300 SEL AMG ‘Die Rote Sau’

Follow Erlend and his adventures via his Instagram account @SilentDmotorshow and his YouTube channel here.

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